In the autumn, there are still a few tasks to complete in the garden to ensure that you and your plants can retreat for the winter and gather new strength. After the harvest season, it’s time to clean, prune, and protect, so everything is ready for winter.

For example, make sure that no leaves are left on your lawn during the winter. It’s better to rake them together before the last lawn mowing and use them as a protective mulch layer on your beds and around frost-sensitive plants. This not only provides shelter and a habitat for soil organisms and insects but also prevents soil erosion and drying out of the unprotected earth. In general, diligent mulching can protect the soil and significantly improve plant health in your garden.

Frost-resistant bulbs and tubers from early bloomers like tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and similar plants can be planted in the ground during autumn, while canas, dahlias, and asters should now be dug up and stored cool and dry indoors. You should also bring all exotic plants inside, so citrus, olive, oleander, and similar plants can settle in a bright but cool spot before the first night frosts. The same applies to balcony and container plants like geraniums, fuchsias, lupines, and others.

When your perennials are retreating and shedding leaves from deciduous trees like walnut and maple, it’s time for a pruning. However, for some species, the pruning can wait until spring.

If you live in a mild region, you can try overwintering exotics outdoors. Protective measures, such as tying them together and covering them with brushwood, straw mats, plastic, and similar materials, can significantly improve success. Some gardeners even swear by the combination of plastic and string lights, which provide cozy warmth for palms, olive trees, and oleanders during severe frost.

After cleaning and maintaining all your gardening tools and furniture, you can store them in your garden shed or garage for the winter. This way, they last longer and are ready to use when the new season begins.

Now, it’s time to drain all water-carrying pipes and pumps from ponds, faucets, and solar thermal systems to prevent freezing and bursting. Once that’s done, you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your garden by the crackling fireplace.