Gardener’s To-Do List for October

Zone 3

• After a light frost, begin harvesting sweetened turnips, parsnips, and other late veggies left in the ground.
• Collect and store flower bulbs—such as gladiolus, freesia, calla, and canna bulbs—after their tops have frozen.
• Water trees, shrubs, perennials, roses, and lawns before the ground freezes hard.
• Cut back tender roses to 10 to 12 inches, and remove all foliage so insects and diseases can't winter over.
• Cover tender, hybrid roses with leaves or straw to protect against winter temperature changes.
• Harvest late apples before the end of the month.
• Clean up garden debris before the first snowfall.