Give your houseplants shelter.

• If you haven't already, move your houseplants back indoors this month.

Planting Trees and Shrubs -- You can continue planting perennials, container roses, and container or balled-and-burlapped trees and shrubs.

Planting Trees and Shrubs

USDA Zone Maps -- Plant spring-blooming bulbs. In cooler regions where winters get cold enough, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and others can be planted directly in the ground. In warmer regions (usually Zones 8 and warmer), however, bulbs need more cold so you'll need to chill them in a paper bag in the fridge for 10-12 weeks first before planting outdoors. If you're unsure, ask at your local garden center.

USDA Zone Maps

• In warmer portions of the South, you can continue to plant fall vegetable crops, which thrive in cooler weather. These include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuces, various greens, and radishes.
• In warmer portions of the South, you can also continue to plant cool-season annual flowers, as such as pansies, calendula, candytuft, foxgloves, snapdragons, stock, and sweet alyssum.

Dividing Perennials -- Divide perennials as needed, especially spring-blooming perennials that you shouldn't divide next spring right before or during their bloom time.

Dividing Perennials

• As perennials fade or become ratty, cut them back nearly to the ground. Pull out dead annuals.
• Now is a good time to transplant small trees and shrubs.
• For a green winter lawn, overseed with annual rye. However, it will mean mowing throughout the winter.
• "Winterize" your lawn with a fertilizer made especially for application this time of year and apply a pre-emergent herbicide as well. Look for a product that combines both.
• Continue to water lawns as needed. As a rule, if there have been no rains, don't go more than 10-14 days without giving your turf a good soaking.

Fall Tool Care -- At the end of the season, clean and oil hand tools and store.

Fall Tool Care

• After the last mowing of the season, take in your mower to be serviced and have the blade sharpened so it's ready to go for spring. Winterize all power equipment by allowing it to run until the gasoline runs out.
• Drain irrigation systems as needed. In all but the warmest regions, unscrew hoses from hydrants or they might burst a pipe when the water freezes. Drain the hose and store in a covered place.