VEGETABLES

• Good sanitation is important to keep insects and diseases down during the next growing season. Remove spent plants and infested material. Compost separately clean and infested materials to avoid reintroducing insects and diseases back into the garden.
• If tomato plants were infected with late blight, it is best to destroy those plants by burying deeply or bagging them and sending them out in the trash.
• Harvest herbs before a hard frost. Make pesto with Basil or freeze leaves of others for later use.
• Consider planting a cover crop to turn under in early spring. Be sure to leave some open space (mulched with leaves) for early spring planting. More info on selecting cover crops
• Spray all crucifers (cabbage family crops) with organic B.t. (Bacillus thruingiensis) every 7 to 10 days to manage the various caterpillars that eat the plants. A row cover is also an effective way to control insects. More info on using row covers 
• Harvest sweet potatoes, pumpkins and winter squashes before frost. Read this to learn more about storing Winter Squash and Pumpkins 
• Purchase row cover and make preparations to overwinter fall vegetables.

Keep growing cool season plants through the winter! From the Extension Gardener Handbook read about season extenders such as Cloches, Low tunnels and row covers, Cold frames and hot beds, High tunnels, and Greenhouses.

NOW is the time to plant garlic Oct - Nov. A very easy and delicious crop to grow. Apply mulch to keep the weeds out. Check out Sow True Seed Guide to Growing Garlic!

DON'T LET WINTER STOP YOU FROM GROWING GREENS! Check out this video ABC's of Microgreens 

ORNAMENTALS

• Fall is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Pull roots loose on container grown plants and do not plant too deep. Dig the planting hole only as deep as the root ball is tall and twice as wide. Water thoroughly and mulch.
• Purchase spring blooming bulbs and begin planting late in October and November.
• Plant pansies, violas, johnny jump ups, kale and ornamental cabbage for cool season color in containers or garden beds.
• Remove spent annuals and shake out seeds if you want zinnias, cosmos, cleome, and similar reseeding annuals to return next year.
• Leave seed heads on some perennials for the small birds to finish off.
• Clean up houseplants before temperatures drop and they come indoors. Inspect carefully and treat to avoid insect infestations midwinter.

Go here to learn more about first and last frost dates

• Take cuttings of favorite annuals like Begonias, Coleus, and Bat Face Cuphea. Instructions for taking stem cuttings shared by EMG John Bowen in this video 
• Get roses ready for winter with fall pruning. Read about this and other tips for growing roses in WNC

Leave the Leaves!  Avoid shredding leaves and leave them whole to protect and provide shelter for overwintering moths, butterflies and other insects. Not only leaves, but hollow stems, trees,  branches and brush also provide overwintering habitat. Read more at Leave the Leaves

FRUIT

* Practice good sanitation if diseases were in the gardens and orchards. Be sure to rake leaves, remove any fruit left in the trees and pick up all fruit from the ground.* Attend to the strawberry bed and pull weeds, fertilize and water if needed.

* Fall is a great time for planting. Check with local or mail order suppliers for availability. Check out NC State recommendations for Tree Fruit, Nuts and Small Fruit Tree Fruit and Nuts Small Fruits

LAWNS

• This is a good time to core aerate compacted soils. Use a plug aerator versus a spike to allow air and water to better penetrate the soil.
• If you have re-seeded the lawn, it's important to keep the tree leaves from accumulating. The leaf blower is easier on the seedlings than a rake.

COMPLETE GUIDE TO LAWN CARE RESOURCES