Fall is an excellent time to improve the landscape.
Warm days, cool nights and increasing rainfall
combined with warm soil temperatures make fall ideal
for the fast establishment of newly planted trees,
shrubs, perennials, lawns and more.

Fall Bulbs
Plant fall bulbs (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus) no earlier
than mid October. They can be planted easily through
December as long as the ground is workable. Buy your bulbs
early for best selection and store them in a cool, dry spot until
ready to plant.
1. Don’t skimp on proper depth. This keeps bulbs from sprouting early.
2. Water in well. Add bone meal to the site or use Root ‘N Grow
solution to get bulbs established well.
3. Mulch with 2 inches of bark mulch to keep soil temperatures even.

Landscape Maintenance
1. Avoid pruning spring blooming shrubs, particularly azaleas and
rhododendron, as their buds often set in the fall.
2. Apply triple superphosphate to hydrangeas in October for more buds
next spring. One cup per plant. Repeat in April.
3. Do a thorough cleanup of landscape beds in late fall to allow plants a
fresh start next spring.
4. You can safely transplant trees, shrubs and perennials once leaf fall
has achieved 60% as plants are now dormant.
5. Start spraying houseplants to get rid of any insects before bringing
plants indoors. Move inside around October 1st.
6. Water all newly planted trees, shrubs and evergreens up until ground
freezes.
7. Gradually reduce mower blade height to eventually reach 2 inch
cutting height for winter.
8. Be sure to rake all leaves from lawn and landscape beds to cut down
on spring cleanup and smothering of lawn areas.
9. Protect Hybrid Tea, Floribunda and Grandiflora Roses by heaping
soil or shredded bark mulch 12-15 inches above bud graft. Prune
roses after 2-3 hard frosts. Do not cover until Thanksgiving or leaves
drop off.