Question: Can I  do anything   this fall to prevent Japanese beetles from eating all of my plants?
Answer: There is no guessing where the Japanese beetles will attack  next spring. Your best bet is to keep an eye out  early in spring and  spray with Sevin as soon as you see a beetle.

Question:  When  is the right time to prune holly?
Answer: Holly and all of the Ilex  family can be pruned any time. If you plan to do a major reshaping, late winter is probably the best time. Consider a light pruning in December and use the cuttings for Christmas decorating .

Question: Is fall the best time to transplant peonies?
Answer: Fall is the best time to transplant peonies. Dig up the plant or plants and divide carefully if you want to plant separate plants. The “crown” from which the red buds  are visible in the fall,  should not be more than one inch below the ground . This is important, as too deep planting results in failure to flower.  Peonies prefer full sun but will bloom with a small amount of  shade. Once settled they do not like to be moved so, select the location carefully. 

Question: If I buy some bulbs  and cannot plant them immediately, how long will they keep?
Answer: Bulbs are best planted in late October to early November when the soil  temperature cools a bit. If the warm weather persists, store the bulbs in the crisper of you  refrigerator. Be sure to keep the bulbs away from fruits, which emit a gas  that is harmful to bulbs as they ripen.

Question: I have a large clump of  Pampas grass  that I  want to divide and give to my neighbor, is fall the right time to do this?
Answer: Pompas grass  (Cortaderia) is a hardy grass. It is best divided when it is still growing vigorously so that it can establish its roots before cold weather sets in . If you divide it now, there should be enough time for it to settle. The larger the clump after division, the better the chance for survival. The culms ( stems) are usually left on the plant to give it winter interest. In late winter,ornamental grasses  should be cut to the ground. If cutting  is delayed  too late in the spring, new growth can be damaged  by cutting down the culms.