It’s time to finish getting your yard ready for winter

The rains are well underway here in the Seattle area. If you haven’t finished your fall yard work, now is the time for action.

In my yard, it’s leaves, leaves, leaves. Fortunately, my forester friend who takes care of my trees likes to rake. Otherwise, I’d be out there daily.

I've made progress in that I finally picked out a shed to put my garden tools in and got it installed.

Here’s a list of tasks to get your in your yard that may need attention:

• Check your fence for worn or rotten boards.

• Drain hoses well before you store them for the winter.

• Check for trees or shrubs that need to be replaced.

• Remove dead branches from bushes.

• Trim bushes and shrubs away from the fence and house.

• Pull up any annuals and garden plants that are no longer producing and add to the compost.

• Harvest remaining garden produce.

• Harvest herbs.

• Pull up weeds and edge flowerbeds.

• Check for invasive plants and remove them.

• Plant native plants.

• Plant spring bulbs.

• Examine the exterior of the house for peeling paint or damage.

• Aerate and feed the awn.

• Store garden chemicals correctly.

• Winterize lawn mowers and other power equipment.

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

• Apply winter mulch after the ground freezes.

Good luck with your fall yard work. It’s important because you may have expensive repairs or costs if something goes unnoticed for a long time.