Don’t forget to complete these important garden tasks before colder weather arrives! Here are a few things to do right now to prepare your garden for winter…

The leaves are falling, darkness comes sooner, and the sun is lower in the sky; there’s no doubt about it – winter is not far away! But before you hang up your hoe for the summer, remember that there are a few important garden tasks to get done before the snow flies.

These tips will not only help protect your soil and your garden from the elements this winter, but they will start you off on the right foot for a great garden season when spring arrives.

Here are 7 things you should do right now to prepare your garden for winter:

1. Clear Rotten Fruit

You’ll want to clean up and compost any rotten fruit from the ground around trees—infestations last through winter.

2. Mulch, mulch, mulch

Mulch to maintain soil quality, using weeds (but not those with seeds), cocoa hulls, grass clippings, leaves, and straw. Here’s what every gardening should know about mulching.

3. Sow Cover Crops

Plant cover crops like buckwheat after harvest to correct soil compaction. (Here’s everything you need to know about planting cover crops.)

4. Confuse Pathogens

Sounds weird, but you can indeed disrupt pathogens’ plans by mapping out a garden plan for crop rotation.

5. Clear annuals

Clear out your old annuals and weeds before seeds drop or else they could take over your spring garden.

6. Cut back spent perennials

Otherwise, these may create hiding places for slugs, snails, and other pests.

7. Remove diseased plants

Clear out diseased tomato, potato, and squash foliage to prevent disease. Do not toss these plants in the compost. Bag and discard.

Find more ways to prepare your garden for winter at RodalesOrganicLife.com…