Garden Keeping Journal - October Edition
Tips, Inspiration & Checklists for Zone-7 (and neighboring) gardeners
Not a Zone-7 gardener?
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October in the high country is such a gift.
The days still feel a like late summer, but the mornings and evenings are crisp enough to make you reach for a sweater and linger a little longer with your coffee on the porch.
I love this in-between stretch. It’s as if the garden is taking a deep, contented sigh before settling into its autumn reset.
Right now, I’m holding steady on irrigation, but soon I’ll begin dialing things back. By mid- to late October, our first freeze is usually knocking at the door, so this is the month to stay alert. That means it’s almost time to start thinking about draining and powering down irrigation systems, and tucking things in for the colder days ahead.
Meanwhile, I’ve been unboxing a few long-awaited plant orders - perennials and lots of seeds I’ve been dreaming about adding before the soil turns cold.
October (and often well into December) is still a beautiful window for planting, and I find myself soaking up every moment outdoors, whether it’s hands in the dirt or just porch sittin’ and admiring the rich colors in the landscape.
I’ve pulled together your detailed October Checklist to keep things easy and organized. Let’s make the most of this season before winter truly sets in. Keep reading…
While we don’t offer garden maintenance services here at The Whiskey Porch, I’ve put together these monthly garden keeping checklists to help you stay on track.
Whether you’re handling everything yourself or working with a maintenance crew, these guides are designed to be practical and helpful if you’re gardening in or around Prescott, Arizona. Or any Zone-7 landscape.
Each checklist is tailored to the specific microclimate I experience here in downtown Prescott, so your own timing might vary slightly depending on your exact location, elevation, and what you're growing. Generally speaking, these tips align with USDA Zone 7b.
Of course, no two years are exactly alike. Some seasons bring an early hard freeze in late October, while others hold off until December. Keep that in mind as you plan your tasks.
These checklists are geared toward landscape gardens that include mostly perennials, plus veggies and herbs.
Let’s get to it.
