1. If you live in a particularly windy area, stake young trees to keep them from breaking. The best way to stake is to use two sturdy stakes a couple of inches away from the trunk. Secure them to the trunk with rubber ties. This will allow them to move a little, which will help your sapling develop into a much stronger tree.
2. Be on the lookout for Christmas cactus, which should be arriving late this month.
3. When chrysanthemums have finished blooming, cut them back.
4. Plant paperwhite narcissus in a container for a fragrant display in about 4-6 weeks.
5. Continue planting shrubs, trees, perennials, groundcovers and annual color. We recommend amending with one of our G&B Organics garden soils before planting.
6. Shop for cyclamen for a colorful addition to the shade garden or container garden.
7. Continue raking leaves. Dispose of any diseased foliage; others can be added to the compost pile.
8. Pick up and dispose of any old fruit.
9. Prune acacia trees. Shorten any overly-long limbs; if a lacy look is desired, remove some limbs and branches.
10. Continue planting wildflowers by seed.
11. Divide and replant agpanthus.
12. Divide matilija poppy.
13. Cut back and divide any overgrown perennials, if needed (this does not need to be done yearly, only every 3-5 years).
14. Shop for sasanqua camellias. These fall-blooming beauties should be available and in color now.
15. Select trees to add to your garden that will provide fall foliage color. This will be your best chance to get just the color you're looking for.
16. If you live in a high-wind area, lighten the canopy of any overly-dense trees to allow more air to pass through and prevent wind damage.
17. Apply bait to flower beds to control cutworms, slugs, snails and earwigs.
18. Wrap the trunks of young avocado and citrus trees to protect them from the cold.
19. Once the rains arrive, discontinue watering cacti and succulents growing in the ground.
20. Fertilize cool season annual color, after it has been planted for at least 4 weeks.
21. Transplant landscape shrubs and trees.
22. Select plants with colorful fall berries to include in your garden.
23. Continue to plant cool-season vegetables, including garlic and onion sets. Amend with G&B Organics Harvest Supreme before Planting.
24. As the weather cools, decrease watering all plants--plants will stay moist longer in cooler temperatures.
25. Cut perennial grasses, such as red fountain grass, down to within 4" of the ground. This will make for a much neater and more attractive plant next spring.
26. Severely prune any rampantly growing shrubs (such as night-blooming jessamine and butterfly bush).
27. Prune blackberries, boysenberries, loganberries and spring-blooming raspberries. Cut the old canes to the ground, leaving the new ones that grew this year; these will provide your fruit for next year. Wait to prune low-chill raspberries until December or January.
28. Continue watering roses until mid-month, if rains have not been adequate.

Click to print this article.