LAWNS
* This is a good time to core aerate compacted soils. Use a plug aerator versus a spike to allow air and water to better penetrate the soil.
* If you have reseeded the lawn, it's important to keep the tree leaves from accumulating. The leaf blower is easier on the seedlings than a rake.
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ORNAMENTALS
* Fall is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Pull roots loose on container grown plants and do not plant too deep. Dig the planting hole only as deep as the root ball is tall and twice as wide. Water thoroughly and mulch.
* Purchase spring blooming bulbs and begin planting late in October and November.
* Plant pansies, violas, johnny jump ups, kale and ornamental cabbage for cool
season color in containers or garden beds.
* Remove spent annuals and shake out seeds if you want zinnias, cosmos, cleome, and similar reseeding annuals to return next year.
* Leave seed heads on some perennials for the small birds to finish off.
* Clean up houseplants before temperatures drop and they come indoors. Inspect carefully and treat to avoid insect infestations midwinter.
*Take cuttings of favorite annuals like Begonias, Coleus, and Bat Face Cuphea. Instructions for taking stem cuttings are included in THIS VIDEO by EMG John Bowen.
FRUITS
* Practice good sanitation if diseases were in the gardens and orchards. Be sure to rake leaves, remove any fruit left in the trees and pick up all fruit from the ground.
* Attend to the strawberry bed and pull weeds, fertilize and water if needed.
*Although fruit trees are less available in local nurseries this time of year, Fall is a great time for planting. Check with local or mail order suppliers for availability.
VEGETABLES
* Good sanitation is important to keep insects and diseases down during the next growing season. Remove spent plants and infested material. Compost separately, clean and infested.
* If tomato plants were infected with late blight, it is best to destroy those plants by burying deeply or bagging them and sending them out in the trash.
* Harvest herbs before a hard frost. Make pesto with Basil or freeze leaves of
others for later use.
* Consider planting a cover crop to turn under in early spring. Be sure to leave
some open space (mulched with leaves) for early spring planting.
* Spray all crucifers (cabbage family crops) with organic B.t. (Bacillus thruingiensis) every 7 to 10 days to manage the various caterpillars that eat the plants. A row cover is also an effective way to control insects.
* Harvest sweet potatoes, pumpkins and winter squashes before frost.
* Purchase row cover and make preparations to overwinter fall vegetables. Check out THIS publication and read more about season extenders such as Cloches, Low tunnels and row covers, Cold frames and hot beds, High tunnels, and Greenhouses.
*NOW is the time to plant garlic Oct - Nov. A very easy and delicious crop to grow. Apply mulch to keep the weeds out.
Other
* Leave hummingbird feeders out for late migrating birds.
*Clean out birdhouses.
