October sees a real shift in the garden, as summer perennials fade and transition into dormancy. For coneflowers (or ), there are a few things to do this month to help them with this change and prepare for winter.

It's pretty low maintenance to grow coneflowers. With a hardiness across zones 3-9, they return reliably in spring with little winter protection. Nevertheless, in the coldest climes, newly planted coneflowers benefit from some light mulching (you can use this mulch blend from Walmart) to insulate roots. It's also best not to cut back coneflowers this month and allow the seedheads to remain for birds to eat.

Really, coneflower care in October is pretty minimal. However, ticking off the below tasks can help yours make a glorious return next year.

1. Leave Seedheads for Birds

Coneflowers are one of the best plants for seedheads, with the center cones drying and turning into sculptural silhouettes for the winter garden.

As well as leaving them to provide some structure in your flower beds once everything else fades, you should also leave seedheads to help feed birds in fall and winter. Each seedhead contains dozens of fat and protein-filled seeds for the birds to eat where other natural food sources are scarce.

Another reason you should avoid cutting coneflowers back now is that their hollow stems can provide shelter for overwintering insects, including native bees.

This is why there's danger in over-tidying your yard in fall and why you should hold back until spring once the insects leave.

To provide even more food for birds, make sure to also hang up a bird feeder. Tube bird feeders (like this from Walmart) are beneficial in fall and winter because they keep out moisture which can cause mold.

2. Remove Diseased Foliage

While there isn't a need to cut back coneflowers in October, you should inspect these perennials for any diseased and damaged foliage.

Any plants that suffered with powdery mildew and fungal diseases should be removed as they can overwinter and may spread further in your garden come spring.

Likewise, any coneflowers that experienced plant diseases like aster yellows can be cut back to a couple of inches above the ground.

You should always use clean and sharp pruning tools for this, like these Fiskars bypass pruning shears from Amazon. Avoid composting this material and rather dispose of it, as this also risks disease spread in your garden.

Make sure to also clean your gardening tools after use.

3. Winterize Potted Coneflowers

If you grow coneflowers in pots, they require a bit more winter protection than those in the ground. This is because their roots are more exposed to the cold temps and frost, risking damage that may kill off your plant.

You can protect container plants by relocating them to a sheltered location, wrapping pots in burlap for insulation (like this burlap from Amazon), and putting a light layer of mulch on the surface to lock in moisture.

If you don't have a sheltered position available, this portable cold frame from Walmart can be a handy investment.

4. Put Down Mulch

While they need minimal protection, it's wise to winterize coneflowers by mulching. This will keep plant roots warm and hydrated, ensuring they stay healthy for returning next year.

Luckily, there are lots of fall mulching materials you can gather from the garden for free, including making leaf mulch. Alternatively, you can purchase bags of mulch from Lowe's.

You only need to put down a light layer of mulch around the base of your coneflowers, between 2-4 inches depending on how cold your climate is. Ensure the mulch is a few inches away from the crown and stems of your coneflowers, as it may risk rot and kill off your plant.

5. Divide Overcrowded Coneflowers

You can divide coneflowers every 3-4 years as new clumps form. This will rejuvenate your coneflowers and keep them productive for more years to come.

While many gardeners wait to divide plants in spring, fall is also a good time to do it – so long as it's around three weeks before the first hard frost. This will give your coneflowers enough time to settle and recover before freezing temperatures arrive.

To divide coneflowers, cut the stems back to a couple of inches to avoid excessive moisture loss.

Dig a few inches around the coneflower and lift carefully. A hori hori knife (like this from Amazon) can be useful for this.

You can then use your garden knife or garden fork (like this from Burpee) to split the clumps into healthy sections, each with their own root system and crown.

When you replant, make sure to water well to help the new plants settle in.

What to Shop

Coneflowers aren't the only perennials that need some attention this month. Our guide to plants to overwinter in October has more information on which to lift and store, and our list of essential winterizing tools can make your fall jobs easier.

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