October in the garden

If you are adding colorful spring-blooming bulbs to your garden this month, consider planting some in containers to "force" into an early indoor bloom. Forcing bulbs requires giving them an eight- to 16-week period at 32 to 45 degrees to stimulate flower production.

Good bulbs to force include crocus, daffodils, hyacinths, tulips and dwarf iris. Place a layer of fresh bulbs with their noses pointing upward in shallow pots 4- to 12-inches wide filled with potting mix. Cover with soil, water thoroughly and seal the pot in a plastic bag.

Mimic winter's chilling effect by burying sealed pots in a cold frame or hole in the garden and covering them with 12 to 18 inches of mulch. An easier method is putting pots in an unheated garage or storage shed.

Bulbs will begin growing once roots have filled the pots. Remove the bag and move the pot into bright indoor light. Keep the soil moist. Bulbs planted now in October can be readied for bloom as early as January.

Here's what you need to do in the garden this month:

Trees and shrubs

h Apply fertilizer to trees or shrubs that have demonstrated a need for nutrients with symptoms such as stunted growth, failure to flower or leaf out, undersized fruit or off-color foliage. A layer of decomposed organic mulch helps maintain soil fertility.

h Continue to water newly planted trees and shrubs, especially evergreens, up until ground freezes. Milder temperatures can fool gardeners into thinking plants need less moisture in fall.

h Plant many deciduous trees and shrubs when leaves show color and drop, signs plants are becoming dormant. Water well and mulch with 2 to 4 inches of decomposed organic matter or shredded bark. Trees that are better planted in spring include redbud, Japanese maple, dogwood and other woody plants.

h Take precautions now if wildlife has been a problem in past winters. Spread garden netting around trees to keep deer from rubbing antlers on trunks. Deter rabbits and rodents by cutting down ornamental grasses and other perennials. Protect tree trunks from rodents with hardware cloth tacked into soil 3 inches from the trunk.

Flowers

h After a killing frost, remove annual plant material and add to compost pile.

h Lift and store tender bulbs a few weeks after the first killing frost, which might be as late as November:

• Cannas and dahlias. Cut back to 4 to 5 inches. Gently lift tubers with a pitchfork. Shake off excess soil and dry in a warm dry place. Do not separate tuberous roots at this time. When dry, place labeled tubers in cardboard boxes lined with newspaper and filled with barely moist wood shavings, peat moss or vermiculite. Store in a dark room between 40 and 50 degrees. Check periodically; throw away rotted tubers and sprinkle water on those that have begun to dry out.

• Tuberous begonias and caladium bulbs. Dig using the method for cannas. Remove all foliage and stems and place in a cardboard box lined with newspaper and filled with barely moist wood shavings, peat moss or vermiculite. Store in a dark room between 45 and 55 degrees.

• Gladioli. Dig and dry corms. Store in paper bags or open-weave mesh bags in a room between 45 and 55 degrees.

• Tuberose. Those planted in the garden should be dug and have foliage removed. Store in a pot with very dry soil in a dark warm room. Container plantings can be moved straight to storage after cutting back darkened foliage and stems.

Lawns

h Continue to mow lawns at 2½ to 3 inches high.

h If not done in September, fertilize lawns with a slow-release 4-1-2 or 3-1-2 organic fertilizer.

Edible plants

h Cut back any remaining herbs and bring indoors to use fresh or dried.

h Protect tender plants from light freezes at night by covering them with sheets, plastic or bushel baskets.

h Apply a heavy mulch layer over leeks, carrots, beets and turnips to continue harvesting into early winter.

h If a hard frost threatens, pick all tomatoes, including unripe ones, and store in cardboard boxes or paper bags.

h After a hard frost, remove all dead plant material and add to compost pile. Till 1 to 2 inches of organic material, composted manure or shredded leaf mold into garden soil. Add granulated sulfur according to package directions.