Image by kimberlyfaye (in Kansas, photos soon) via Flickr

Growth slows to a standstill this month. Roots and buds harden, seeds are dispersed, and inner leaves begin to fall. Sunny days; in colder nights induce the first hints of autumn color. You can begin to relax a little.

Pruning

Only pines, if you must. Deciduous trees may still boosted into growth, which will not harden in time for winter and will be nipped off by the first frost.

Trimming

Not necessary now - except for those persistent junipers, which will carry on growing for another month or so? Frost will make the newly-pinched shoots turn brown, so be aware.

Wiring

Not advisable. Without new growth the branches are unlikely to set and any fractures in the bark may allow trust to enter over winter, risking damage.

Watering

As your trees begin to slow down so can you. Be vigilant, though, changeable weather can deceive you, and pots can still dry out surprisingly quickly.

Feeding

Nitrogen-free fertilizer all month. Additional bone meal applied to pines, whose roots remain slightly active all winter, will Iv appreciated by them early next year.

Next month the bark will be more stubborn to remove, and the wounds will not begin to heal until spring. Pests are less id a problem now but some are still active on conifers. Sow coll. seeds in trays outdoors. Remove debris from both the tree and the surface of the soil to prevent disease. This is a food tiny plant new moss. It will continue to prow during, mild spell, all winter and will have taken hold by nest spring.