Put the yard to bed for winter

Step by step

1. Mulch dry leaves into the lawn with the mower on its highest setting, in a couple of passes. If you can't see grass afterward, rake the extra into beds as winter mulch.

2. Keep mowing at your normal 2½ to 3 inches. There's no reason to cut shorter in late fall. Never remove more than a third of the blade at once, and leave the clippings.

3. Core aerate in fall or spring. Water the day before, and flag sprinkler heads first.

4. Fertilize bluegrass and ryegrass lawns between early October and early November, while the grass is still green and at least two to three weeks before the ground freezes. Fine fescue, buffalograss and blue grama don't need fall fertilizer.

5. Spread about 4 inches of mulch around newly planted trees and shrubs, kept at least 6 inches away from the trunk.

6. In dry winters, water trees and shrubs once or twice a month from October through March. Water only when air and soil are above 40°F and there's no snow cover, at midday so it soaks in before night.

7. Give trees about 10 gallons per inch of trunk diameter, measured 6 inches above the ground, spread under and beyond the drip line.

8. Water the lawn every four to six weeks in long dry spells if the ground isn't frozen, especially south- and west-facing areas, slopes and new sod. Disconnect and drain the hose afterward.