For a gardener, the winter is a time to stop, rest, and plan for the next season.

To keep your work from being ruined this winter, take these steps to prepare your garden for the cold.

Learn what you need to do to survive winter’s cooler temps.

Cleaning up Old Vegetation

Time to break out the rake. Cleaning up old vegetation and dead weeds will remove spores and eggs from pests that could harm your garden with disease.

It also will prepare your garden for planting which could give you more time to focus on other tasks in the spring.

• Rake up dead foliage and leftover fruit from the ground.
• Remove any weeds still alive by pulling them completely from the ground, root attached.
• For perennials, wait until the foliage naturally dies to cut it away from the ground.

Care for Potted Plants

Spend the time to care for these delicate beauties so the cold temperatures don’t ruin them.

• Shelter the plants by moving them indoors into the garage or basement.
• Keep the soil damp and moist (standing water will encourage fungus or bacteria that could harm or kill the plant).
• Insulate the soil by covering it with mulch or burlap.

Care for Outdoor Plants

These hardier plants will need some tending to survive the winter.

• Cut back dead leaves using garden trimmers.
• Some green vegetation can be trimmed to keep the plant’s focus on growing the root system during the colder temps.
• Gather any fallen seeds to store for the next growing season.
• Transplant bulbs that need dividing. Remove bulbs from more delicate plants like dahlia or gladiolas and store them in a cool, dark location.

Covering and Mulching

This will keep the roots insulated through the frosty and sometimes snow-covered winter and can help replenish the soil’s nutrients.

• Mulch the garden beds with newspaper, compost, straw or leaves raked from the yard.
• Some plants need extra insulation and could benefit from a loosely wrapped blanket.
• Evergreen boughs make excellent ground covering and add a splash of holiday to your dormant garden.

Winter Garden Reminders

• Make sure to completely remove weeds because they don’t die with frost. They go dormant and will be first to rise in spring.
• Remember to water winter plants- more plants die from lack of moisture than from cold temperatures.
• Make sure to remove any standing water from garden hoses to keep them from bursting and adding an unwanted expense for you in spring.