Tips for Getting Your Garden Ready for Winter

Actually, you don't really need to prepare the garden for winter at all…

In fact, it's actually better not to make your garden too neat!

It's best to leave leaves in the flower beds, leave some pruning clippings or branches in a corner of the garden, and just let the seed heads stay where they are.

Birds, insects, hedgehogs—and even the plants themselves—will be grateful to you.

Still, there are a few garden chores that you'd be better off doing before winter really sets in

Here are some yard chores to do before winter

• Keep the lawn free of leaves. Take the leaves to the compost pile, spread them in your flower beds, or make your own leaf compost.
• Make sure you prune your hedges in a timely manner so that they go into winter looking neat, without the risk of frost damage.
• You can keep empty flower pots clean and in good condition by cleaning them and putting them away, for example, in the shed. Don't have room for that? Then at least turn them upside down so they won't freeze and break.
• Mow the lawn one last time (but don't cut it too short).
• Pull the weeds from under the hedge, and you won't have to deal with them all winter long.
• Protect your patio furniture by storing it away or using protective covers.
• Do not store your garden cushions, umbrella, etc., in a damp place to prevent mold growth.
• Protect frost-sensitive plants: Bring potted plants indoors, dig up dahlias, cannas, etc., and store them in a dry, dark, and cool place for the winter. You can protect frost-sensitive plants in the ground by covering them with burlap, for example.
• You can protect terracotta flower pots from frost using bubble wrap.
• Turn off the outdoor faucet in a timely manner.
• Plant flower bulbs.
• Set up a feeding station for birds.

Fall, by the way, is also an excellent time to prune many trees and shrubs and to plant new ones.