Winterize Your Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide

Putting the garden to bed is satisfying—harvest's in, the hard work's done, and you're setting the stage for next year. Here's the logical sequence.

1. Clean Up Debris

Remove dead foliage, stakes, row markers. Compost healthy material; trash diseased or pest-infested waste to avoid carryover.

2. Rake the Lawn

Leaves block light and air, suffocating grass. Clear them for a healthier spring lawn.

3. Mulch Trees and Shrubs

Apply 2–3″ of mulch around woody plants—insulates roots, stabilizes soil temperature. Don't pile against trunks (rodent habitat).

4. Plan Next Year's Veggie Garden

Sketch beds now. Rotate crops, maximize space, order seeds early.

5. Service Equipment

• Drain fuel from mowers, trimmers.
• Store batteries above freezing.
• Clean, sharpen, oil tools. Replace worn ones. Drop gift hints.

6. Read and Dream

Cozy up with gardening books and catalogs. The best off-season investment is inspiration.

Winterizing isn't a chore—it's the bridge to a better spring.