Is your yard ready for winter?

Time is speeding by. It’s already October. Halloween will be here soon.

I’ve done some work to get my yard ready for winter: Pulling up spent plants – beans, peas, and lettuce – and spreading straw on the garden where I removed the plants. I also weeded flower beds and put down mulch, with the help of my gardening friend Deane.

However, I was startled when the weather forecasters said it would freeze Monday evening.

I quickly pulled up spent zucchini plants and spread more straw. I also cut a lot of Swiss chard and pulled up a bowl of carrots. I put straw around the remaining Swiss chard and kale and collard plants.

Most importantly, I unhooked my garden hoses. Years ago, we didn’t do it one year, and the faucet froze, splitting the pipe and flooding the corner of the house with water.

I forgot to pull up my last lettuce plant in my container garden on my patio. I wonder if it will be frozen tomorrow morning.

By the time I finished, it was nearly dark. The long days of summer are gone.

What do you need to do to get your yard ready for winter? Here are some suggestions:

• Aerate and feed your lawn.

• Store garden chemicals. Read the label for information on correct storage or find a guide on the internet.

• Drain hoses well.

• Winterize lawn mowers and other power equipment.

• Clean and lightly oil hand shovels, clippers, trimmers, and other hand tools.

• Move woody plants.

• Plant trees or shrubs.

• Rake leaves each week.

• Clean up dying foliage from perennial plants and your garden.

• Pull up any annuals and add to compost.

• Pull up weeds and edge flowerbeds. Discard weeds that have seeds in the garbage.

• Plant spring bulbs.

• Apply winter mulch after the ground freezes.

Best wishes with your fall yard work. I hope you’re not as far behind in your yard work as I am.