Fall is a busy season in the garden.

In many places, this time of year is defined by cooler temperatures and increased rainfall which makes it an ideal time to garden.

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Here are five jobs I prioritize each autumn:

• Plant bulbs

• Plant trees and shrubs

• Prepare new planting areas and/or add mulch (chopped leaves are perfect!) to existing beds

• Sow seed for cool-weather plants like sweet peas, snapdragons, poppies, swiss chard, etc. (more about this to come for our Library!).

• Divide and propagate: I like to do this in very early fall so new divisions have a chance to settle in and grow roots before winter dormancy.

One traditional autumn task I DO NOT prioritize is cleanup.

Instead of cutting back the dead or dying herbaceous layer in my garden (from perennials like nepeta or ornamental grasses), I leave the material to insulate the soil, provide shelter and food for wildlife, and for visual interest (frosted seedheads can be beautiful).

I DO cut back and clean out the dying foliage of my peonies as they can harbor disease, and I cut back or tie in long canes of roses that might be whipped around in winter winds.

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