Things to do in the garden this week

• Clean leaves and other debris from house gutters.

• Rough-tilling vegetable garden soils in fall exposes pests to winter cold, reducing their numbers next year.

• Plan now for late autumn foliage color next year. “Red Sunset” and “October Glory” red maples, Japanese maples, American smoketree and Virginia sweetspire are among the most reliable producers of late-fall leaf color in local gardens.

• Complete fall fertilization of trees, shrubs and cool-season lawns. Most roots are actively growing and absorbing nutrients as long as soil temperatures remain above 40 degrees.