It's fall, the time of year we start thinking about closing up the garden shed and moving inside. Before you put away that shovel, plant a tree. Fall is the ideal planting season for trees, shrubs and other hardy plants. Their roots will respond well to the head-start on spring.

Have the stars in your landscape turned from evergreen to everbrown? Here are some ways to determine whether the condition is permanent, and a few suggestions about what to do if it is.

What's white and black and red all over? A sunburned polar bear in a black bikini? Okay, not so funny. Global warming is no laughing matter. But for all its negative effects, the extended growing season in this region may not be one. Jim has some startling news.

Feeling cranky because it's too hot, sticky and uncomfortable to work outside? Think of it this way: when is the last time you had to shovel sunshine? To

The 'Dog Days' of summer. Not much more to do in the garden, but the weeding goes on. If your sidewalk or patio cracks are in a weedy pickle, put the

Bling is all about flash, sparkle, and impact. Bling has a place in the garden, too. Here's Jim's list of 'look-at-ME!-plants.' Add some visual noise-makers to your landscape.

Question: which of the following is the most sensible statement? A) best time to do your landscape chores is on a hot, sunny day at noon. B) best time to water your plants is on a hot, sunny day at noon. C) best way to keep your landscape verdant and thriving is to ignore it. D) best way to keep plants thriving is to place them where the sun and other natural conditions will work to their advantage as they become established. (correct answer is D, unless you are a mad dog or an Englishman and

Why is it that a bird can fly through a tree canopy repeatedly without so much as a ding to a wing but a golf ball will find a limb every time? No answer here, but Jim has some great tips for pruning your trees to enhance their appearance. Careful pruning will add elegance to your landscape for years to come.