• Sow seeds of wildflowers and fall veggies
• Aerate, dethatch and fertilize the lawn
• As first frosts threaten, pick mature green tomatoes to ripen in a dark, cool place indoors
• Purchase containerized trees and shrubs to plant now
• Pick herbs to dry for winter soups, stews and baking
• Begin to dig up summer bulbs to store indoors
• Order spring bulbs to force indoors
• Build up weather resistance of trees and shrubs with deep waterings throughout the fall
• Start moving tender plants indoors to acclimatize them or take cuttings
• Spread newly made compost around trees, shrubs and perennials; winter weather will work it into the soil

Zone 2

• Plant hardy Oriental and Asiatic lilies
• Sow seeds of wildflowers, spring-blooming annuals and fall veggies
• Aerate, dethatch and fertilize the lawn
• Start moving tender plants indoors to acclimatize them or take cuttings
• Pick herbs to dry for winter soups, stews and baking
• As first frosts threaten, pick mature green tomatoes to ripen in a dark, cool place indoors
• Purchase containerized trees and shrubs to plant now
• Plan ahead for an extended harvest by building or buying a cold frame
• Begin to dig up summer bulbs to store indoors
• Order spring bulbs to force indoors

• Sow seeds of wildflowers, spring-blooming annuals and fall veggies
• Lift, divide and transplant perennials
• Plant hardy Oriental and Asiatic lilies
• Aerate, dethatch and fertilize the lawn
• Start moving houseplants and other tender plants indoors to acclimatize
• Pick herbs to dry for winter soups, stews and baking
• Order trees and shrubs now for fall planting
• Plan ahead for an extended harvest by building or buying a cold frame
• Blanch tomatoes for freezing and canning by boiling them for just a few minutes and slipping off the skins
• Order spring bulbs to force indoors

Zone 4

• Lift, divide and transplant perennials
• Order peonies for fall planting
• Divide and transplant bearded iris
• Start moving houseplants and other tender plants indoors to acclimatize
• Enjoy a case of the late summer "blues" with a palette of aconitum, caryopteris, fall asters and reblooming iris in your planting schemes
• Blanch tomatoes for freezing and canning by boiling them for just a few minutes and slipping off the skins
• Plant fall-blooming crocus and colchicum for late-season flowering
• Prepare beds for planting bulbs and divide any existing bulbs that might be overcrowded
• Build up weather resistance of trees and shrubs with deep waterings now throughout the fall
• Look forward to something different next spring: try alliums in your bulb garden

Zone 5

• Sow seeds of fall vegetables
• Order peonies for fall planting
• Divide and transplant bearded iris
• Plan perennial beds for fall and winter color with ornamental grasses, fall-blooming bulbs and hardy heaths and heathers
• Harvest vegetables continuously to stretch their season
• Sprinkle compost starter to speed up composting for fall soil building
• Prune summer-blooming shrubs (hydrangea, clethra, caryopteris) after flowers finish
• Plant garlic now for spring harvests
• Look forward to something different next spring: try alliums in your bulb garden
• Enjoy a case of the late summer "blues" with a palette of hardy ageratum, caryopteris, fall asters and reblooming iris in your planting schemes

Zone 6

• Sow seeds of fall veggies and annuals
• Plan perennial beds for fall and winter color with ornamental grasses, fall-blooming bulbs and hardy heaths and heathers
• Divide and transplant bearded iris
• Harvest vegetables continuously to stretch their season
• Sprinkle compost starter to speed up composting for fall soil building
• Prune summer-blooming shrubs (hydrangea, clethra, caryopteris) after flowers finish
• Plant garlic now for spring harvests
• Look forward to something different next spring: try alliums in your bulb garden
• Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley)
• Enjoy a case of the late summer "blues" with a palette of hardy ageratum, caryopteris, fall asters and reblooming iris in your planting schemes

Zone 7

• Harvest vegetables continuously to stretch their season
• Sprinkle compost starter to speed up composting for fall soil building
• Prune summer-blooming shrubs (hydrangea, clethra, caryopteris) after flowers finish
• Plant garlic now for spring harvests
• Dig gently to harvest potatoes a few plants at a time
• Look forward to something different next spring: try alliums in your bulb garden
• Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley, garlic chives, cilantro and dill)
• Plan perennial beds for fall and winter color with ornamental grasses, fall-blooming bulbs and hardy heaths and heathers
• Enjoy fall fragrance by planting autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata), flowering tobacco and annual stock
• Keep cool during summer's dog days with a shade garden embroidered with hostas and hardy ferns
• Color up your bulb garden with fall bloomers (lycoris, fall crocus, colchicum)

Zone 8

• Color up your bulb garden with fall bloomers (lycoris, fall crocus, colchicum)
• Prepare rose beds for fall planting
• Pick vegetables early in the day while they're crisp
• Plant out vegetable seedlings and sow seed for fall harvests
• Leach out alkaline buildup in the soil with deep waterings and applications of acid plant food
• Dig gently to harvest potatoes, a few plants at a time
• Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley, garlic chives, cilantro and dill)
• Enjoy fall fragrance by planting autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata), flowering tobacco and annual stock
• Order and refrigerate bulbs that require a winter chill (tulips, crocus, hyacinths)
• Keep cool during summer's dog days with a shade garden embroidered with hostas and hardy ferns

Zone 9

• Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley, garlic chives, cilantro and dill)
• Prepare rose beds for fall planting of containerized roses
• Order sweet pea seedlings now for winter bouquets
• Pick vegetables early in the day while they're crisp
• Plant out vegetable seedlings and sow seed for fall harvests
• Leach out alkaline buildup in the soil with deep waterings and applications of acid plant food
• Enjoy fall fragrance by planting autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata), flowering tobacco and annual stock
• Order and refrigerate bulbs that require a winter chill (tulips, crocus, hyacinths)
• Spray plants with the hose to knock off late-summer pests such as spider mite and whitefly
• Stock up on seed for winter annuals and new perennials

Zone 10

• Prepare rose beds for fall planting of containerized roses
• Order sweet pea seedlings now for winter bouquets
• Plant out vegetable seedlings and sow seed for fall harvests
• Leach out alkaline buildup in the soil with deep waterings and applications of acid plant food
• Spray plants with the hose to knock off late-summer pests such as spider mite and whitefly
• Stock up on seed for winter annuals and new perennials
• Trim and fertilize hanging basket plants to give them a second lease on life
• Order and refrigerate bulbs that require a winter chill (tulips, crocus, hyacinths)

Zone 11

• Prepare rose beds for fall planting of containerized roses
• Order sweet pea seedlings for winter bouquets
• Plant out vegetable seedlings and sow seed for fall harvests
• Purchase and refrigerate bulbs that require a winter chill (tulips, crocus, hyacinths)
• Leach out alkaline buildup in the soil with deep waterings and applications of acid plant food
• Spray plants with the hose to knock off late-summer pests such as spider mite and whitefly
• Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley, garlic chives, cilantro and dill)
• Prevent chlorosis in citrus trees with three feedings a year
• Trim and fertilize hanging basket plants to give them a second lease on life