Q.  Is there is anything I can do now in the garden to make next spring’s work easier?

A.   Here are some general recommendations for tasks to do now to prepare for next spring:

• Check trees and shrubs for winter pruning while they are dormant.
• Protect shrubs from winter damage from heavy snow load or salt.
• Clean and sanitize garden tools.
• Take note of what worked and didn’t work in this year’s garden to identify what to do differently next year. Take photos if necessary.
• Remove soil from containers.
• Wash and bring in clay, ceramic, and fragile containers to keep them from freezing.
• Remove and destroy all diseased plant material.
• Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
• Pull mulch away from trees and shrubs to prevent rodent damage.
• Insulate tender perennials and shrubs such as mums, hydrangeas, and hybrid tea roses.
• Bring in plants that are not winter hardy.
• Continue to water trees and shrubs if Mother Nature doesn’t.
• Take the time now to learn the cultural requirements of the plants in your landscape.
• Leave your native plants to provide winter habitat and interest.