OUTDOORS

PLANT

• And transplant needle evergreens and shrubs.
• Deciduous trees and shrubs (after leaf fall).
• Plant asparagus and berry bushes.

CHORES AND MAINTENANCE

• Keep lawns free of fallen leaves. Mow and water new grass. Lawns should be 2 inches high going into winter.
• Clean up and destroy diseased rose leaves and debris surroundingshrubs. Mound 10 to 12 inches of dirt around roses to protect from winter damage.
• After ground freezes, mulch roses, using wooden chips, hay, or straw.
• Spray canes with antidesiccant.
• Fasten climbers against wind.
• Update garden records, noting successes and failures, gaps in planting, future planting, and landscaping changes. Use the "Garden Design Workbook" from Fulcrum Publishing for record keeping.
• In the vegetable garden: pull and compost spent crops. Cut down yellowed asparagus fronds and mulch bed. Prepare for spring planting: dig deeply and enrich soil with compost and strawy manure; spread lime; cover early-spring planting areas with black plastic or salt hay.

INDOORS

• Store leftover garden seeds in a cool, dry place. Such as a sealable jar with a layer of silica gel or powdered milk in the bottom.
• Prepare storage areas for overwintering flower bulbs and garden produce.
• If planning on giving gifts from the garden for the holidays, begin planting herbs and forced bulbs. See "Green Gifts" from Fulcrum Publishing for ideas.

TOOL TIPS

• Use a double-action Paxton hoe for excellent results weeding and for light cultivation. Originally from Scotland, this hoe is perfect for working near existing plants where other tools are too large or awkward.