101 Ideas: Get your lawn and garden ready for winter

Old man winter's approaching, which means it's time to protect your lawn and garden from his hoary breath. Here are some tips to keep things warm and snugly.

Move terra-cotta and ceramic containers to a protected location like a garden shed or garage. Clean clay pots to remove excess salt or algae buildup, and repair damaged ones.

Bring tender plants, such as tropicals and containerized plants, inside for overwintering. Replant in pots if necessary and place them in a garage, heated garden shed or indoor room. Take cuttings of annuals and begin propagating new plants for next season.

Dig and store tender summer- and fall-flowering bulbs, such as dahlias. Plant spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils and tulips. Plant bulbs with their roots down — if the bulb has a sprout at the top, it can still be planted.

Avoid heavy pruning of trees and shrubs going into the winter months, but do prune away broken branches. Touch up mulch at the base of plants once temperatures are consistently cold.

In the perennial border, touch up mulch around plants for added winter protection. A layer of mulch about 2 to 4 inches deep is ideal. Unless you prefer otherwise, it is fine to leave foliage that has died, as it will help provide additional protection at the crown of plants. Leave ornamental grasses intact without cutting them back to discourage new growth during warm spells and encourage birds to visit.

Extend the harvest of cool-season veggies like lettuce and spinach by constructing a cold frame around them.

Remove spent plants from the vegetable garden and add them to the compost pile. Discard diseased plants in the trash. Turn over the soil with a garden fork (or till) to expose underground pests to cold temperatures.

Winterize the compost bin by covering it with a tarp; this will help keep the composting process going through the cold season. Occasionally soak the pile with water to keep it moist. Add an insulation of leaves or straw on the top and sides of the pile.

CourtesySusanMorganonhgtv.com