Great Lakes October Garden Checklist: Color, Frost-Tolerant Blooms, and Holiday Prep

October in the Great Lakes is wildly variable—highs in the 80s to snow. Embrace the changes in foliage, blooms, tasks, and decorating.

Witness Fall Color

Big show in October. Sumac (Rhus copallina) exemplifies dramatic change from cool nights and sunny days (drought may dull colors this year). Ground-level color: native prairie grasses peak in red, yellow, purple, orange. Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) sets off smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve 'Bluebird') with sweet alyssum at their feet. Perennial foliage: Penstemon 'Dark Towers', hosta, geranium species, echinacea blaze.

Appreciate Frost-Tolerant Blooms

First hard frost usually October. Many flowers tolerate frost (not freeze): cranesbill (Geranium 'Bob's Blunder'), snapdragons, Diascia, petunia. New frost-tolerant blooms: small Allium thunbergii 'Ozawa' to tall monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii, 6 ft) and Siberian aster (Aster tataricus). Korean mums (Chrysanthemum x rubellum 'Sheffield Pink') are hardy, perennial, bloom into December.

Extend Garden Color

Berries and seed heads ripen: reddish bracts of seven son's flower (Heptacodium miconioides) extend show. Dark red seed heads of Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo' (Diablo) with bright red turning leaves. Rose hips, crab apples, Viburnum fruits offer color until wildlife eats them. Native Solomon's seal (Polygonatum commutatum) and Solomon's plum (Maianthemum racemosum) offer berries and fall foliage.

Manage Pests

Potato beetles damage asters, mums, roses. Daily hand-picking while deadheading minimizes damage.

Plant and Divide for Spring

• Divide spring-blooming wildflowers/ephemerals (Jack-in-the-pulpit benefits).
• Plant spring bulbs; some in containers for forcing (cool dark place, water weekly).
• Collect/shred leaves for leaf-mold pile.
• Dig dahlias and tender bulbs after frost blackens foliage.
• Move container perennials to ground for establishment.
• Bring in tender perennials before hard frost.

Decorate for Holidays

Pumpkins in containers/garden fill empty spaces—spray with deer/squirrel repellent. Grapevine wreaths with berries/seed heads for front door. Jack-o'-lanterns and Halloween decor on porch.

Enjoy Seasonal Change

Watch butterfly/bird migration. Don't spend all time working—get out and enjoy nature's finery.