October in the Desert Garden

October is the best planting month of the year in the low desert — mild days, warm soil, and cool nights make it prime time for lawns, trees, winter color, and cool-season vegetables.

What To Do in October

Grass

• This is the month to overseed Bermuda with winter ryegrass: scalp the Bermuda low, spread seed, top-dress, and keep it moist until it germinates.
• Hold off mowing the new rye until it reaches about 2 inches.

Trees & Shrubs

• Best planting window of the year — trees, shrubs, cacti, succulents, and perennials all establish beautifully now.
• Fertilize established trees and shrubs one last time before winter.
• Plant winter and spring wildflower seed for cool-season blooms.

Flowers

• Plant cool-season color: petunias, snapdragons, pansies, violas, dianthus, alyssum, and stock.
• Plant spring-blooming bulbs; chill tulips and hyacinths in the refrigerator first.

Vegetables

• Prime cool-season planting: lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, beets, radishes, peas, and onions.
• Transplant the tomatoes and peppers you started in late summer for a fall crop.
• Sow cilantro, dill, and parsley now — they thrive in the cool season.

Don’t Make These Garden Mistakes in October

1. Don’t miss the overseed window; rye seeded too late struggles to establish before the cold nights.
2. Don’t plant winter color into hot soil — wait until nights are consistently cool.
3. Don’t overwater new seed and transplants; keep them evenly moist, not soggy.
4. Don’t forget to back off the irrigation timer as the days shorten and temperatures drop.
5. Don’t pass up the best planting month of the year — anything you want established goes in now.