October is the month when Kamloops finally cools, soils stay workable, and winter prep becomes the name of the game.  Here are some suggestions for your fall garden tasks.

 Protecting Roses & Tender Plants

• Grafted roses — Before the ground freezes, mound 12 inches of soil around the canes so the graft is fully covered.
• Hardy/own‑root roses — These don’t need special protection; a simple fall mulch is enough.
• Geraniums — Dig and pot up any you plan to overwinter indoors.
• Coleus  – Take cuttings or bring plant indoors before the first frost. See a previous article for details  –Save Your Coleus Plants

Compost, Soil & Bed Prep

• Open compost piles — Turn it over weekly to ensure faster decomposition.
• Convert lawn to garden beds — Lay newspaper or cardboard and cover with mulch; by spring, weeds will be gone and soil will be workable.
• Empty garden spots — Cover with leaves, manure, or compost, or sow winter cover crops like rye or clover to enrich soil and suppress weeds.

 Watering & Winterizing

• Evergreens — Keep watering until the ground freezes; this prevents winter desiccation in our dry interior climate.
• Shut off irrigation — Drain systems and store hoses and watering equipment.
• Houseplants — Reduce watering now to help them harden off for winter indoors.

 Perennials, Herbs & Rhubarb

• Trim or stake perennials — Prevent wind damage as fall storms pick up.
• Rhubarb — Dig and divide every four years for vigorous spring growth.
• Herbs — Dig up and repot tender herbs; bring indoors to a sunny window.

 Harvesting & Wildlife‑Smart Cleanup

• Harvest & store produce — Continue gathering fruit and vegetables. Store potatoes in a cool, dark place.
• Apples — Store around 4°C (40°F)—not on the counter.
• Wildlife‑aware cleanup — Remove fallen fruit and vegetables to discourage rodents, bears, and other wildlife.
• Leaves — Rake leaves off the lawn to prevent mold, but feel free to leave them on garden beds as mulch, insect habitat, and slow‑release nutrients.

 Annuals & Disease Prevention

• Annual flower beds — Remove diseased plants to reduce overwintering pests.
• Fruit tree spraying — Spray only after trees are fully dormant to prevent disease.

 Trees, Shrubs & Lawns

• Planting — October is still an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs in Kamloops while soil warmth lingers.
• Mulching — Add mulch around roses, azaleas, rhododendrons, and berry plants for winter protection.
• Lawn care —
  • Mow slightly shorter to reduce snow mold.
  • Apply a fall lawn fertilizer now.
  • Continue light watering if weather stays dry.

 Garlic & Other Fall Staples

• Plant garlic — It overwinters beautifully here and will be ready next summer.

As October winds down and the first frosts settle across the Thompson Valley, these small preparations make a big difference in how our gardens rest and recover. It’s a satisfying month—tidying, mulching, harvesting, and setting the stage for a healthy spring.

If you discover a great tip, a clever shortcut, or a beautiful fall moment in your garden, the club would love to hear about it. Sharing our experiences helps strengthen the gardening community here in Kamloops, and your insights might inspire someone else’s winter prep.