Spring flowering bulbs can be planted now through Novermber. Plant with one
tablespoon of bulb food per bulb.
Mums, Japanese Anemones, Sedum and Flowering Kale and Cabbage can be planted now for
fall color. Pansies can be planted for flowers most of the winter.
Lawns, trees and shrubs need less care when planted in September and early October.
The cool moist weather reduces transplant shock. The warm soil encourages faster
root growth. The plant has several months to get established before spring growth
starts.
Late September is an excellent time to divide and replant crowded perennials.
Pruning
Cut off old flowers, especially on butterfly bush (Buddleia). This prevents seeds from
becoming weeds.
Pruning in the fall might encourage new growth that won't survive winter weather.
Fall pruning should be limited to cutting back long branches and correcting
weak branches that might break in winter winds and ice. It is also a good time
to remove dead wood, which is harder to spot during winter pruning, when all the
branches are bare of leaves.
Spraying
Cranefly larva can be controlled by cutting way back on watering the lawn after Labor
Day since the larva need moist soil to survive.
Cherries, plums and peaches, both flowering and fruiting varieties, should be sprayed
with copper sulfate before fall rains start to prevent dead bud and peach leaf curl.
Beneficial nematodes should be applied before mid-October around rhodies, azaleas and
other plants with notches on the leaves from root weevils to prevent the root weevil
larvae from killing the roots. They can also be applied to lawns to control European cranefly
larvae.
A grassy weed preventer, such as Halts or Team, can be applied to lawns to prevent annual bluegrass.
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