In this episode of The ATXGardens Podcast, Colleen shares exactly what Central Texas gardeners should focus on in the first half of October. From adjusting your irrigation system to protecting tender veggies from early freezes, she covers practical tips to help your plants thrive as the seasons shift.

You’ll hear a real-life consultation story from Karina in East Austin, plus timely advice on why you should stop fertilizing, how to use seaweed as a soil supplement, and why now is the best time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials. Colleen also shares her favorite tools, the importance of seed saving, and a full rundown of upcoming Central Texas gardening events and seed swaps.

Whether you’re tending a pocket prairie, managing a veggie patch, or just figuring out what to do with all those leaves, this episode will get you set up for fall gardening success.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How to adjust irrigation for Austin’s new watering schedule
• Why you should stop trimming and fertilizing this month
• The difference between fertilizers vs. soil amendments (and why seaweed is a great choice)
• Why fall is the best time to plant or transplant trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs
• Easy ways to save and share seeds through Central Texas Seed Savers
• Tools Colleen recommends for transplanting, watering, and dividing plants
• How to protect your cool-season veggies from the first freeze
• October’s best picks for herbs, lawns, and wildflower planting
• A roundup of upcoming seed swaps, workshops, and gardening festivals in Central Texas

Links & Resources Mentioned

• Make an appointment or shop at ATXGardens.com
• Connect on Instagram @atxgardens_
• Find your watering day if you are an Austin Water Customer. https://www.austintexas.gov/department/find-your-watering-day
• Maxicrop Seaweed: Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed (Kelp Extract, 32 Oz - Amazon Affiliate commissions earned.
• Little round yellow sprinkler: QVS 004113 Naan Irrigator Sprinkler 30 ' Round Carded, No Size, Yellow - Amazon Affiliate commissions earned.
• Root Slayer for digging up sapling trees: Radius Garden 22011 Root Slayer Shovel, Red - Amazon Affiliate commissions earned.
• “Let’s Care for Texas Plants” maintenance guide: https://www.atxgardens.com/store-books-and-info
• Native American Seed for wildflower seeds: seedsource.com

Upcoming events:

• Oct 12 – 9:30-11:30 Heirloom Fruit Tree Preservation Project talk (Austin Water Utilities Center For Environmental Research, Hornsby Bend)
• Oct 18 – 11:00-4:00 Healing Roots and Wings Festival (Givens Park, Organic Vegetable Gardening class)
• Nov 1 – Central Texas Seed Savers Fall Festival Fundraiser (Greensleeves Nursery, Pflugerville)
• Nov 8 – 11:00-1:00 Central Texas Seed Savers Annual Seed Swap (Austin Public Library Central)
• Nov 8 – Garden Conservancy Tour, Pollinator Paradise (designed by Leah Churner)
• Nov 17 – 6:30 Williamson County Master Gardeners Meeting (Tree Planting talk)

Find more on upcoming events.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow Central Texas gardeners!