Fall is a great time to plant shrubs and trees. Why? Because the excessive summer heat is subsiding, and plants have time to establish a good, healthy root system before the heat of next summer arrives.  Typically, you will not have to water in your new trees or shrubs as much, because of all of the fall rains.

For the most part, it's best to wait till early spring for major pruning. The exception: shrubs that bloom in very early spring should be pruned directly after they finish blooming to avoid losing the bloom period for that year. Shrubs that bloom in late spring or early summer can be pruned in early spring.