We haven't had a frost yet on the Cape, so, no, it's not too late to do anything - at least not here.

Not sure where you are, the zone doesn't always give the full picture, as it's just based on low temperatures.

If I had unplanted bulbs, I'd get them in the ground now; on the other hand I don't think I'd go off shopping for them at this point. Even here, the ground will probably not be dry enough to work again - in a way that benefits its structure - for about 5 months.

I'd be planting them at my Mom's place on the coast between Cape Cod and Providence. Since it's not my place, I can only plant things when I visit. They have had a couple frosts.

I just saw an amazing sale in bulbs and bought a bunch. (Now I realize why they were so cheap). I also had another order of unusual bulbs that never arrived, and was debating whether to tell the company to deliver them now, or cancel. I was also planning on moving some small trees when I visit for Thanksgiving.

I had a lot of luck planting perennials and bulbs Thanksgiving the last couple years, but I think the unseasonably warm early winters might have spoiled me. I haven't been gardening that long.

I'm no expert on gardening, but I can tell you a few years ago when I got my first chance to garden at my then condo, I bought a bunch of tulips, got busy....and then next thing you know it's December and the top three inches of ground or so were frozen solid. I was not to be deterred, as I really like tulips. and this was my first time gardening, and well, I just wasn't to be deterred. I brought out a few big pots of boiling water so I could break up the ground a bit. Managed to get all 50 of them in in a very haphazard fashion, thought all was lost....then next spring came my tulips! not all of them, but I think that was due more to the pretty dense shade, as subsequent years when I planted them earlier, all of them still didn't bloom.

I just planted my bulbs this year, and the info sheet that came with them said some should be planted early fall to have more root development (crocuses and peonies) and others later in the fall (tulips). Check out this site http://www.oldhousegardens.com/BulbPlantingAndCare.aspx

As far as moving trees, again, I'm no expert, but Weston's nurseries, the neighborhood fancy garden center assured me that as long as the ground wasn't frozen my tree could be happily planted. Everything else I've read seems to support this too. I tried to mulch some more fragile stuff as it won't root in as well, but I'll be moving some plants this weekend. Just make sure you (your mom) waters til the ground freezes

Here in north central CT the ground hasn't yet frozen--it's been too warm. Fall is, generally speaking, a good time to transplant perennials & shrubs as well as to plant new-to-you perennials & bulbs.

Take heed of the good advice you've received from the above posters, however, as you are approaching the closing window of that ideal planning time due to colder temperatures, not to mention the diminished hours of daylight that would allow newly-planted perennials sufficient time to establish themselves prior to total winter dormancy. Bulbs aren't so sensitive to the hours of daylight conditions for obvious reasons but can be affected by the gradual freezing of the earth in which they're planted.

Best of luck to you!

I plant bulbs and perennials until close to when the ground freezes, but I then mulch well to keep the ground from freezing for a while and to help prevent freeze/thaw cycles in the spring. I haven't lost things this way, but it's more pleasant planting when it's warmer.

I agree with others that shrubs and trees, since they stick up farther, need to be planted in early to mid-fall, in order to root enough to not get damaged by winter winds. If you can plant in earlier fall, it's the best time since air temperatures are cooler while the soil is still warm. If not, as early in the spring as possible is best so they can settle in a bit before summer heat arrives.