As the cooler fall weather creeps upon us, it’s time again to head outside to ready your garden for the arrival of another winter. And why not? Autumn is a great time to plant both shrubs and trees as well as to remove any dying annual flowers like marigolds, zinnias or cornflowers. It is also a great time to prepare your lawn for healthy renewal next spring. Here is a helpful monthly checklist of tasks for your fall garden cleanup prep for the cold season to come. Tasks for September- Pull out the weeds before they go to seed. It will reduce the weeds in next year’s garden. - Inspect household plants for any pests and begin moving them indoors. - Bring in clay pots you have outside. - Plant new shrubs and trees. It gives them time to become established before the first frost, which is about six weeks away. - Collect herbs and seed for drying. - Plant spring-flowering bulbs.- Clean out bird feeders- Clean up garden tools- Water shrubs or trees until the ground freezes. - Add manure or compost to your garden beds.- Fertilize the lawn. - Protect any water features in your garden by adding netting to collect any falling leaves. Tasks for October- Dig up any tender bulbs like gladiolas, cannas, and dahlias. Make sure to have them wrapped up in moist material and stored in a cool, dark place.- Rake and compost leaves. - Remove fallen fruit or vegetable plants and clean up excess garden debris. - Remove dead annuals from the garden after a frost. - Get your most commonly used garden tools ready for next spring by sharpening pruners and lawn mower blades. - Discourage rodents from making winter nests by trimming tall grasses away from trees and corners of your home. - Discard diseased perennials. Do not compost.- Uproot and transplant young trees or shrubs to new locations.- Continue to water your trees and shrubs until the ground freezes. Tasks for November- Fertilize your lawn. - Drain your garden hoses and turn off any outside water connections.- Buy bulbs to force for the winter. - Clean up any leaves that may have fallen in gutters or downspouts. - To protect your fruit trees from small animals, wrap screening around the trunks. - Mulch any rose bushes.- Continue Watering trees and shrubs until the ground freezes. Tasks for December- Start paperwhites and amaryllis for winter blooms. Check with us once a month between March and October for tips on how to care for your garden. Design for Conscious Living® is a full-service interior and exterior design company. We can help you with everything from decorative flowerpots to the design and installation of your dream garden.