Time to make an autumn home, garden checklist

In the garden

--Pick up after your fruit trees. Clean up debris and dropped fruit; this cuts down on insects and prevents the spread of brown rot. Then, feed fruit trees with slow-release fertilizer for better production for next year.

--To prolong bloom into fall, feed begonias, fuchsias, annuals and container plants. Always water before fertilizing.

--Fertilize fall-blooming perennials, too. Chrysanthemums can be fed until the buds start to open.

--Indoors, start seedlings for fall vegetable planting, including cabbage, broccoli, kale and lettuce.

Around the house

Help protect your home from fire danger, particularly in high-risk areas. Here are some tips from the California Fire Safe Council:

--Keep your garden hose connected to the water spigot throughout the fire season.

--Keep the following tools ready and handy: a round-point shovel with a long handle, a rake with a long handle, a ladder tall enough to reach the roof, one or more 5-pound fire extinguishers, at least one bucket and a garbage can full of water with a bailing bucket.

--When mowing, always work early in the morning. Make sure power tools have spark arresters to prevent equipment-caused fires.

--Maintain "defensible space" of 100 feet around your home by cleaning up dead branches, leaves and needles, and watering regularly. Clean dead leaves and pine needles from the roof and gutters. Cut weeds and grasses to 6 inches or shorter. Remove lower tree branches at least 6 feet from the ground so fire can't climb up.

--Never prune near power lines. Call your local utility company first.

--Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with nonflammable half-inch mesh screen.

--Soak fireplace ashes and barbecue coals in water before disposing them in a metal container.

For more tips and a home-owner's checklist, click on www.firesafecouncil.org.