Fall Gardening Tips

Whether a novice gardener or the green-thumb on the block, the fall months are the perfect time to sharpen your gardening skills while preparing your garden for winter. You can plant spring bulbs, divide and re-plant perennials, bring in entirely new plants, trees, and shrubs, and rejuvenate your lawn with new grasses. These so-called "chores," come spring, will ensure your garden dazzles with beautiful blooms and a healthy, thick lawn - essentially becoming the sparkle in your neighborhood's eye! Follow these essential garden tasks and you'll be handsomely rewarded:

• Rake up leaves and prune trees and shrubs.
• Water plants thoroughly to make sure they retain enough moisture over the winter months to prevent dehydration; keep watering newly-planted trees and shrubs, especially evergreens, until the ground freezes.
• Fertilize your garden and lawn in September and again in November.
• Apply a 4-6 inch layer of mulch to garden beds and around trees and shrubs.
• Transplant shrubs or trees to new locations.
• Divide spring and summer-blooming perennial plants. Plant new spring-blooming bulbs and perennials.

For additional information on fall gardening, check out these sites:

• Gardening Activities for the Fall and Winter
• Fall Lawn and Garden Tips
• Fall Gardening Ideas, Tips, & Strategies
• Winterizing the Landscape in Fall