Gardening guide for October plant care and maintenance

As daylight hours decrease in October, gardeners should adjust care routines for both indoor and outdoor plants. For houseplants, reduced light may cause leaves to drop, particularly for those moved indoors after summer. It is recommended to water indoor plants less frequently and stop fertilizing as growth slows.

Poinsettias require a specific light regimen to develop red bracts for the holiday season. They should be kept in complete darkness for 15 hours each day for eight to 10 weeks. Any interruption from artificial light can delay the color change.

For outdoor landscapes, continue watering gardens, shrubs, and trees if weekly rainfall is below one inch. To protect woody plants from pests like rabbits or deer, physical barriers such as metal mesh can be used. Additionally, applying organic materials like compost or manure to garden beds and mulching can prepare soil for spring planting.