Native bulbs Plant now for spring and summer bloom. Nodding onion (Allium cernuum) grows in any soil, bearing white, pink, or magenta bells in summer. Ideal for xeriscapes are yellow Calochortus 'Golden Orb' and white C. superbus and C. venustus. In moisture-retentive soil, plant Camassia cusickii, C. leichtlinii, and C. quamash. Dichelostemma congestum produces bluish purple flower clusters in late spring, requiring only well-drained soil. Yellow Erythronium 'Kondo' and 'Pagoda' appreciate shade. Give orange Lilium pardalinum and L. philadelphicum woodland conditions. Related story: How to plant bulbs

Vegetables After removing summer crops, there's still time to grow a harvest of beets, carrots, Chinese cabbages, coriander, garlic, kale, leaf lettuce, radishes, salad mix, and spinach. Till 2 inches of compost or aged manure 6 to 8 inches deep into planting beds, then moisten soil. Soak seeds overnight in warm water, then sow seeds and cover loosely with straw or hay. Or cover beds with a lightweight protective garden cover like Harvest-Guard. Keep soil moist until seeds germinate.

TEND YOUR PLOT
Propagate plants Multiply nonhardy favorites, such as cuphea, flowering maple, and sweet potato vine, by making cuttings. Using a sharp knife, cut off 4 to 6 inches of the stem. Strip off lower leaves; dip cut end into rooting hormone. Plant the cutting in a small container of potting soil, and firm soil around stem. Enclose the pot in a plastic bag and place in a warm, sunny (but not hot) window or under grow lights. Remove the bag when new leaves appear, and as cutting grows, move it to a larger pot. Coleus, plectranthus, and tradescantia cuttings can be easily rooted in water — use a colored-glass container for a pretty display. After roots form, plant in pots.

Retrieve houseplants Bring indoors before frost zaps them. Rinse off bugs and dirt with a gentle spray from the hose. Remove plants from containers and submerge rootballs in a bucket of water for a few minutes to dislodge soil pests. Repot in fresh, high-quality potting soil. Put plants in a bright window or under grow lights in a cool room.

Winterize lawns After mowing, aerate lawns; leave plugs on the grass to decompose over the winter. Fertilize using a product labeled for winterizing, and spread a half-inch of good-quality, fine-textured compost over the lawn. Water through the winter whenever rain or snow hasn't fallen for three to four weeks.

Photo by E. Spencer Toy
Rich purple 'Cupani' sweet peas and electric orange California poppies create an irresistible mood-lifting combination. In mild-winter areas, plant seeds of both in full sun now for copious blooms in spring. (In cold climates, hold off on the fragrant, vining sweet peas and start them indoors in February or March, then transplant them outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked.)

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