If fall rains are scarce, water landscape evergreens thoroughly once every week until the ground freezes. Sending them into winter well-watered reduces the potential for damaged foliage.
Broadleaf and tender evergreens need to be shaded on the south and southwest sides to reduce moisture loss and foliage damage. Apply Wilt-Pruf or Wilt Stop to broadleaf evergreens before the air temperature drops to a constant 32 degrees; this helps keep moisture loss to a minimum during the winter months.
Newly planted shade trees, especially those with smooth bark, are often injured by temperature fluctuations and strong winter sunshine. Prevent sunscald by wrapping the tree with tree wrap.
Store stone, ceramic, and resin figurines in a shed or garage to prevent breakage during the winter. The thawing and freezing can cause them to crack.
Keep weeding the garden while weeds are actively growing to prevent future weeds in the spring.
Plant fall bulbs before the ground freezes solid. (Daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, allium, snowdrops, and crocus)
Once the ground is frozen, you can lay down a layer of mulch but do not do it before it freezes.
Cover roses with rose cones once the ground is frozen. Avoid covering too early to prevent plants from breaking dormancy.
Empty pots of old soil and place them in a shed or garage.
Empty water hoses to prevent future leaks once you are done using them. If water is left inside the hose and it freezes, it will burst.
Empty above-ground fountains and cover for winter.
Leave birdbaths out for the birds during the winter. Invest in a birdbath heater to keep the water from freezing.
If you have a pond, leave water in the pond all winter. This prevents cracking and upheaval that might happen if the pond were empty. Remove all annual water plants such as water hyacinth and water lettuce and compost them. Leave other plants in the pond until the top is damaged by frost. Once this happens, take a sharp pair of pruners and prune all of the foliage down to where it is even with the pot, but make sure not to go below the plant’s crown. Place the plants into the deepest part of the pond to keep over the winter. Scoop or vacuum accumulated debris from the bottom of the pond before winter. Remove pumps and electrical equipment. Install a pond heater or bubbler to keep an area of water from freezing so oxygen can remain available to fish and toxic gases like methane can escape.
