I used to think you couldn't plant in the heat. You can pot up any own root rose in hot weather and locate it where it gets some afternoon shade. YOu can mulch the pot and keep it moist. If you plant in the garden in heat you can ease the transition by giving it dappled light for several days or a week. I stick evergreen branches around the plant to create a little shade for a short period until it settles in. This works in NC where it gets in the 90's. I don't know how well it would work in TX or AZ. NJ it could work. I think rainfall is more crucial than low temps and you can simulate rainfall. Linda

I guess it depends on whether you feel the ground has dried out enough to dig, that is the key for any of these activities. I think if you still have plants to go in the ground, the sooner the better. Acorns, bulbs, I would think any time is okay until the ground freezes, but that's just a guess. I have personally planted bulbs pretty late in the season with no issues. Fertilizing shrubs, someone else might be better to ask that of, I rarely fertilize and normally do that in the spring, but some organic fertilizers break down slowly and might be better applied in the Fall. Killing poison ivy, we always do a search of the property in the spring and pull any of that. If you are pulling it, digging it out, I guess before the leaves fall off, so you can see where it is. If you are using a product on it, I have no experience with that. Any of these tasks can wait until Thanksgiving if you have doubts about whether you want to walk and dig the soil this weekend. The plants, I would get in as soon as you can. This post was edited by prairiemoon2 on Thu, Oct 23, 14 at 14:15

Lovely bloom and I see several more buds. I don't disbub my dahlias though have been told that doing so allows the remaining flowers to get larger. This year some critter is nipping the flower off. I find the flower with barely any stem on the ground. Today I cut the recent bloom shortly after it opened and brought it inside. Planted mine late as well so not many blooms yet. If I have lots of blooms and am expecting a frost I make bouquets to share with my neighbors. Had enough for eight bouquets last fall.

Easter food -- hrudka, paska, kielbasa, kolachi .... iz gud! @Irina: : "DO NOT RESCUE RABID SKUNKS.... ever..." But, Irina, it is like having a Neapolitan Mastiff with slobber everywhere! Who wouldn't want that?! @Cheryl: "I just have to drill the holes or melt them with a metal kebab stick. I have learned tho not to place the petiole through the hole as then the roots block any removal. " You might try slicing the lid from one edge to the hole (1 radius, not the entire diameter). The lid should still sit well enough on the cup but this way, when you go to remove the leaf or plant, you can twist the lid to make an opening such that the rooted leaf/plant can be removed with minimal damage.