Get Your Yard in Gear, Part III - Final Chapter

I am compelled to finish what I started, so I submit the final chapter of the fall yard tips. We'll move on to what you're clamoring for (tee, hee!) - Halloween topics.

Turning to Trees
Looking around, you notice the gorgeous colors - if your trees aren't dormant due to the drought. Don't freak out YET about your seemingly dead trees, bushes, or plants until the spring if you're in my neck of the woods, the "Severe Drought Zone". Hopefully, we'll get some rain so as not to further tax our perennials. But back to the topic...
What’s your favorite fall foliage color, Pumpkin? Not all leaves contain sufficient amounts of pigment to produce vibrant color, which is why the leaves of some trees turn from green to brown. Here's a list of some of the best fall-foliage trees:
Yellow: sugar maple, tulip poplar tree
Orange to rust: sugar maple
Red: red maple, oak
Mixed colors: dogwood, crape myrtle, sweet gum, pear, sassafras.
If you're looking for trees with excellent fall foliage, visit local nurseries when the colors are at their peak. Fall is also the best time to plant trees because it gives the roots time to establish before the summer heat beats down on the tree. Trees for planting are often on sale at the end of the growing season.

Roses
· Fall is not the ideal time to prune roses. This could stimulate new growth that may not be able to survive much longer. Do cut off any dead wood.
· Replace ties with jute twine. Natural fibers make the best ties because they are more flexible. They will break down over time. At that point, though, it will be time to retie the plants anyway.

Fall Gardening Resources:
Weather.com – Home & Garden, Lawn & Garden. Put in your zip code and it tells you what plants grow in the climate as well as a garden forecast. You can also put in a plant name and month and it tells you what to do with that plant.

Scotts.com - I signed up for their email list on what to do to my lawn and when. You put in your zip code and type of grass you have. It's an excellent service, I guess; they didn't have any drought tips and sent out emails to my withering zip code encouraging all sorts of planting. So, take it, as with everything else, with a grain of salt. Otherwise, a great resource.

Your local county extension office

Auburn University (or your local land grant university)

Off to brush up on pumpkin tips for tomorrow. Toodles, Poodles!