Abscission

October was the eighth month under the old Latin calendar. Octo in Latin means eight, as in octagon and octo-Mom. In looking for literary references to the month I was struck by two things, one was the obvious reference to the falling leaves. Second, were the melancholy, sad references to a resignation that some things, summer, youth, (gardening?) were over. I don’t know about you but sometimes I am relieved when the gardening season winds down. We need a respite. Rather than be melancholy I am glad to take a break.

October brings Halloween, and around here The Pumpkin Show (www.pumpkinshow.com), “the greatest free show on earth.” Aside from the parades, the amusement rides and all the food stands (and heart-burn) that it brings there is also the produce. Gorgeous gourds, number one of which are the pumpkins, large and small, smooth and lumpy, orange and tan, striped and plain, are on display. Who will grow the biggest this year? Will they break the 2,000 lbs. mark, a one-ton gourd? Will Circleville win the national honors for the heaviest? Wait and see.

Along with all this, October is what me mean by fall. Towards the end of the month the autumn leaves, after a hopefully brilliant display of color, will “drift by your window.” Or, the “air is wild with leaves.”

The naturalist Bernd Heinrich in “Summer World” gives a not so romantic, but nonetheless fascinating, description of falling leaves. “When nights become long enough, trees begin to shut down for the summer by forming a corky layer of cells between leaf and twig. This layer, the abscission layer, then blocks off the transport of materials between the branch and the tree. Chlorophyll is then no longer replaced as it breaks down with use; and as it disintegrates, the yellow and orange leaf pigments are revealed. The abscisic acid then does its job of dissolving the corky cell layer that holds the leaves to the trees, and as the connection between leaf and twig weakens, a breeze does the rest, and the leaf falls.”

So, whether you like to believe Jack Frost is at work, or you put your trust in photoperiod, abscisic acid and the wind, the end result is the same. The leaves end up on the ground. And somehow we must deal with them. Rake them up of course, to save your lawn, but don’t throw them away. Compost them in a heap or till them into your garden, but don’t waste them. They are a gift not to be ignored, Mother Nature’s mulch.

October also brings the average date of the first frost around the 15th of the month. Lately however the first frost has been arriving towards the end of the month and even into November. If you can help your favorite plants survive this first onslaught you may be able to enjoy them for weeks longer. Or, if you’re inclined, give them up to old man winter and wait for next year. You deserve the rest. But before you retire take advantage of our last warm days to work outside.

Things to do in the garden:

In you don’t feed them year around, now is the time to begin feeding the birds. Get out the feeders, clean them, install and fill them. Black oil sunflower seed is the best. The birds will thank you come spring as they attack the insects that attack your plants.

Hot caps and covers should be made handy in case a frost or freeze is forecast. Remember that the coldest temperature usually comes a little after sunrise. The earth radiates heat away and the sun hasn’t climbed high enough to begin heating us. You might still save some plants even if you slept in after it became light.

If frost, in spite of your efforts or just for spite, kills any of your plants, clean them up and deposit in the compost heap. If you don’t have a heap try sheet- composting, digging in leaves and disease free plant debris into your empty garden beds.

Consider bringing in the houseplants that you put outside this summer if you haven’t already. Make sure you don’t bring in any bugs with them; a good blast of water from your hose can wash most of them off. Bring the pots into a sheltered spot for a week or so to help the plants acclimate before shocking them with the warmer temperatures of your home.

Dig up your tender corms and bulbs as soon as they are frostbitten. Dahlias, caladium, glads, tuberous begonias and cannas should be dug and stored in a cool dry place. Most basements are too warm.

You can still divide day lilies and iris. Cut back the iris leaves to four-inch fans. Stop feeding your roses but don’t stop giving them water. Consider cutting back your roses halfway. If you have dormant roses you can still plant them.

Spring bulbs can be planted as soon as you get them. Plant them at a depth three times their length; place some bulb food in the hole with them. For a better display plant them in groups, not single file.

If you planted trees this year protect the trunks with chicken wire or hardware cloth from gnawing rabbits and other varmints. Even older trees can benefit from this if you’ve experienced this damage in the past.