• Cut back perennials and rake area around them; leaving diseased or insect-laden foliage can cause problems next year.
• Weed all areas and dispose of them in the trash (not the compost pile) to discourage weeds in the future.
• When your annual plants have died back remove them. Add compost, manure, lime and gypsum to the bed to enrich the soil for next year.
• Edge the grass along planting beds--one less thing to do next spring!
• Plant early-spring flowering bulbs. Plant them in groupings instead of rows; not only does it look more natural, but they will be less susceptible to wind damage.
• Remove all faded flowers from plants like roses and hydrangeas, rake up all leaves and tie up the branches. This will help protect your plants from snow damage.
• Thin out about 1/3 of the oldest branches of flowering shrubs like forsythia, lilac, spiraea and potentilla to promote better bloom and a nicer shape next spring.
• Dig up tender bulbs, tubers and corms such as dahlias, canna lilies, caladium and gladiolus. It’s a good idea to label them as to type, color and height to make your life easier when replanting them next spring. Sprinkle them with a rose and flower garden dust to discourage insects. Store them where they will not freeze in paper bags or boxes.
• Collect leaves to shred and add to the compost pile (if you don’t already have a pile, now is a great time to start one).
• Clean up all fallen fruits to reduce disease and pest problems.
• Work weed-free steer manure or compost into asparagus beds.
• Dig up geraniums and bring them indoors for the winter.
• Clean birdbaths, fountains and clay and ceramic pots and move them to a protected place for the winter.
• Move any garden statuary, garden signs and other patio decorations to a protected place for the winter.
• Clean out your vegetable garden, disposing of all plants, weeds and old veggies. For a great source of organic material next spring, plant winter rye in the cleaned vegetable garden. In April, simply cut the grass then till the remaining grass and roots into the soil!
• Start some pots of paper white narcissus for holiday forcing. They make great hostess gifts!
• Fertilize the lawn one last time to prepare it for the upcoming winter.
• If you are decorating with pumpkins, rub a little Vicks on them--this keeps the squirrels and chipmunks from feasting on them.
• Indian corn used as fall decorations can be protected from blue jays by simply spraying with shellac or hair spray.
• Drain hoses of water, coil them and tie them together to prevent them from being filled with ice.

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How can I get my flowers to bloom more?

Answer:
Most flowers and flowering plants need three essential ingredients to bloom: sunlight, nutrients, and warm soil. Even shade plants like azaleas and camellias need some sunlight in order to bloom. If your flowers are sun lovers, make sure they get at least five hours of sunlight per day--the more sunlight the better.

Key nutrients for blooming plants are phosphorus and potash. While most plants need some nitrogen to help them grow and stay green, too much can focus the plant on growing instead of blooming. Nitrogen is also more readily available in the soil and more easily taken up by the plant.

Feed flowering plants with a high phosphorus and potash but low nitrogen flower food. If that still doesn't work, starve them of nitrogen by feeding them with a no-nitrogen fertilizer.

Finally, make sure you don't water your plants too often. Allow the soil to dry out some between waterings, thus allowing the soil to warm up. If you water too much, the plants will often produce excessive fleshy growth and no blooms.

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