I have trimmed my Taxus this late without issue. Not ideal, but mine was fine.

tj

I’ve moved sedum (Autumn Joy) in the high heat of summer and left it sitting on my driveway for a month (in a shady spot) until I decided where to plant it. I just moved some Autumn Joy while it was in full bloom and it looked exactly the same in its new spot - happy and healthy. Not sure about other sedums, though.

Perfect time to move perennials and plant potted plants. Also to do a thorough weeding after a good, soaking rain - get all that cleaned out now means a lot less to to do spring. I tend not to prune shrubs in fall unless I have, but not sure if shouldn't. I do move shrubs and trees in fall though -- it's prime time for that work, for both me and the shrubs.

I love to leave projects until the Fall, because I work better in cooler weather and there is less to do. You're not so distracted by a long to do list to get Spring off to a good start.

mxk3 - I almost forgot, I have an Azalea that needs moving.

Last fall I moved some phlox subulata and didn't move as much as i wanted. It took off this spring and looked great. I decided to move another division in the spring and it looked awful most of the season. Not every perennial settles in so poorly in the spring, but that particular one, definitely does better being moved in the Fall.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It's a good confirmation for me. I'd really like to have less to do next spring. [g]

PM, funny you should post this because I just read last week (or heard on a podcast, not sure which) that fall was such a good time to move plants because the soil is all warmed up from summer, but the air temps are lower, so the leaves, etc, of the plant aren’t stressed. The roots in the warm soil keep growing and establishing while the top part of the plant is shutting down. In spring, the soil is very cold from winter and the plant is leafing out, which isn’t as good. That made so much sense to me! I knew about dividing in fall, but I would get a little stressed/OCD about if it was too early, etc. So, knowing our temps are cooling and the soil is still warm I moved some things this week just in time for all of this rain and am hoping that I start next spring in a better spot. Spring is always CRAZY here! Too crazy. Funny how that obvious piece of information that had escaped me made such a difference! I know some things are better planted in early spring like saplings, etc., but I didn’t think about the effects of the cold soil temps on perennials in spring.

Deanna, that's funny that you are reading gardening advice at this time of year. I was just reserving some books from the library and thought about reserving some gardening books and thought, no, time for that in the winter, when I can't garden. [g] And I see there are a ton of gardening books on my list of books I want to read. Actually now that I think about it, I DO have a gardening book out! lol It was on a subject that I needed answers to this fall. "The Regenerative Grower's Guide to Garden Amendments" I had some questions about cover crops.

What you are explaining is something I'm very familiar with. When I understand the 'why' of something, I find it much easier to be motivated to do something with enthusiasm. [g]

I am glad you are able to get some things done this fall. I'm sure you will be happier in the spring. I am still dealing with a shoulder/arm injury on my dominant side and that is keeping me out of the garden. *sigh* But - it's okay - I had a good gardening season. My DH is taking care of the necessary jobs. We have most of the pots in the ground already and the vegetable garden is cleaned up and I did sow some cover crop that is already coming up. We will be able to get the basics done, but, that big Fall project is going to be postponed to spring. Oh well. That will give me more time over the winter to make sure I am solid on what I want to do there.

I'm going to be out there myself today. I've been so wrapped up in interior projects I haven't focused much attention on the outside lately. Fortunately the beds don't really need much in the way of input from me in the summer months, but now that fall is here it's chore time. I have a few things to move and still have a handful of potted plants to get in the ground, including a grape and blackberries. I had to wait on the blackberries for DH to put in bamboo barrier -- blackberry need to kept in check, I learned that lesson! He's going to work on that today so I can get them in. My vegetable garden is a huge mess, so I'm going to focus on cleaning that up today and clearing out plants that are no longer bearing and do a good weeding -- great day to get the weeds dealt with after all the rain. Hopefully sometime this week or weekend I'll get to moving and potting the ornamentals.

Our big project is cleaning out the back side of the barn. I think I posted about that before. The back section where the horses were is a disgusting, literal sh*tshow -- what will the layers of bird cr*p all over everything. We said we'd get it cleaned out and scrubbed down by mid-October before it gets too cold. I bought an anti-bird contraption, it seems to work pretty well but I need another one for that part of the barn -- it's partitioned off and so the motion sensor doesn't go off, birds aren't as dumb as we think they are, they're all hanging out on the other side of the door... So I need to order another one ASAP for back there. Cheaper than new doors and should be enough to keep them at bay so we can keep the area relatively clean once the job is done. Man, I am just NOT looking forward that job...it's hazmat suit bad... At least the front part of the barn that is all cleaned out is a pleasure to work in. Older photo, no more hay:

Reading gardening books in winter keeps me sane (somewhat, lol). I have many in my personal library. I ought to offer them to folk like you, prairiemoon, free naturally. I really need to get rid of some. If you are interested, PM me and I can provide a list. Everything from general gardening to weird specifics...

I just noticed there were more posts here. Houzz is erratic with sending notifications.

Mxk3 - I’m jealous that you’ve gotten so much done inside. I was following your kitchen threads and loved what you did with the backsplash/counter.

I thought of doing blackberries until a garden consult suggested a 3ft deep collar of concrete if I didn’t want them everywhere. [g] So you are on the right track.

That’s some large space you have there! I don’t envy you, your clean up job, but I’d imagine lots of manure for the garden?

Still have a few pots to go in the ground, waiting on me to make a decision where they go. [g] My DH was able to move a variegated holly that was just not happy where it was. So we’ll try it in a new location. That wasn’t even on my list until I was busy in that area and noticed how unhappy it was. It will need better shaping in the spring.

Anyone else get a few things done so far?

Still picking Bok Choy/Mustard/Broccoli/Cilantro/Parsley/Chives. Basil has had it as of yesterday. Waiting for storage beans to dry out. Just picked the last of the peppers. Lots of mulch and cover crop covering the empty beds so far.

Roxanna - Thank you so much for the offer, but at the moment I don’t have one bookshelf in my house. My books are packed in boxes. We’re trying to clear out things and organize.

I found that I don’t always pick up a gardening book more than once. I have a couple for reference, the Encyclopedia of Gardening that I rarely open. A few books on Organics by Eliott Coleman and the Well Tended Perennial Garden By Tracy DiSabato and that’s about it. I have been a heavy library user as long as I can remember and in the winter, I used to drag home bags of gardening books. The past 3 winters, I don’t think I’ve read one gardening book. And it’s not looking like I’m going to have a lot of time to do that this winter either.

Thank you for the nice compliment, prairiemoon2! It's coming along, just have to coordinate a lot of little things to bring it all together -- the kitchen proper is pretty much done but the whole larger area is what is still the work in progress; it's getting there...

DH put in the bamboo barrier for the blackberries. He couldn't sink it the full 18", he left maybe a 4-6" lip above the soil, so it goes down at least a foot. That should be sufficient. Yea, not gonna pour concrete just to have some blackberries. But, they DO have to be kept in check somehow. Raspberries aren't nearly as bad to control -- I get a few rogue canes here and there but nothing that can't be easily dug out.

I still have some moving/re-arranging to do, maybe this weekend, but I have some work-work to get done before I head out there and get lost in time -- because if I don't get my paid work done first, it won't get done on time LOL! I do have to get all the plants I'm re-homing dug and potted, I'm meeting up with my friend late next week. Some are done already, have a few to go.

Sunday is barn cleaning day....UGH! UGH UGH UGH!!

mxk3 - Hope you will post After photos when your kitchen is all done.

Yes, that's why I didn't add blackberries to my garden plan. No 3ft of concrete. No. [g] Raspberries and Blueberries seem to be a piece of cake in comparison.

Good luck Sunday! Heaps of sympathy sent your way. [g] Hope you can get it all done in one day and have it behind you. Like going to the dentist. You'll be relieved when it is done.

Really you sound like you are on a mission to get everything in your life straight. 😃

Blueberries are easy and a joy -- as long as the soil is acidic they don't need any input from me and the fruit is so good! Northland is my favorite. I also have Duke and Jersey; the Duke just doesn't want to bear, and the Jersey not as much either and isn't as sweet as Northland. Northland bears oodles of berries that are very sweet -- on the smaller side but really a sweet treat. Eh, maybe the Duke and Jerseys just need more time to settle in, time will tell.

"Really you sound like you are on a mission to get everything in your life straight."

Yea, maybe I'll get the house fixed up how I want before I die. LOL! Been here 5 years and now just getting around to starting to move the interior to where I want it to be. I've done a lot this year -- including HVAC and roof. Am working my way down "the list" and prioritizing things but also letting myself spend some money on paint and decorating along the way. But dang stuff costs money! Actually I wouldn't have dared started some of the interior stuff for fear of DH having a conniption, but he asked me one day why we haven't painted yet, he's embarrassed when his friends come over what with yellow and blue walls, baseboards falling off and all that. HA! That opened the door....my way in LOL! But he wants to retire within 5-7 years, and I'm pretty confident if I don't get stuff done now it won't get done, he will constantly be on my case about spending money when he's retired. So yea -- the timer kind of is ticking.

I tried Blueberries but I have a 6.0 pH and tried amending for them, but they haven't really done well. Sounds like you have the conditions they like.

And making a list, prioritizing, getting the thumbs up from the spouse...you hit the jackpot. lol Definitely smart to do it now, because you are right, retirement doesn't 'really afford the funds to do it then. And the way prices are climbing, if you don't get it done now, it will only be more expensive later. Good thinking.