Lawn lovers still have time to fertilize for fall

Fertilize your lawn in early October if you did not do so in September and if you are maintaining your lawn more intensively. My lawn at home is low maintenance, so I do not fertilize it. Its appearance meets my standards.

Fall is a good time to fertilize your lawn if you are doing one application a year. As a rule, never apply more than 1 pound of nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of lawn during any single application.

Have your garden soil tested to determine how best to manage it and what fertilizers to use. Make a composite sample from a few areas in the bed and send them in for testing. If your garden is large, it is a good idea to break the garden into zones to test. Soil in the Chicago region tends to have adequate phosphorus levels, so choose fertilizers that have little to no phosphorus in them. A soil test will confirm the status of your garden soil and can help you craft a management plan for your garden soil next year.

Good notes make good gardeners

Be sure to document any changes you have thought about making to your garden now. It is easy to forget these observations over winter. Good garden notes will make you more efficient and your garden better looking.

Plant evergreens by mid-October

Fall is a great time to plant and transplant trees and shrubs. In general, trees and shrubs do not need to be pruned when transplanted to compensate for loss of roots during transplanting. Fall conditions, which include warm soil, moderate air temperatures and rain, help plants re-establish their root systems.

Evergreens benefit from planting early in the fall to minimize the chance of winter burn. Try to get them planted before the middle of October and continue watering them weekly or as needed until the ground is frozen. They should not go into winter under stress from being too dry. Mulch is also important to install for fall plantings. Use 2 to 3 inches of mulch for trees and shrubs and 1 to 2 inches for perennials and ground covers. It is best to keep mulch away from the crown (base) of the plants.

Good soil preparation is important for successful planting projects. It is best to amend the entire planting area or bed instead of individual planting holes. Evenly incorporate 2 to 3 inches of compost into existing garden soil.

• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.