October Garden Tasks

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October wildlife gardening tasks feature the middle of fall. Keep on top of harvesting so it doesn't get away from you. Weeding should be winding down in many areas. Some flowers need deadheading, but most wildflowers don't. By this point, many plants have set seeds. Collect seeds, especially native ones, to save for next spring. For species that need cold stratification before they will sprout, you can either chill them in a refrigerator or plant them in a bed during fall and let the winter chill them naturally.

If you want to hang roosting boxes for cold weather, this is a good opportunity for that. If you haven't already hung your birdfeeders, do that now. Bring out any that you already have and clean them before filling and hanging them. It's a good time to buy new ones if you want to do that. The fall migration is peaking in many regions, but northernmost ones are emptying out. For most species, seeds are the best offerings at this time. Wait to put out suet or similar foods until the weather gets colder. It is safe to mow fields, as ground-nesting birds have completed their cycles. Birdwatching peaks in mid-fall as the migrations boom. Visit your local parks and waterways for the best viewing.


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