The fall season began on September 22, and October is the first full month of this season. While some areas of the country are still experiencing summertime temperatures, other regions may start to feel a chill in the air.
Alongside my own research, I caught up with several experts to get their advice about the yard projects to complete in October. This will then provide you with the opportunity to enjoy your front and backyards—especially the colorful fall foliage—a little longer. You will just need to have a set of the best pruners, a lawn mower and dethatcher handy in your arsenal so that you can continue to enjoy your outdoor space for a little longer.
10 yard projects to complete in October
1. Pull weeds to help crops
Weeds are always unwelcome visitors – and for good reason. “Weeds produce lots of seeds, take root, and establish quickly, which can overwhelm your flower beds by taking up space and much-needed water, light, and nutrients from your flowers,” says Lori Johnson, president of The Grounds Guys, a Neighborly company. And she warns that weeds can affect plant growth and ruin gardens and crops.
And while it may seem counter intuitive, fall is the best time to use a pre-emergent weed killer in your yard, according to Vincent Jagodzinski, corporate grounds manager at Stanley Black & Decker.
Lori Johnson was named president of The Grounds Guys, a full-service grounds care company offering commercial and residential landscape management services, in March 2023. She is responsible for the overall leadership and growth of The Grounds Guys throughout the US and Canada
2. Consider the soil content
However, before you start applying a pre-emergent weed killer, Jagodzinski says you need to consider your soil content. “This step will help determine your yard’s weed diversity—which will help you find the best weed killer for the best results.”
If you do this, he says you’ll thank him when you’re not pulling weeds in the spring. The Luster Leaf 1602 Soil Kit (16.49 at Amazon) could help with this which identifies the soil pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potash levels in the soil.
3. Prune to help new blooms
“Fall = Annual Mums [large annual flowers], they should be in full bloom at this time, so keeping any wilted flowers trimmed back will help new blooms bud and open,” says Jay Gray, franchise support consultant at Conserva Irrigation.
Knowing how to use pruning shears is going to be key here. The correct technique and pruning process will maximize the benefits of pruning for health and growth. We can highly recommend buying a set of Felco F 6 Pruning Shears ($65 on Amazon) which our reviewer, Pete Wise, says are “...fantastic, Swiss-made pruning shears that are the pinnacle of quality and pruning performance.”
4. Dethatch to remove dead grass
Dethatching your lawn is another fall lawn care task to complete in October. “Dethatch your lawn to remove the layer of dead grass that builds up between active grass and the soil,” recommends George Reister, a Product Management Director at Husqvarna, one of the world's leading manufacturers of lawn mowers.
He explains that this increases the amount of water and nutrients that can reach the soil and root system—which is essential to maintaining a healthy lawn. “Dethatching is recommended for mature lawns that have a deep layer of thatch,” Reister says.
One of the perfect tools to help with this is something like the Greenworks 14in Cordless Dethatcher and Scarifier which will remove thatch and aerate the soil too.
5. Aerate
Aerating your lawn this time of year can pay dividends. “Aerators pull up small plugs of soil from the lawn to fight compaction,” Reister says. “The small holes encourage new grass growth and improve airflow, water penetration, and nutrient absorption.”
He adds that aeration will benefit most lawns but says it is essential for lawns where the soil has become compacted.
George is a Director of Product Development at Husqvarna. With over 25 years' experience in the lawn care market, George has immense knowledge of ride-on mowers and their attachments. Husqvarna is one of the world's leading yard tool brands, and produces several celebrated ride-on lawn mower models.
6. Winterize your irrigation system
Some of the October yard projects may depend on where you live. “If you are in a market that has freezing temperatures, priority one is to winterize your irrigation system before the freezing weather hits,” says Gray.
The best drip irrigation systems deliver just the right amount of water to each plant which can be handy if you live in an area that is prone to drought and / or long spells of sunny weather. Winterizing them at least two to three weeks before the first frost is recommended. You can do this by removing the timer from the tap and any accessories on the tap, draining the supply lines and replacing the caps. The manufacturer of your irrigation system may have some top tips too.
7. Plant grass seeds and specimen trees
However, if you’re not in a freezing area, Gray says it’s time to plant. “The cooler weather will help everything from lawns to specimen trees get established and not suffer stress due to hot temperatures,” he says.
The advice is seconded by Johnson, who notes that the fall planting window will vary depending on your location and the specific plants you want to grow. “With proper planning and care, fall garden plants will thrive because the ground remains warm for some time during the fall, allowing plant roots to develop and grow strong.” And since there are fewer weeds in the ground during the fall, Johnson says your fall plants won’t face as much competition for crucial soil nutrients and rain.
8. Water the lawn
Depending on what part of the country you live in—especially since temperatures will remain above average this fall—Johnson says your grass will continue to grow through the fall months until the first hard freeze, frost, or snow. “It’s important to keep watering your lawn during this time, as needed, to keep it healthy,” she says.
This will also mean that the grass will continue to grow until the temperatures start to drop. Knowing when you should stop mowing your lawn before winter will help to shape up your yard tasks for November too. Heads up: for warm-season lawns, it’s generally recommended to do your last mow of the year in October (or perhaps even September), and then recommence mowing in April or May.
9. Protect tender plants with a cover
Your more delicate or tender plants may not survive winter, depending on your region. Johnson recommends covering them with something like this blanket plant cover (10FT X 30FT) for $19.99 on Amazon, or moving them indoors. This will help to protect them from strong winds, heavy rain, frost and snowfall. They'll then be ready to see in Spring 2025 with you.
10. Enrich your garden beds
Johnson also recommends adding organic mulch, compost, leaf litter or a cover crop. “The purpose is to add nutrients for microorganisms to break down throughout the winter, and as a result, the soil will be fertile and ready for planting next spring,” she explains.
This is something that the BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower, Leaf Vacuum and Mulcher (which is $94 on Amazon) could help with. By collecting leaf matter you can return the nutrients back to the soil without the cost of ready-made mulch.
For more ways to prepare the yard during October, check out the best outdoor furniture deals to create a sitting space for less and these lawn mower deals to upgrade your mower (if you need) for a discount.
