Must Do Chores to Winterize Your Gardens

It is that time again. If you live in the north or in zones where the temperature is so cold that your trees drop all the leaves and you get snow, you would like to read my post. I sort of listed some of the chores that we must do to winterize our gardens.
 
Cleanup and Maintenance:
Winterize your garden and lawn machinery/tools according to the manufacturer's instructions. Rake, rake and rake the leaves again. Yes, it is a hideous chore but someone must do it. Clean, sharpen, and oil garden tools. Drain and store garden hoses and protect outdoor faucets from freezing weather. Don’t forget the birds and fill up your feeders to welcome overwintering birds. Keep wood to feed your fireplace nearby to keep your home warm.  Continue feeding pond fish until the water temperature drops below 50° F.

Lawns:
Mow the lawns until it stops growing and when that happens, apply winterizing fertilizer before the ground freezes.
 
Trees and Shrubs:
Prune deciduous trees and shrubs once they are completely dormant.  Use some of your garden branches and berries to make your holiday decorations.  Save cuttings for rooting indoors. This will bring new plants for your garden, for free.
 
Vegetables:
Bad news, if you live in a cold winter area, your veggies are basically done until next year.  At this point, I am still enjoying my final harvest of tomatoes, peppers, parsley, celery chives and sage.
 
Perennials and Bulbs: 
In colder climates, divide and transplant fall-blooming bulbs after the leaves turn yellow and if you want to, plant winter and spring-flowering bulbs. 
 
Annuals and Containers:
Empty and clean out spent annual containers. Store clay pots indoors emptied of soil, since they will crack with the cold.
 
Houseplants:
Cut back on watering your houseplants and do not feed until next spring.