When winter approaches, it’s time to prepare your gardens and lawn for the cold weather and plan for next year’s growing season. Here’s a suggested list of tasks to get your garden ready:

• Transplant shrubs or young trees to new locations.
• Rake and compost fallen leaves, and clear downspouts and gutters.
• Clean up garden debris and compost organic waste.
• Remove dead annuals from the garden.
• Cut back perennials to discourage overwintering pests. You can leave plants with seeds so birds can forage.
• Sharpen lawn mower and pruner blades.
• Dig up tender bulbs such as dahlia, canna, and gladiola. Wrap them in moist material and store in a cool, dark place.
• Fertilize your lawn with fall fertilizer.

• Divide spring and summer blooming perennial plants to reduce crowding.
• Turn off outside water and drain garden hoses.
• Wrap screening around fruit-tree trunks to protect from small animals.
• Mulch rose bushes.
• Add compost to garden beds.