By now the weather is starting to settle, but don’t be too quick to get tender plants outdoors. Parts of our region can still see frosts or even light freezes until at least the end of the month.

Prepare new planting areas, and get newly purchased or home-propagated perennials, vines, shrubs, and trees in the ground.

Divide perennials that bloom in late summer and fall, such as asters (Symphyotrichum spp., Zones 4-8), perennial sunflowers (Helianthus spp. and cvs., Zones 4-9), and warm-season ornamental grasses.

Indoors, start seeds of summer annuals such as celosias (Celosia spp. and cvs.), morning glories (Ipomoea purpurea), and zinnias (Zinnia spp. and cvs.), as well as squash-family vegetable crops, such as cucumbers, melons, and zucchini.

Prepare vegetable-garden beds for planting, and set out transplants of kale, cabbage, lettuce, and other cool-season crops.

Nancy J. Ondra is the author of over fifteen books, including Grasses, The Perennial Care Manual, and The Perennial Matchmaker.

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