5 October Garden Tasks That Always Pay Off Big in Fall and Winter

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Here’s to hoping the weather finally turns cool in October. September was brutal in Birmingham, Alabama—over 90º most days with weeks without rain. I even resorted to watering the lawn, which, as I’ve mentioned before , I am loath to do.

Normally in October I would cut back all the dead plants in the yard—Black-Eyed Susan, echinacea, etc. But this year, after reading up on the topic, I’m being more particular about what plants I cut back and will be leaving many untouched. Leaving spent growth (as long as it’s not diseased) in the yard during the winter provides shelter and food, in the form of seeds, for birds, insects, and small mamma