Lawns

• Seed cool-season grasses such as fescue and bluegrass. Use a core aerator to remove plugs of soil to improve soil structure and promote root growth.

• Remove fallen leaves from newly seeded lawns to prevent smothering of young plants; mow and mulch leaves into soil on existing lawns.

• Control winter weeds with pre-emergent herbicides, only if you are not planning to reseed your lawn.

Ornamentals

• Do not prune or fertilize your trees and shrubs. This will disrupt their internal process of preparing for winter dormancy.

• Think about purchasing and planting spring bulbs as the cooler weather arrives.

• Fall is for planting trees and shrubs.

Find Extension’s Successful Gardener Tree Planting Guide at www.successfulgardener.org for proper planting techniques.

• Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and dusty miller for winter color.

• Cut back herbaceous perennials after frost has killed the tops.

• Plan to bring houseplants and tropical plants inside when temperatures dip below 50°F. Move plants into shade for a week to condition them to lower light levels indoors.

Edibles

• Till garden soil and add organic material and nutrients; the bed will have plenty of time to mellow before spring.

• Remove spent vegetable plants that are finished producing. Leaving these on the ground will promote insect and disease problems next year.

• If you do not have a fall vegetable garden, plant a cover crop like rye or clover.