By Ann Bauer-Lasiewicz

Here are 10 simple things you can do to get your garden ready for winter:

Weed the garden: Yep. One more time to help eliminate those overwintering seeds.Remove debris: Clear fallen leaves and other debris from lawns and beds to decrease overwintering pests and diseases. Clean, dry leaves can be shredded and used as mulch. Gather leaves and put them through a leaf shredder or run over them with a lawnmower with a bag attached. Or, have some fun by piling them into a large trash barrel and then use a string trimmer to chop them up. Guard against deer: Increase your efforts to make your garden more deer-resistant.Wrap delicate tree trunks and newly planted shrubs: Evergreen shrubs can be damaged from dry winter winds. Wrap them with burlap or shrub covers. The trunks of young trees with thin bark such as maples should be wrapped.Protect hedges: Either wrap the entire row or create a windbreak on the prevailing wind side with stakes and a length of protective fabric.Water: Water periodically until the ground freezes. Use mulch to help retain moisture. Give all your plants one last deep watering. Apply mulch: A 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch can help dormant perennials survive the winter.Take a soil test: Fall is a great time to see what your soil needs.Cut the grass short: Cut the grass to a height of 2 to 3 inches.Add compost: Fall is a great time to add 1 to 2 inches of either plant or animal (manure) compost. Wait until spring to mix it into the soil.

Ann Bauer-Lasiewicz is a Colorado master gardener and La Plata County resident. Get Growing, written by the La Plata County Extension Office’s Master Gardener Program, provides timely tips and suggestions for your garden and landscape.

Weed the garden: Yep. One more time to help eliminate those overwintering seeds.Remove debris: Clear fallen leaves and other debris from lawns and beds to decrease overwintering pests and diseases. Clean, dry leaves can be shredded and used as mulch. Gather leaves and put them through a leaf shredder or run over them with a lawnmower with a bag attached. Or, have some fun by piling them into a large trash barrel and then use a string trimmer to chop them up. Guard against deer: Increase your efforts to make your garden more deer-resistant.Wrap delicate tree trunks and newly planted shrubs: Evergreen shrubs can be damaged from dry winter winds. Wrap them with burlap or shrub covers. The trunks of young trees with thin bark such as maples should be wrapped.Protect hedges: Either wrap the entire row or create a windbreak on the prevailing wind side with stakes and a length of protective fabric.Water: Water periodically until the ground freezes. Use mulch to help retain moisture. Give all your plants one last deep watering. Apply mulch: A 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch can help dormant perennials survive the winter.Take a soil test: Fall is a great time to see what your soil needs.Cut the grass short: Cut the grass to a height of 2 to 3 inches.Add compost: Fall is a great time to add 1 to 2 inches of either plant or animal (manure) compost. Wait until spring to mix it into the soil.