This is prime time to renovate or replace the lawn. If you only fertilize the grass once a year, do it now so it can go into the winter with a healthy system. Fall means you can plant everything. This is the best time to plant trees, shrubs, vines, and ground covers, especially those that will get only minimum water next season. Annuals for bloom during the winter and early spring should go in now as bedding plants.
Good ones are fairy primrose, snapdragon, stock, viola, pansy, lobelia and calendula.
Near the coast you can plant cineraria. Small plants or those planted too late will just sit and sulk until spring before they will put on their show. Plants from six-packs should be planted only during the first half of the month, after that purchase plants in four inch containers. Annuals placed over bulbs will give a colorful show during the winter before the bulbs pop up. Choose colors that complement the bulbs, such as blue violas with yellow daffodils, salmon Primula obconica with purple tulips, or purple and white fairy primrose with pink tulips.