Add trees and shrubs
to your landscape.

Planting Trees and Shrubs -- Cooler weather means it's time to start planting again. Plant perennials, container roses, and container or balled-and-burlapped trees and shrubs now or in November. However, since October can be dry in some areas, be sure to keep them well-watered.

Planting Trees and Shrubs

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

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

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.

Composting 101 -- If you haven't already, create a compost heap. It's a great, eco-friendly way to get rid of yard waste and enrich your soil besides. And if you do have a compost heap, fall is a great time to take it apart and work the rich, black compost into your holes as you plant.

Composting 101

• "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.

USDA Zone Maps -- Except in the warmest regions (Zones 9 and warmer), halt fertilizing. It just encourages tender new growth that is likely to get nipped by winter cold.

USDA Zone Maps

• Also halt pruning for the same reason. It encourages a new flush of growth.
• 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.

Repair the Lawn -- Now is an excellent time to reseed and repair lawns. You'll need to water as often as daily until the seed has sprouted and established. Wait to plant grass seed until October in warmer regions, when there are cooler temperatures and rain.

Repair the Lawn

Deadheading 101 -- Keep deadheading. For the most flowers and tidiest garden, deadhead daily.

Deadheading 101

Fertilizing Plants and Pots -- Continue to fertilize containers containing annuals.

Fertilizing Plants and Pots