Gardening guides recommend October planting dates and autumn maintenance

Autumn gardening preparations in Latvia focus on planting schedules and flower bed maintenance to ensure successful future harvests and blooms.

According to lunar planting guides, October offers specific windows for different tasks based on moon phases and zodiac signs. From October 1 to 9 and October 27 to 31, the waning moon is ideal for planting root and bulb crops, such as winter garlic, onions, carrots, and tulips. Conversely, the waxing moon between October 11 and 25 is recommended for planting above-ground crops like fruit trees, shrubs, herbs, and flowers. The most favorable dates for gardening are identified as October 2, 3, 11, 12, 21, 22, 26, 27, and 31.

For flower bed care, experts recommend several essential tasks before winter. These include cleaning beds by removing annual plants, pruning perennials like peonies and hostas, and digging up frost-sensitive bulbs such as gladioli and dahlias before temperatures drop below -5 °C. Additionally, fertilizing and mulching are advised to replenish soil nutrients lost during the summer.