Fact Sheets
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Apple Picking, Leave the Leaves, Jack-O-Lanterns & other October News
Leave the Leaves: Let's Clear it Up!
At this time of year, we see the same question in many forms:
- Should I clean my garden now?
- What is your opinion on "leave the leaves?"
- Is it better to clean up your garden in the spring or fall?
In essence, many gardeners seek guidance on what the best move to make is for cleaning up their gardens. In reality, the "best" decision can be different for different gardeners. These are the considerations we want to bring to mind:
Reasons to Leave Plant Debris/Leaf Litter
- Create a haven for insects and wildlife to overwinter in
- Provide a layer of organic matter/natural mulch in your garden beds
- You have more time for garden chores in the spring
- Plants with sensitive crowns may be better if left alone over the winter and managed in the spring
- Late blooming plants may still be in flower, or ornamental seed heads provide winter interest for your garden space
If You Do "Leave the Leaves"
- Mulch or shred leaves that will be left on the lawn to break down. This causes them to release nutrients into the soil at a faster pace and gives plants below a chance to find sunlight in the spring
- If unable to mulch your leaves, do not leave more than an inch or two of fully intact leaves. Thicker leaves will hold moisture and encourage disease or smother plant material below. They are also slower to break down and will need to be managed in the spring.
- Monitor for pests like jumping worms in leaf piles
- Monitor closely next growing season for signs of pest and disease and manage as soon as possible!
When you SHOULD clean up in the fall:
- Your garden has experienced fungal disease or significant pest damage
- Sanitation is a least-toxic method of control when it comes to managing garden pest problems.
- Many fungal spores and vegetable targeting insects will overwinter in the leaf pile alongside beneficial insects. If you have had a particularly damaging year, it may be in your best interest to remove that leaf litter and plant debris from your property.
- There are plants (perennials & ornamental grasses, in particular) along your foundation or in other areas of your property that could encourage undesired rodent damage?
- There's no doubt that rodents and small mammals need a home to overwinter in, but by removing possible shelters early in the fall, they will be encouraged to move elsewhere before the real cold sets in.
- Trees or shrubs on your property have experienced girdling or rodent damage before.
- Building up leaves to insulate plants can be great! However, if past trials of this have resulted in damage to the stems or trunks, you may want to reconsider this method.
Keep Your Jack-O-Lanterns Fresh!
Everyone loves to carve a pumpkin! Jack-O-Lanterns (which were originally carved from turnips), are a festive tradition that many of us enjoy!
And whether you're a skilled artist or a spirited novice, keeping your jack-o-lantern fresh for the season is important! Learn about the traditions of the Jack-O-Lantern and how to keep yours well preserved at the links below!
Plant Highlight: Monkshood
Monkshood, also called helmet flower and wolfsbane, is a deer-resistant non-aggressive, non-invasive non-native perennial that flowers in late summer-October here in Connecticut. The flowers are a striking deep, dark purple blue on upright spikes. It can used in cut flower arrangements. This is a good plant for shade conditions.
Wildlife Highlight: Birds Are On the Move!
The Palm Warbler is a small warbler that forages primarily for insects. They will eat seeds and berries if available. These little birds migrate through our area in the spring and fall! Like a Phoebe, they are known for their characteristic tail wagging when they rest.
Late September is the beginning of migration to warmer climates of many species of birds that pass through Connecticut. Cornell University has many helpful fact sheets and other bird information tools that cover birds either breeding in or migrating through the North.
Upcoming Events and Things to Do
- See the Calendar of Fairs in Connecticut - There's still a few fairs left this season!
- It's Apple Season! Visit a pick-your-own orchard, or find your favorite apple flavored treats starting this month!
- Interested in "leaf peeping?" Use this Foliage Finder guide to track fall color in the state!
- Explore a Corn Maze!
- Visit the CT Garlic & Harvest Festival Oct 12 & 13 in Bethlehem, CT
- Roger Williams Zoo is hosting their Annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Sept 27-Nov 2 in Providence, RI
- There's still plenty of time to complete the Sky's the Limit Hiking Challenge!
Educational Opportunities & Workshops
- Autumn Bird Walk - October 5th, Derby, CT
- Peoples State Forest 100th Anniversary Celebration, October 6th, Barkhamsted, CT
- Native Plant Seed Collecting Workshop, October 12, New London, CT
- SALT Conference, November 2nd, New London, CT
- CT NOFA Farm & Garden Conference, November 2nd, New Haven, CT
CT Invasive Plant Working Group
In-Person Symposium
October 29th, 2024
UConn Student Union
Storrs, CT
Newspaper Articles
I Want My Mum: A Fall Classic Through the Ages
By Abigayle Ward, UConn Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture Graduate Student
With the arrival of fall, one popular bloom brings the brilliant colors of forest foliage to our doorstep: With flower colors coming in purple, red, orange, yellow, and more, chrysanthemums, or more simply, mums, have been a favorite for centuries. First domesticated in China over 3,000 years ago, mum roots, seedlings, and flower pedals were used as herbal remedies in traditional Chinese medicine.
For nearly 2,000 years, mums have been the symbol of fall in Chinese culture: The Double Ninth Festival, celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, celebrates harvest, ancestors, and the beauty of autumn, with mums taking center stage as both decorations, accessories, and a floral wine.
First introduced to Europeans in the 1600s, mums quickly became a fall favorite. By the mid-1800s, the Victorians had written extensive literature on the interpretation and meaning of the color of each bloom. While some colors have carried the same meaning for thousands of years – such as white blooms symbolizing mourning – others took on entirely different meanings. While in China, a red mum represents fortune and luck, a Victorian would interpret this as a declaration of love.
Luckily, it seems many home gardeners in the United States nowadays are more concerned with the aesthetic appeal of their blooms than the meanings, so major misunderstandings are avoided. With several thousand cultivars available, mums come in many color combinations and growth habits. The National Chrysanthemum Society of the USA recognizes 13 different flower classes, ranging from 6-inch diameter flower balls with many layers of florets to smaller, 2-inch diameter flowers with only a single layer of a few petals. Some mums bloom early, in August, while others will bloom in October.
Further, some mums are annuals regardless of USDA hardiness zone, while others are perennials in zones 5-9. While so-called “florist mums” or “pot mums” are generally grown as annuals and will not survive winter frost, “garden mums” can survive winter frost if planted early enough in the growing season. If you wish to purchase a garden mum, but the mums are unmarked, a good way to tell the difference between florist and garden mums is to check for stolons near the base of the plant. Stolons, also known as “runners”, are shoots that grow out from the base of the mother plant. A daughter plant may have roots growing from the end of a stolon. If you want to purchase a perennial mum, check around the base of the stem for stolons – they will most likely be quite short but are a good sign that the plants may overwinter successfully. Alternatively, if you want to be sure you grow a permanent mum installation that comes back year-after-year, you can start some varieties of hardy garden mums from seed in late winter prior to planting out in spring. Get any mums you want to try overwintering in the ground as soon as possible. You can plant mums next year in spring or summertime to give them plenty of sunny weather to grow hearty root systems prior to the first winter frost of 2025. Mulch around your fall planted mums to help insulate their roots from frost.
Both annual and perennial mums benefit from at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. In Connecticut, a sunny spot to the south of your home would be ideal. Water mums thoroughly once the topsoil is dry but try not to wet the leaves or the flowers. Water left on the leaves or flowers can make mums prone to fungal diseases, which can make them unsightly or even kill them in severe cases. Towards the end of the season, especially between October and November, consider leaving the blooms on as long as possible to allow late-season pollinators to collect nectar.
Whether planted in a permanent flower garden or kept in a pot on the porch for fall, mums are an excellent addition of rich fall colors to any home gardener’s flower collection. Consider picking some up this season at your local garden center or plan on purchasing plants or seeds next year.
If you have a question on caring for your mums or for other gardening questions, contact the UCONN Home & Garden Education Center, toll-free, at (877) 486-6271, visit their web site at www.homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu or contact your local Cooperative Extension Center.
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