Winterize Your Garden: The Essential End-of-Season Checklist

A tidy wrap-up now means fewer losses in winter and a faster start in spring. Use this guide to close the season with confidence, then grab the printable checklist at the end.

What to do this month

Cut back and clean

• Cut back spent perennials; leave bird-friendly seedheads you want to keep.

• Remove diseased foliage and discard in the trash.

• Lift and divide overcrowded spring and early-summer perennials; replant and water once.

Soil care

• Top-dress beds with 1–2 inches of compost to feed soil life.

• Add a 2-inch layer of mulch to reduce freeze–thaw heaving and winter weeds.

Protect plants

• Water evergreens deeply before the ground freezes.

• Wrap young or exposed shrubs with burlap wind screens or tree guards.

• Set out frost cloths or row cover where needed.

Water and irrigation

• Drain and store hoses; open outdoor spigots and add hose-bib covers.

• Shut down and drain irrigation and drip lines.

Containers and hardscape

• Empty and store clay or thin-walled pots so they do not crack.

• Raise outdoor winter containers on pot feet for drainage.

• Sweep patios and secure loose pavers or stones.

Tools and supplies

• Clean, sharpen, and oil hand tools.

• Store fertilizers, seeds, and soil in dry, sealed bins off the floor.

Plan ahead

• Plant spring-blooming bulbs once soils cool.

• Note gaps to fill next spring.

Product tie-ins at Donaldson’s

• Bulk and bagged compost, premium mulch, natural burlap, frost cloth, hose-bib covers, pot feet, frost-resistant pottery, and tool-care supplies.

Click Here for End of Season Checklist