Lawn Care
•    Maintain cool season grasses by mowing as needed.
•    Keep tree leaves from collecting on your lawn.

Fertilizing
•    Spread ashes from the fireplace around gardens and bulb beds where soil pH is below 6.0.  Avoid acid-loving plants.  (3 lbs of ash = 1 lb of limestone)
•    Now is the time to put out limestone if needed (it takes about three months for lime to change the soil’s pH)
•    Fertilize houseplants as needed.

Planting
•    Now is a good time to set out or transplant landscape plants if the ground isn’t frozen.  Be sure to “open up” the root balls on container plants.

Pruning
•    Prune berry-producing plants, if berries are desired in table arrangements over the holidays.
•    Cut back herbaceous perennials after the frost kills the tops.
•    Any dead or diseased wood can be pruned out anytime of the year.
•    Weeds or unnecessary trees should be removed from the landscape.

Spraying
•    None

Other Activities
•    Keep your Christmas tree in water and away from heat sources.
•    Poinsettias should be placed in the sunniest room in the house.
•    If you have received your soil recommendations, apply lime as suggested.  Don’t apply fertilizer until spring.
•    Order fruit trees and grape vines now if you wish to plant them in February and March.
•    Cover strawberries with pine straw or wheat barley to protect them from the cold.
•    Continue putting the leaves from your yard into a compost bin.
•    If you cover your shrubs, be cautious and use only burlap or white plastic.

Lawn Care
•    Maintain cool season grasses by mowing as needed.
•    Keep tree leaves from collecting on your lawn.
•    Control fire ants with either a bait or contact.

Fertilizing
•    Spread ashes from the fireplace around gardens and bulb bed where soil pH is below 6.0.  Avoid acid-loving plants.

Planting
•    Plant one-year-old asparagus crowns in the vegetable garden this month.
•    If you don’t use your garden through the fall and winter months, consider planting a cover crop like annual rye, barley, or wheat.
•    Now is a good time to set out or transplant landscape plants.  Be sure to “open up” the root balls on container plants.

Pruning
•    The foliage from existing asparagus can be cut down the ground after the first killing frost.
•    Cut back herbaceous perennials after the frost kills the tops.
•    Any dead or diseased wood can be pruned out anytime of the year.
•    Weeds or unnecessary trees should be removed from the landscape.
•    Root prune any plants you plan to move next spring.

Spraying
•    None

Other Activities
•    Take soil samples from your vegetable garden if you haven’t already done so.
•    If you have received your soil recommendations, apply lime as suggested.  Don’t apply fertilizer till spring.
•    Order fruit trees and grape vines now if you wish to plant them in February and March.
•    Prepare bird feeders.
•    Don’t forget to water evergreens trees and shrubs thoroughly before winter.
•    Continue putting the leaves from your yard into a compost bin.
•    Poinsettias should be placed in the sunniest room in the house.