Garden pipes and spigots need insulated to protect them from freezing.

Recently we changed our clocks to “fall back” one hour. That change signals the end of long daylight periods where we could tend to our gardens. Now is the time to shore up our outdoor activities in anticipation of and preparation for the upcoming winter months. Grab your garden cleanup checklist and get started!

Drain garden hoses and replace or repair leaky ones. Store drained and dry hoses in a protected location for the winter. Discard hose nozzles that are broken or non-functioning and replace them next spring.

Consider applying insulated spigot covers to protect outdoor pipes from freezing.

Deer bucks are trying to remove velvet and polish their antlers by scraping them against slender tree trunks and branches. Anticipate which tree trunks and branches are at risk for buck rub and apply trunk guards. These guards can be made of wire, mesh, or plastic. Regularly inspect the guards throughout the winter and readjust or replace as needed. Protect roadside shrubs from exposure to road salt with burlap and stake fencing.

Continue raking and composting leaves, which may be a never-ending task. Use leaves as mulch for shrubs and perennials and as protection for wildlife. As leaves are falling from the trees, look for broken or damaged branches that may pose a safety threat after a wind or snowstorm. Contact a reputable tree service or arborist for advice on removing the limbs if necessary.

Clean garden tools and evaluate them for signs of damage or rust; repair or replace garden tools that would be hazardous to use if not in proper working order. Spray metal surfaces with penetrating oil to prevent rust. Apply several coats of boiled linseed oil to wooden handles to prevent cracking and splitting.

Clean and dry harvesting baskets, buckets and bags prior to storage. Wash garden gloves and outwear and store for the winter. Clean, condition and put away gardening boots and shoes. Label storage bins that hold gardening clothes, footwear, and small tools prior to storage in a dry location.

Collect, clean and bring indoors garden statuary and containers. For items too heavy or large to bring indoors, cover with a tarp or heavy-duty trash bag and secure with twine to prevent damage from freezing temperatures.

Inspect the interior and exterior surfaces of outdoor structures such as sheds and gazebos and complete necessary repairs before the cold weather sets in.

Photograph or video record your landscape to document the location and species of groundcovers, perennials, shrubs and trees. Alternatively, identify plants with markers or signs. Leave seeded perennials, such as echinacea and sedum, for birds and wildlife. If you prefer to cut back perennials whose seeds are eaten by birds and wildlife, make a bird ‘bouquet’ by tying the stems with string and hanging them in clusters near bird feeders.

After the curtailing of bird feeding this summer due to the outbreak of songbird death and sickness, filling and hanging bird feeders is a welcomed task. Reserve one bird bath as a water source. Assure that feeders are clean prior to filling. Clean and store hummingbird and unused bird feeders.

The last item on your checklist to congratulate yourself for a successful gardening season! Anticipate and prepare for next year by perusing garden catalogues, watching educational videos and reading about new varieties and cultivars. Take a well-deserved rest, you deserve it!

If you have questions about gardening, call the Butler County Master Gardener Garden Hotline at 724-287 4761, ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.

Lisa Marie Bernardo, Ph.D., RN, is a Penn State Master Gardener of Butler County.