As temperatures begin to cool, most people think of heading indoors for the winter. Actually, it’s a great time to be out in your gardens planting trees, shrubs, and perennials. With cooler temperatures, plants start to go dormant and will transition into their new environment much easier. Less watering is required and feeding is limited. Using a root simulator to reduce transplant shock is always recommended (ask about our new TRANSPLANT ONE-STEP).

Fall is also a time when you start winterizing your lawns and cleaning up annuals left over from this summer.

• It is important to clean up any dead or diseased plant material. Many insects and diseases will over-winter in these places and will re-emerge the following year.
  
• Spreading a light mulch or compost will help to protect tender perennials and will work as a natural fertilizer for the following year.
  
• Hint: Instead of throwing out your leaves, use them to cover tender perennials or spread them over your vegetable gardens and till under in the Spring.
  
• Make sure to leave seed pods for the birds to feast on in the winter.
  
• Mark your perennials now so you know what they are when they emerge in the Spring.
  
• Plant Evergreens to provide Birds and small animals with protection in the winter from predators.
  
• Plant Tulips, Daffodils, Crocus, Scilla, Hyacinths, and more for color in the Spring.
  
• Cut back perennials (even though they are dying back).
• Remove entire remains of annuals.
• Rake up debris to avoid insect growth.
• Fertilize shrubs and trees - fertilizing helps plants to become more cold-hardy and enhance next years' flower crop.
• Add fertilizer, organic matter and garden lime (if soil ph requires) to areas where vegetables and annuals have been growing by plowing/spade into soil.
• Stake and create windbreaks for newly planted evergreens.
• "Hill-up" soil to about 10" over the base of rosebushes.
• Cover strawberry beds with 4 - 6" of straw or hay and mulch.
• Inspect, clean and repair all equipment, hand tools and containers.
  
• Fill up your Bird Feeders!
  
• Finally, settle back for the winter, while planning for your springtime garden!