Tip Library

Tip Library

Fall Now’s the time to seed or reseed your lawn. Keep grass seed moist until germination occurs. Add weed-free straw or salt marsh hay to hold seed in place.

Fall Apply lawn fertilizer and add lime if necessary. A 50-lb. bag of lime will raise lawn pH about 0.5 point per 1,000 square feet.

Fall Feed your compost pile with lawn trimmings and shredded brown leaf, alternating layers. Add an activator to speed up decomposition.

Fall Plant perennials and spring-flowering bulbs. Fertilize and water in well.

Fall Plant fall pansy and flowering cabbage and kale in window boxes, containers, and garden beds.

Fall Sow pansy and viola seed in garden for bloom next spring.

Fall Fall is a great time to plant new trees and shrubs.

Fall Mulch spring-planted trees and shrubs and be sure to water them thoroughly and deeply.

Fall Apply an anti-desiccant to broadleaf evergreens and specimen conifers while temperatures are still above 50 degrees.

Fall Watch your compost pile. This is a good time to add an activator for brown leaves & lawn trimmings.

Fall Check your lawn for grub activity. Sure signs are brown patches of lawn with turf that you can peel back.

Fall Plant spring flowering bulbs. Plan on the end of this month. Fertilize and water in well.

Fall Plant fall pansy, flowering cabbage and kale. They all love the cooler night temps that come with autumn.

Fall Mulch in spring-planted trees and shrubs. Don’t permit them to get too dry; water them throughly and deeply.

Fall Start amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus for holiday blooms. (Allow 5-6 weeks for paperwhites and 12 weeks for amaryllis).

Fall Apply fall lawn fertilizer at this time.

Fall Re-seed areas damaged by grubs with insect resistant seed varieties.

Fall Fall is a great time to start a compost pile. Start out with brown leaf and add the last few trimmings for nitrogen. Remember to alternate layers. Shred brown leaf to speed decomposition.

Fall Prepare soil and amend with compost and organic material.

Fall Prepare to remove and store tender bulbs and tubers.

Fall Harvest herb roots and store.

Fall Schedule a fall cleanup to remove all leaves, twigs and garden debris.

Fall Continue to mow and edge lawns as needed.

Fall Divide and transplant perennial plants.

Fall Transplant evergreens.

Fall Cut and harvest flowers needed for dried flowers.

Fall Plan on bringing in tropical houseplants before frost.

Fall Empty and store terra cotta containers of all annual plantings.

Fall Rake leaves.

Fall Repair and care for garden tools, hoses and clippers.

Fall Got a gardening question? Try myGardenGuide the world’s largest online gardening encyclopedia.