More Garden tips

1. Stop fertilizing and trees, shrubs and perennials. They are already preparing for the long winter slumber, and should not be encouraged to grow. Fertilizing now would encourage new soft growth which would unlikely make it over winter.

2. Do not fall prune any spring flowering woody plants like lilac, forsythia etc. as these plants have already set next years buds. Pruning them now, you will not get any blooms or diminish the amount of blooms you get. BUT...if you need to prune it go ahead.

3. Should you cut back plants and clean-up in the spring or fall?
Here are some of the issues on both sides:
a. cleaning up in the fall and removing debris that may be harboring disease and insect eggs is always good.
b. cutting back the plants in the fall is easier because they are still alive and crispy, and not a soggy mess like spring can be after the top growth has died.
c. keeping the plant thru winter, can add interest in the garden, and help to collect snow, but so will a pile of straw w/o the disease hotel.
d. always get rid of plant of plant debris, I like to burn it.
e. sometimes the answer lies between, when do I have the time....spring or fall?