Fall is one of the busiest times of the year in the garden. What should you or your landscaper be doing now to promote and maintain a good healthy lawn and garden?

Aside from planning and planting for the spring, there are many other projects and ongoing items that need to be watched over.

Here's a check list to get you started:

1. Resist the temptation to prune shrubs after September 30th, until at least midNovember. If the weather is still warm, or fluctuates, new growth may appear when pruned, which would be damaged by winter's cold

2. Plant fall mums and other fall annuals

3. Overseed lawn, if necessary

4. Aerate any compacted lawn areas

5. Continue to apply appropriate lawn fertilizer

6. Monitor perennials and remove any dead leaves and flowers

7. Shut down and winterize irrigation systems and any water features

8. Check for insects and diseases, treat if necessary

9. Plant spring bulbs or rhizomes. Daffodils and iris are great if you have deer in your area.

10. Clean gutters and drains of any leaves and debris

11. Complete fall clean up, removing dead and fallen leaves from lawn and planting beds. Remove dead flowers and leaves off perennials. Trim back ornamental grasses after they turn brown for better growth in the spring

If you take care of all of these items in a timely manner, you'll see great results in the Spring. Also, keeping up with these chores a little bit at a time actually ends up taking less of your time than you think.

Create a routine by putting aside a particular time each week for your landscaping chores and the result will leave you and your garden satisfied and happy!