Prepare Your Garden for Winter

Don't let autumn days slip by without tucking in your plants for their winter's nap. Try these tips from Sandra Gerdes, who manages the Test Garden of our sister publication, Better Homes and Gardens.

The first rule is: Don't remove everything from your beds! Plants like ornamental grasses (shown here) look great all winter. And save some seed-bearers, like coneflowers, for the hungry birds.

To-Do List

Clear out dead or dying plant material from your perennial or vegetable gardens. "Pest problems can overwinter," Sandra says, "so clean up in the fall and rotate your vegetable crop."
Most of your old plants can go right into the compost heap, but bag any materials that suffered insect or disease problems. That ensures that you won't be reintroducing problem back into the garden next year.
If you have compost, add about two inches to your vegetable garden's soil and work it in with a spading fork. You can also add an inch or two of compost around your perennials.
Dump the contents of your container plants into the compost pile. To wash clay pots, use a solution of one part household bleach to nine parts water, and soak for at least 10 minutes. Then, place the pots in a mixture of dish detergent and water. To clean mineral deposits or debris, use steel wool or a wire bristle brush.
Sandra removes all annuals, replacing them with spring-blooming bulbs. "The garden grows mostly with perennials, but bulbs make the transition before we plant annuals again."
You can apply wrapping to young trees to prevent animal damage and sun scald. Sandra also uses planks and cables to prop up long-needled weeping pins in the dwarf conifer collection. The staking supports limbs that would break when heavy, wet snow piles up.
To save time next spring, divide and replant perennials such as hardy geraniums, hostas, and irises. Mound extra soil around the bases of your roses.
Aerate your lawn, fertilize to build roots, and irrigate, especially if it's a dry autumn.
If you have an above-ground pond or fountain, be sure to drain out all the water. The freezing and thawing will break the container.