Have you experienced your first frost yet? Here are 10 things I do to winterize my yard before and after the first frost. Yes, I know a gardener's work is never done, but you've already spent a lot of time, energy, and money on your garden, so it's important to protect this special place.

Think about incorporating these ten tips into your winterizing routine, so when Spring rolls around, everything is ready to go and grow!

Before the First Frost

1. Treat plants before bringing them indoors for the winter

Like many, I have some houseplants that I like to bring outside and enjoy during the warm summer months. Before the first frost, however, I'll begin to treat the plants returning indoors with an organic insecticide. I actively start spraying my plants down every three days for two weeks leading up to their re-entry.

Just before I bring the plants in, I inspect them for any signs of bugs. I look at the top and underside of the leaves. I check the stems and poke around in the soil. Once the plants are back indoors, I'll continue to check them for a few weeks. If I see any signs of bugs, I won't hesitate to set them back outside on a sunny day and treat them again. These steps are necessary because you don't want to bring anything in your home that may negatively affect your other houseplants.

2. Put away your umbrella

Next, it's time to stow away the umbrella for winter. In the past, I've left the umbrella up all winter long. At the beginning of Spring for one particular year, the crank handle didn't work correctly, so I had to buy a new umbrella. Now I view putting the umbrella away as a critical step in protecting an investment that, funny enough, protects me from the sun.

We have an oversized patio umbrella, so there isn't a large cover to put this in. Since we are limited on space, we lay our umbrella on top of our patio table and throw the patio cover over the table and umbrella.

3. Roll-up your area rugs

Although I use outdoor area rugs meant to withstand the elements, I don't want to take any chances with them being damaged over the winter. First, I hose them off and let them sit in the sun and dry. Then I roll them up and place them away from the elements until Spring. If you don't have a specific space to store your rugs, do like I did, and put them under your patio cover with your table, chairs frames, and umbrella. Let those patio covers do double or triple duty!

4. Outdoor cushions

Interestingly enough, I get a lot of questions about this. Do you stow away your patio furniture's pillows and cushions during the winter?

While I'm ok with covering up the tables and chair frames with a patio cover and not worry about them, I can't say the same for my pillows and cushions. Because I am not using the seat cushions during the winter months, I have thoughts of little creepy crawlies thinking of my cushions as a great place to hibernate for the winter. Also, stowing them away protects them from fading and dirt and debris build-up.

So yes, all of my outdoor cushions and pillows are stowed away for the winter. Since I have a lot of outdoor seating with cushions, I have four large deck boxes placed near each seating group. First, I hose the cushions down and spot clean where necessary. I make sure they are completely dry before I stow them away in my deck boxes. Once I close the lid on them, I won't worry about them anymore until Spring. These deck boxes have done a great job keeping my contents dry, well ventilated, and protected from the harsh weather and creepy crawlies!

5. Clean tools

Winterizing my yard also prompts me to clean and sharpen my garden tools. It's important to me that I take care of them like they've taken care of me. If you love to garden, then you know how important this step is. If you're a novice at gardening, then trust me, this is an important step.

First, I let them sit in soapy water for a few minutes to loosen the dirt. Next, I give each tool a thorough cleaning using a cloth or brush. Then, I disinfect each tool with alcohol, so I kill any bacteria that may be lingering and adversely affect the plants I'm pruning. Lastly, I sharpen all of my tools with a hand file, so they're ready on day one of the next growing seasons.

After the First Frost

6. Frosty Yet!

After the first frost, my plants look like the life has been drained out of them, poor babies. My annuals are dead and gone forever. My perennials are now officially dormant. Either way, they both need to be cut back and covered with mulch.

For my annuals, I tend to pull up the dead plant, roots, and all. I do this because if the plant has any issues or diseases, they'll lie dormant in the soil over the winter but will spring back to life at the start of the growing season. I would hate to add a new annual in that area, for it to become infected.

For perennials like Hosta, I cut them back, leaving a couple of inches of stem above ground. For my hydrangea, I don't touch them. I allow the leaves to fall away naturally and go dormant. I do make sure they have plenty of mulch around their base.

7. Mulch

Now, mulching is a key step in winterizing your yard. Applying the mulch just after the first frost will help stabilize the soil's temperature just before the deep freeze. You want at least 3-6 inches of mulch over your perennials to help protect their root system. If you don't protect them, you may not see them again in the Spring. And don't worry, your perennials will not have any problems popping through that mulch at the start of their next growing season.

8. Plant cold-tolerant plants like pansies and ornamental cabbage

If you're like me, you may have decorated your front porch for the fall. Well, it's time to move those pansies, ornamental cabbages, and other cold-tolerant plants into the ground. By planting them now, you will extend their life and create visual interest in your landscape well into the winter months. Note, pansies and ornamental cabbages are considered biannual. They give you two growing cycles before you need to plant them again. They look good and are a great investment too!

9. Lawn Fertilization

This is when I apply my winter fertilizer. Now here's what you need to remember. Plants store nutrients in their roots over the winter to keep them fed and healthy. The best time to apply your winter fertilizer is after your grass has stopped growing for the year. Otherwise, the growing grass will eat up all those nutrients in the fertilizer and leave none behind to carry it through the winter. Here in zone 7, mid-to-late November, when the grass has stopped growing, it is ideal for applying that fertilizer before the ground freezes. If you want a nice healthy-looking lawn in the Spring, fertilize now.

I don’t claim to know a lot about fertilizers, but a neighbor with beautiful green grass told me years ago to look for a winter fertilizer with 0 - 4% phosphorus (the middle number). So, I’ve stuck with that advice and it has worked out. I suggest you do your homework for this one.

10. Give your grass one last mow!

When the temperature consistently drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you don’t need to mow your grass anymore until the next growing season. When you cut your grass for the last time, make sure to leave the grass standing a little taller. If you normally like to cut it low (half a blade), this time around, leave it two thirds tall. This will help blanket and protect the grass’s root system from the bitter cold and snow.

And that’s it!

10 steps to a winterized yard! I’m sure the experts out there would include a lot more tips than this. But as a homeowner simply trying to maintain my little piece of paradise, these are my must-do tips. If I discover any more, I’ll be sure to share them with you.

And remember, while the weather outside is frightful, your yard is still delightful, and since we’ve no place to go, no need to mow, moving slow, let it snow! I couldn’t resist adding my twist to a Holiday classic, lol.

Before you go…

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel, where I talk about all things related to decorating and maintaining your home and garden on a budget!

Please leave a comment below about your thoughts on this post. All comments are welcomed! See ya next time!

How To Winterize Your Yard | 10 Easy Steps!