Winterizing Plants Checklist

Protect your garden through the cold months with cleanup, mulching, and coverage.

Do most of this before the first hard frost to give plants the best protection.

20 items · 4 sections · Garden Outdoors Home Seasonal

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Assess and clean up

Identify which plants need winter protection based on hardiness zone
Remove dead or diseased foliage
Clear fallen leaves from garden beds
Weed beds before the ground freezes
Take photos of the garden layout for spring reference

Protecting plants

Mulch around the base of perennials to insulate roots
Wrap tender shrubs or trees in burlap
Move potted plants indoors or to a sheltered spot
Cut back perennials to a few inches above the ground
Cover tender plants with frost cloth before the first freeze

Watering and soil

Water plants well before the first hard frost
Stop fertilizing to let plants go dormant
Drain and store garden hoses
Shut off outdoor water spigots to prevent freezing
Add a fresh layer of compost for spring

Tools and structures

Clean and store garden tools for winter
Bring in or cover garden furniture and decor
Check that greenhouse or cold frame seals are intact
Store bulbs that need to overwinter indoors
Plan next year's garden layout while it's fresh in mind