Ten Quick Tips for Winterizing Your Garden

Ten Quick Tips for Winterizing Your Garden

1.      Drain oil and add fuel stabilizers to power equipment. Remove batteries, clean air filters and spark plugs and wash or wipe down equipment. Inspect for missing, rusted or brittle components and lubricate moving parts.

2.      Put tender bulbs and tubers like cannas and dahlias in a dark, dry spot in the basement or garage.

3.      Wrap palms, elephant ears, angel's trumpets, bananas, citrus and tree ferns. Cut gunnera leaves and pile upside-down on the plant.

4.      Plant winter perennials like sarcococca, hellebore, wintergreen, witch hazel or winter jasmine.

5.      Bring tropical plants or house plants inside.

6.      Consider tying heavily branched evergreens, flat-topped yews or cedar hedges to prevent snow damage.

7.      Finish fall cleanup and cut back perennials. Put away stakes, tools, clay pots, hoses.

8.      Continue dead-heading winter annuals like pansies and mums for full blooms.

9.      Keep feeding birds as their natural food sources become sparse.

10.  With your heat on and the air dryer indoors, increase your watering regimen for houseplants.