OUTDOORS
Fall rains begins

Plant and Transplant:

CHORES AND MAINTENANCE

• Root-prune to ready plants for spring transplanting (especially broadleaf evergreens) Water bulb beds if season is dry. Lift tender bulbs (caladium, canna, dahlia, gladiolus tuberous begonia) after first freeze.
• Zone 5: begin fall cleanup
• Dig and divide crowded summer perennials. Transplant "volunteer" perennials; pot tender perennials to winter over in cold frame; mark late-emerging perennials to avoid damaging them during spring clean-up.
• Protect tender plants from early frost. Cover them with blankets, newspapers, etc. (but not plastic).
• Wrap tree trunks to protect against frost cracks or animal damage.
• Begin feeding birds.

INDOORS
Start moving houseplants indoors before night temperatures fall below 55 degrees, except for those requiring cool nights to set buds (Christmas cactus, jade plants, some orchids and cool-season flowering plants including azaleas and camellias). Check for insects and diseases before placing them near other houseplants.

TOOL TIP
Use a potato fork for harvesting root crops without damaging them. The strong fork dig deep and the broad, flat tines can lift, trench, or turn soil-just as you would a spade.

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©Copyright 2009, Big Y Foods, Inc., Springfield, MA, (413) 784.0600
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