As the days get shorter and a chill works its way back into the evening air, we’re reminded of how much work needs to be done. Now is the time to prep for the bitter cold of winter – throughout our homes, with our cars and, especially, in our yards.

“The benefits of winterizing are pretty straightforward. Your plants will look healthier, and are less disease prone. Your beds will look better throughout the winter and into the spring, making the spring clean-up that much easier,” says Mark Greiner, owner of Greiner Landscaping in Columbus.

This is the best time to remedy any landscaping/gardening issues you may have had over the course of spring and summer, and to plan, purchase and plant for the next go-round.

By putting in a little extra effort in the fall, you can focus on other things for a few months, such as holiday shopping.

“There are definitely certain times of the winter that you can do things like tree pruning, but that’s mostly for landscaping companies. For 80 to 90 percent of homeowners, their work is basically done in the fall and they won’t need to get back in there until March or April,” Greiner says.

Here’s a basic checklist for your fall yard chores:

Add some organic material to your soil – perhaps some chopped leaves that have fallen with autumn’s arrival. Conveniently, the materials are free and the process is easy. Grab a mulching-type lawnmower and create about ½ an inch of chopped leaves over the entirety of the yard. Keep this natural mulch cover throughout the winter, for protection and production.

The infusion of organic material into your soil reduces soil compaction, improves water storage and leads to better drainage. It also produces food for the grass plants through the beginning of summer, minimizing a need for fertilizer at that time.

Kill your weeds. This is – perhaps surprisingly – the best time of year to do so because it’s when broadleaf weeds are at full growth. In fact, there are plenty of weeds that grow long after the spring herbicide has been applied, including Oxalis and Creeping Charlie. Use selective herbicides to further prevent weeds.

Maintenance. Maintenance. Maintainence. Work on your rose shrubs. Some of the best blooms come during the cool autumn temperatures, but they need to be trimmed down once they’re done flowering. Remove any dead wood and any rose leaves with black spots at this time. Same goes for any other plants that will most likely need their extension growths removed.

As your yard begins to lose its color, remove dead foliage. Cut herbaceous plants down to ground level to clean them up, and they’ll rejuvenate (fully and then-some) in the spring. Tidy up your hedges so they look neat. As we’re barreling toward winter, be attentive to any evergreens. They need pruning and cleaning, and any dead wood should be removed now.

“Get the leaves and debris cleaned out of the beds—it’s not really harmful to have it in there, but it is nice in the spring to have most of that out of the way. Plus it looks nicer for the holidays,” Greiner says.

Do not dehydrate. Just because it is cooler doesn’t mean you should neglect watering duties, especially if there is scant rainfall, and especially for newly set trees and shrubs. They aren’t established enough to account for their own sufficient moisture levels.

Keep in mind that when November rolls around, it’s time to add fertilization. This late-fall meal is your lawn’s most important of the year. It will build more roots and will keep your lawn a little greener for a little longer. It will also tie over your yard’s appetite until the early part of spring. Apply when your lawn is done growing (when you’ve officially put your lawnmower to rest), but is still green. Specifically look for fertilizer products with “Winterizer” on the label.

Certain plants may not survive the cold. Be choosy about bringing potted plants that have soaked up the sun outside all summer into the house. If you’re unsure whether or not they will survive, Greiner says it’s okay to leave them outdoors.

“Most annuals you can pitch at the end of the year. There are some, like Calla lilies, that you can pot and replant in the spring. Do bring your potted plants in before the frost weather. If you have big pots with trees or perennials, you can always store them in the garage for the winter,” he adds.

Finally, after you’ve secured the lawn, flowers, shrubs and trees, don’t ignore your yard gear. Drain your garden hose and store it in the garage. Empty your irrigation system and disconnect water and air pressure systems. Leave irrigation valves open a little, to avoid pressure build-up. Drain your lawnmower and other gas-powered tools so that the gasoline does not build up over the winter. Finally, keep these and other gardening tools stored in a dry place, to avoid rusting.

Now is the perfect time to clean things up in the yard and put it to rest during the long, cold winter. That little bit of extra work now will be worth it come spring, when everything comes back bountifully and beautifully.

Side:
The Gardener’s Net (www.gardenersnet.com) recommends four basic steps to taking care of your lawn during the arrival of fall.

• Reseed areas as needed. Fall is a great time for new grass seed to take root, and eliminates areas for weeds to grow in the spring. Go for the bare spots.
• Fertilize one last time with a high nitrogen fertilizer to encourage root growth. Look for the “Winterizer” label.
• Rake leaves and debris off of your lawn, especially areas with heavy thatch built up.
• After the lawn has stopped growing (and before the first snowfall), give your lawn one final cutting. Lower your mower deck to about 1 inch. This will leave few areas for snowmold to develop. (Snowmold harbors your yard under the snow, and organic debris left on the lawn will provide a place for it to grow and thrive).