Follow This Fall Garden Checklist to Get Your Yard Ready for Winter

Deal with fallen leaves

Turf grass won't tolerate thick layers of leaves well. If you don't have a lot of leaves, skip raking and mow over them to chop them into smaller pieces that will add nutrients to the soil.

Seed or lay sod

Cool temperatures combined with late fall rain make for ideal conditions in most regions for establishing new lawns or making repairs.

Aerate your lawn

Plan to aerate high traffic areas annually to loosen compacted soil; otherwise every 2-3 years will do.

Keep up with weeds

Dandelions, clover, and other common lawn weeds will start growing quicker as the temperatures cool off in fall.

Raise your mower blade

Keeping your lawn taller will encourage more root growth, which helps your grass survive the winter better.

Remove weeds

Clear away as many as possible now so you have fewer to deal with next spring.

Add mulch

After the ground freezes, add a 4- to 5-inch-thick layer of bark mulch over the crown of perennials that were planted this growing year as well as those that are frost-tender in your area.

Plant spring-blooming bulbs

Tulips, daffodils, and many other spring-blooming bulbs are best planted in late September or October.

Dispose of diseased or pest-ridden plants

Remove any leaves, stems, and whole plants that have diseases or bugs to reduce problems the following year.

Water once a week if dry

Even though perennials are going dormant in fall, their roots are still actively growing until the ground freezes. Well hydrated plants withstand winter stresses better.

Clean out beds

Removing all plant debris helps prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in your garden and returning even worse in spring.

Put away stakes, labels, and other accessories

As you remove plants, don't forget to gather up items such as labels, stakes, and cages, too. Store them where they'll be handy to reuse next year.

Add compost

Spread a 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of compost over your beds to enrich the soil. No need to till it in; precipitation and soil organisms will do the job for you.

Plant cover crops

Sow cover crops like mustard, peas, or clover in fall to prevent erosion. Then turn them over into the soil in spring to add nutrients.

Expand planting areas

If you'd like to increase your planting space, fall is a good time for setting up new raised beds or smothering grass where you want to create an in-ground bed.

Plant new trees and shrubs

Add deciduous trees and shrubs up until about a month before the ground usually freezes. You can also plant evergreen species in fall, but they tend to do better when planted in spring.

Provide plenty of water

Newly planted trees and shrubs, as well as established ones, will tolerate harsh winter conditions better when well watered in fall. Extra water for evergreens is especially important in fall.

Replenish mulch

Add a fresh layer of mulch such as wood chips or shredded leaves around trees and shrubs to protect roots from winter temperature extremes. Keep mulch from touching the trunks to prevent rot and other diseases.

Prune after dormancy starts

Trimming after September 1 will trigger tender new growth that's easily damaged in winter. Instead, wait until leaves have fallen from deciduous species before pruning.

Guard trunks against deer and sun damage

Younger trees and shrubs can be ruined by deer rubbing antlers on the trunks. Plus their thinner bark be damaged by sun scald. Using a tree wrap or guard in fall can prevent both issues.

Clean hand tools

Remove dirt, then place the metal ends of trowels, weeders, and other tools in a bucket of sand laced with vegetable oil.

Sharpen blades

Pruners and loppers can get dull with lots of use, as can shovels and spades. And don't forget mower blades. Use a file to restore their sharp edges. Then coat with a little vegetable oil to prevent rust over the winter.

Drain hoses and irrigation lines

Before freezing weather sets in, ensure any water is removed from your garden hoses and irrigation tubing.

Prepare small engines

Drain gas lines of mowers, weed whackers, and tillers. Change oil as needed before storing machines in dry, covered spaces for winter.

Clean out sprayers

Empty and wash out your spraying equipment with soap and water, both inside and out. Rinse and allow to air dry before stowing them away for the winter. And if you have leftover chemicals, make sure to store them in a safe place that won't freeze.

Empty containers

The freeze and thaw cycle can crack containers, especially those made of clay that are left full of potting mix. After cleaning them out, store your pots and planters in a protected, dry area like a shed or garage.

Clean out flower beds

Once frost withers the zinnias, petunias, and marigolds in your garden beds, it's time to pull them up so your planting space will be ready for new flowers in spring.

Collect and store seeds

You can save seeds of many kinds of popular annuals, such as celosia, petunia, cosmos, and nasturtium. Place each type of seed in a labeled envelop and stash them in a cool, dry place until sowing them in spring.

Dig up tender bulbs

Cannas, dahlias, caladiums, and several other tropical bulbs and tubers will not survive winter in northern regions. Dig them up shortly after the foliage turns brown in fall and store them in a cool, dry place for planting outside next spring.

Take cuttings to grow indoors

Snip sprigs of certain flower bed and container favorites such as coleus, geraniums, and sweet potato vine before temperatures get below 50˚F. They'll root easily in water, providing a little indoor winter color. You could even keep them going long enough to plant outside again in spring.