While it doesn’t quite feel like fall in Liberty County, it is nonetheless upon us. So I thought that I would share things you can do around the garden throughout October.

Fall is a great time to plant trees, shrubs and roses. During the cooler time of the year when we usually have more rain, plant roots settle and continue to grow. Planting your tree or shrub now will make it better able to tolerate the hot and dry summer that we will undoubtedly have next year.

The selection of trees is seemingly endless, though choosing to plant a native tree or shrub certainly has its perks. Native plants are adapted to our local environmental conditions, so they generally require far less water, which not only saves this precious resource but also time and money.

Additionally, research has shown that native plants, birds, butterflies, beneficial insects and many more of our beloved outdoor creatures seem to be "made for each other," as conveniently enough, native wildlife prefers native plants.

So if you enjoy watching birds come into your yard and set up shop for the spring, then try choosing a native plant that they would like to call home. Dogwoods, maples, oaks, magnolias and river birch are all good choices and tend to be readily available.

Being in the heart of camellia country, it would be ill-advised of me to talk about trees and shrubs and not say a word about camellias. So here it is:

Spring or fall planting is fine for most areas. In general, camellias grow and bloom better in partial shade, with shelter from hot afternoon sun. This is especially true for young plants, which thrive under the shade of tall trees or when grown on the north side of a house.

Mulch thoroughly to keep roots cool and the soil moist. Regular watering is critical during the first year. You can fertilize your camellias in late winter either with an azalea-camellia fertilizer or a general all-purpose fertilizer such as 13-13-13.

Crowd favorites, like daylilies and tall bearded iris, can be transplanted successfully in the fall. All you need to do is dig each clump of daylilies with as much root system as possible, knock off the soil and some of the plants should separate.

Plant the divisions about 12 to 18 inches apart and keep them well watered for a couple of weeks until they are established.

You can do the same thing for your irises. Just dig, divide and remove any damaged parts from the rhizomes, then replant. An important trick is remembering to trim the leaves into the shape of a fan. The reason for this is if they are left untrimmed, then the strong winter winds can blow them over and uproot them.

Another tip is to not plant your irises too deeply because the rhizomes need sun. Water about twice a week until they are rooted in. Fertilize in early spring and again about a month after bloom. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers since it encourages rot problems.

You can also continue cleaning up your flower beds. Pull up spent annals such as zinnias and cosmos. This is a good time to pop in a few new perennials and let them get a head start on spring.

Don’t let all those fall leaves go to waste! Put them in your compost pile along with all the summer annuals you will be pulling up.

That’s all for now. Happy fall gardening!