Living in the Grand Rapids area, it is important to prepare your landscape for Winter

Trees / Shrubs – Late fall feeding for trees and shrubs is recommended where a visible deficiency or stunting has occurred.  Trees severely defoliated by Gypsy Moth may also benefit from feeding at this time.

Lawn – The November lawn feeding has been touted as the single most important time to fertilize.  Roots of turf are still active and will utilize nutrients to rebuild themselves for the coming season.  A fall application of fertilizer will also give a quick green up in Spring.

Pruning – Head back herbaceous perennial stems after the tops die.

Watering – Irrigate newly planted ornamentals any time there is less than 1 inch of weekly rainfall and plants are actively growing.  Apply water at the rate of 1 quart per square foot of planting area on poorly drained soils.  On well-drained soils, use a half-gallon of water per square foot.  Be sure to maintain adequate soil moisture this month to aid good root growth prior to winter dormancy.

Plant Protection – For newly planted ornamentals, spread a 2- to 3- inch layer of mulch over the soil in the bed or around trees.  Rodent tree trunk guards, mulch, rose cones and fabric wind screens around evergreens should be put in place before average temperatures are below freeezing.

Source:  Rebecca Finneran – MSU Extension & Bulletin E-1947