Soil Preparation and Planting Tips
In mild areas set out hardy annuals. Find a location with the correct amount of lifght and plant bare root, container grown, and ball and burlap plants after amending the soil. Plan and plant your large containers with trees and spring flowering bulbs. In early fall sow a last crop of salad greens and winter salad vegetables, put Oriental brassicas under cover. In mid fall add compost and nutrients to your empty vegetable and flowerbeds. The soil should be tossed and fluffed for better aeration and incorporation of the organic material. Rake your lawns clear of leaves, acorns and other debris. Falls is the perfect time to seed or sod new lawns and over seed and de-thatch established lawns. Pot up strawberry runners and baby plants in containers storing them in the green house or a deep cold frame for an early spring start.
Now is a good time to sow seeds of plants that are happy to over winter outdoors. Included in this group are annual poppies, larkspur, cosmos, cleome, nigella, annual baby’s breath, alpine strawberries, pansies and others. Sow early flowering indoor plants under cover. In late fall collect and sow seed of hardy roses, shrubs, and perennials. Early fall is a good time to divide fibrous rooted perennials and shrubs. Divide mat growing rock garden plants and bog or water garden plants. Herbs that form rizomatis clumps should also be divided. You can increase your bulb supply by chipping the bulb to encourage growth of new plants the following year. In early to mid fall take semi ripe cuttings of trees, climbing plants and herbs. Take leaf bud cuttings of shrubs, and cuttings from the basal clump of mat forming rock garden plants. Take stem tip cuttings of perennials. Mid to late fall you can take root cuttings of rockery plants and hardwood cuttings of currants, gooseberries, wine berries, and raspberries in prepared beds in open soil. Hardwood cuttings of roses, perennials, shrubs, and trees should be taken in late fall. Shrubs and climbers can be layered and shrubby herbs can be propagated by layering a mound around existing branches. Divide and replant rooted suckers of raspberries, blackberries, and hazelnuts.
Pruning and Training
In early to mid fall prune deciduous trees to help improve their form, renovate an overgrown crossed branch tree, and hedges made from trees. Train new shoots on climbing roses in the areas that need filling in. Prune climbers, standards, miniatures, floribundas and hybrid tea roses and remove any dead wood. Shrubs in high wind areas should be pruned after flowering. Make your cuts up and out so that you increase air circulation in the center of the bush. Prune old canes from your raspberry and blackberry beds. Train new growth onto strong trellis supports.
Routine Care
Clear fallen leaves and debris around shrubs, trees, and rose bushes. Deadhead flowers after you have saved the seeds. Cut back perennials and biannuals to four inches above ground level. Clear leaves from shrubby herbs and prune them back by one third. Water bulbs that are being forced, stored under cover or that have gone dormant. Cut back on the watering and fertilizing of houseplants. Mulch trees, shrubs, perennials, and climbers. Repot and top-dress houseplants. Bring in peppers, herbs, and tender annuals for wintering over as houseplants. In late fall you can move or plant large trees, shrubs, and mature perennials and herbs. Dig and store dahlias and other non hardy summer flowering bulbs in a cool dark place with slightly damp sawdust. Make sure to do a thorough cleaning of all growing areas, walkways, and containers. Clean and store all of your tools. Wash and clean the green house and pots and trays that will be used for seed starting this winter. Harvest and store vegetables from the garden and bring in houseplants that have summered outdoors.