AS WE SLOW ROLL in to Autumn, don’t forget the essential tasks to get your indoor and outdoor gardens ready for the cooler weather and shorter days.

IN SEPTEMBER, many of us harvested late summer crops, planted cool-season vegeta- bles (if you were so inclined), and prepared perennials for the coming winter.

IN OCTOBER we don’t rest on our laurels. We bring tender plants indoors and give the lovelies a good spray and/or soak to get rid of the critters that hide in the soil and on the leaves and stems to keep them healthy and critter free.

WE CONTINUE TO harvest late-season crops, plant spring-blooming bulbs, divide perennials and shred our fall leaves to use as mulch.