October Gardening and Lawn Tips in Minnesota

October in Minnesota means crisp mornings, changing leaves, and a final chance to get your landscape ready for the cold months ahead. While summer blooms may be fading, fall is still an essential time for garden landscaping, lawn prep, and planning your next landscape design move.

At Otten Bros, we’ve been helping Minnesotans care for their landscapes since 1953 with expert knowledge, high-quality plants, tools, and full-service residential landscaping support. Whether you’re maintaining your low-maintenance plants, cleaning up your yard, or thinking about hardscape upgrades like a new concrete patio or retaining wall, here’s what you should be doing this October.

1. Clean Up Garden Beds and Remove Annuals

Start the month by removing spent annuals, cutting back perennials, and pulling weeds before they go to seed. A clean garden bed helps reduce pests and disease while making spring cleanup much easier.

What to Cut Back:

• Daylilies
  
• Hostas
  
• Peonies
  
• Bee Balm
  

Leave ornamental grasses and seed heads (like coneflowers) for winter interest and wildlife support. They also look stunning alongside stepping stone walkway designs and other landscape design walkways.

2. Plant Spring Bulbs Before the Ground Freezes

October is your last call to plant spring-blooming bulbs like tulips, daffodils, allium, and crocus. Tuck them into landscape front yard designs, garden beds, or along a paver walkway design for vibrant early color next year.

Pro Tip: Mix bulbs among low-maintenance plants and evergreens for a layered look that’s beautiful year-round.

3. Mulch and Protect Perennials

Add a fresh layer of mulch—2 to 3 inches—to insulate perennial roots from Minnesota’s deep freeze. This is especially important for newer plantings.

Mulch also helps:

• Suppress weeds
  
• Retain moisture
  
• Prevent soil erosion in areas with sloped yards or poor landscape drainage
  

Consider installing custom retaining walls or grading solutions to protect your investment if drainage is an issue. Our team at Otten Bros offers expert help with landscaping and water drainage throughout your property.

4. Prep Your Lawn for Winter

October is the final window for lawn care before winter sets in. Here’s how to ensure your turf returns green and strong in spring:

• Rake leaves regularly to prevent fungal growth
  
• Apply a fall fertilizer high in potassium to strengthen roots
  
• Mow low (2–2.5”) for the final cut
  
• Aerate and overseed if you didn’t in September
  

If you’ve had recurring problems with water pooling or bare patches, it may be time to rework your yard design or install a concrete block retaining wall to improve function.

5. Bring in Container Plants and Prep Outdoor Spaces

Before frost, bring in any tender perennials or tropical plants you want to overwinter indoors. Clean and store ceramic pots to prevent cracking.

While you’re at it, clean and prep outdoor living spaces for the off-season. Cover furniture and drain hoses, and check that your concrete patio or paver walkway is free of debris.

Are you planning to upgrade your outdoor area next season? Fall is the perfect time to connect with our landscape designers and begin mapping out your 2025 backyard landscape design ideas.

6. Consider Hardscaping Before Winter Hits

Fall is a fantastic time to install hardscape features like walkways, patios, and retaining walls. The cooler temps and lighter contractor schedules make it easier to get work done before the ground freezes.

Otten Bros partners with trusted retaining wall contractors and offers complete landscape design in MN, including:

• Concrete patios
  
• Retaining walls and erosion control
  
• Luxury landscape planning
  
• Easy backyard landscape designs for low-fuss beauty
  

Let us help you create a landscape that’s built to last and easy to maintain, no matter the season.

Final Thoughts

October is your last chance to get your lawn and garden in shape before the snow flies. With proper cleanup, thoughtful planting, and strategic hardscaping, you can protect your investment and set your landscape up for success next year.

Whether you’re refreshing garden landscaping, installing custom retaining walls, or dreaming up backyard landscape ideas, Otten Bros is here to help. With over 70 years of experience and a team of passionate plant and landscape design specialists, we’ll make sure your landscape is ready for whatever Minnesota throws your way.