Q. I want a great garden next year. Are there things I should be doing now? 

A. The Contra Costa Master Gardeners TO DO list for fall:

Read up on good pruning techniques. Sharpen and lubricate your pruners, loppers, and saws. Sharpen your shovels and hoes.

Clean up your garden. (Pretend you mother is watching) Rake up leaves from landscape trees, fruit trees, roses, shrubs and perennial beds. This will remove overwintering sites for many pests and plant disease organisms.

Add 2-3” of finished compost to your garden beds.

Chop the leaves with a lawnmower or sharp pruners, then compost all plant debris in a hot compost pile to ensure plant pathogens are destroyed. (Call the Master Gardeners if you are not sure how to build a hot pile)

Remove damaged or diseased portions of trees and shrubs pruning to increase air-flow through your garden. Increased air-flow reduces the ability of fungal organisms to get established. Prune back summer blooming perennials.

Plan to purchase soaker hoses for the garden. Keeping landscape water near the soil surface will reduce disease opportunities and help with you water bill.

Purchase bulbs that are well-adapted to this area. Look for bulbs that do not require winter chilling.

Place snail and slug traps near plants that have been hiding places for these pests.

Cut back vines, tree branches or shrubs that are touching your home.  Rodents can use these to ‘ladder’ into your roof.

Check the drainage around your home, eliminating low areas where moisture might collect. Improve where necessary.

Examine the roots of plants you are removing or perennials you are dividing, discarding those with galls, swellings, or other deformities that might indicate root disease or nematode damage. Mark those spots with a stake or flag. When you replant, choose plants resistant to the damage you identified. (Bring samples to the MG office if you would like help) Make a list of plants that have been problematic.  

Check for fireblight damage on apples, pears, pyracantha and related plants. Mark the area with tape so that they can be removed when you do your winter pruning.

Get ready to spray for Peach Leaf curl, and dormant oils for scale and aphids control on fruit trees. Check out your sprayer; clean the tank and check the nozzle.

Clean out your irrigation system, flush filters and check gate valves. Repair any leaks. Change the time on the irrigation controller. Plants need much less water this time of year.

Look for the egg cases or larvae of beneficial insects. Be careful not to destroy these. They are your free helpers.

Aerate your lawn, then top-dress with ½” finished compost.