Stay ahead of weeds this month as they will serve as a home for pests and bugs. Destroying weeds before they are allowed to flower and seed will save you lots work in the future.

Slugs won’t give up now even though the weather is getting cooler. In fact you are likely to find them in all life stages from eggs, youngsters and adults.  Use whatever method you prefer to control them. It’s best to catch them at early stages to prevent them from reproducing. Keep the ground raked and tidy to reduce their habitat.

Now is the perfect time to start shopping for trees and shrubs as they are starting to show their true colors at the nursery. Planting can take place now and over the next few months to allow strong healthy roots to develop over the winter.

Although it’s easy to forget about watering in the middle of fall, proper moisture now is essential to your plants survival over the cold winter months. Regularly check the moisture of all plants especially those that are sheltered by trees, tall plants, shrubs and those under eaves.

Just as you did in the summer, you will need to mulch your fall garden as well. Mulch keeps weeds at bay while holding in moisture and warmth. Put a two inch layer of organic mulch around your freshly planted garden as well as to your existing flowerbeds and around trees and shrubs.

For garlic lovers, nothing beats homegrown. Right now is the perfect time to plant garlic. Bulbs should be broken into individual cloves, leaving the skin attached. Plant cloves with their pointy end up in about two inches of soil, four to six inches apart. They will need to get plenty of sun. The cloves will grow into mature bulbs by early next summer.

It’s not too late to plant some vegetables for a winter or early spring harvest. Some to consider planting now include peas, fava beans, kale, leeks, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, radishes, carrots, celery and zucchini.

The best time for planting trees is when they are dormant which is during the fall or early spring. When planting trees, dig a hole that is at least three times the size of the plant’s root ball is wide, but only as deep as its roots to reduce transplant shock. Don’t plant the tree too low in the ground to allow for some settling. The soil around the tree should be firmly packed to eliminate air pockets and a layer of mulch should be applied one to two inches away from the tree trunk to keep moisture in and help moderate extreme soil temperatures.

With lawns still continuing to grow throughout September and October it’s very important that you mow weekly. For cool season grass such as Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescues, now is the best time to fertilize as they grow rapidly in the fall. Now is the time to also consider coring with an aerator. This will allow for better water and nutrition penetration.

Houseplants require special care during the summer as well. Dead foliage should be removed and plants should be watered regularly, especially if they are in direct sunlight. During the summer, plants might outgrow their containers. If a plant begins looking weak, or slows it’s growing, it might require repotting. Gently remove the plant from its pot and examine the root system. If all you can see is a mass of roots and no soil, then the plant requires repotting into a larger container.