What Landscape Work Should I Still Be Doing in October?
October is less about making everything tidy and more about moisture, leaves, irrigation, and finishing time-sensitive work before hard freezes.
In October, prioritize jobs that protect plants and systems: keep mowing while grass grows, manage leaves without stripping every bed, winterize irrigation before a damaging freeze, and monitor soil moisture after the sprinklers are off.
Colorado Springs weather can change quickly. Use the forecast and the condition of your own soil and plants rather than trying to finish a fixed list on one weekend.
Do now
- Continue mowing cool-season turf at its normal height while it is actively growing; do not scalp it for winter.
- Shred a manageable layer of leaves into the lawn and move useful leaf material to appropriate beds or compost.
- Complete early-fall tree planting only when soil is workable and you can provide establishment water.
- Disconnect hoses and winterize vulnerable irrigation components before hard freezes.
- Check newly planted trees, evergreens, south- and west-facing beds, and areas under roof overhangs for dry soil.
Can wait
Most ornamental grasses and healthy perennial stems can stand through winter. Routine tree pruning is usually not an October priority; inspect structure now and plan appropriate dormant-season work instead. Major shrub pruning without knowing the species can remove next spring's flower buds.
Do not let cleanup create a new problem
Avoid piling leaves or mulch against trunks, burying small evergreen plants, or leaving a dense wet mat over turf. In wildfire-conscious areas, remove combustible accumulations near structures even if leaf litter is useful elsewhere.
Do not assume the first snow replaces irrigation. Snow water content varies, and exposed ground can remain dry.
Sources & further reading
These Field Notes translate Colorado horticultural guidance into practical homeowner language. For the underlying recommendations, start with the original CSU Extension resources: