Not doing things, might be the thing to do right now. "Let some of those plants stand," says Tom Kasper. For some beneficial insects, leaving standing stalks and leaf debris can create an over-winter habitat. This might be appealing for those who like to limit their work in the garden, but less so for those that dislike seeing decaying plant remains after the snow melts in the spring. "I propose... a hybrid," says Kasper. "Those plants that do get really slimy... like hostas... maybe take those out."
While considering what to take out of the garden, it's also time to be thinking about what's going in. "Fall is a great time to be planting bulbs." Tulips, daffodils and others are perfect for autumn planting. As edibles go, garlic bulbs should be planted in the fall.
And lastly, if you've recently purchased a new tree of any kind, wrapping the sapling is paramount. "It's the single best insurance policy for the health of that tree," says Kasper. "Doing that now is - surprisingly - the best time."
