Your gardening efforts will greatly lessen (or stop completely) as winter approaches. However, there’s still some prep work that you need to do in anticipation of the colder weather. “As winter approaches, it’s essential to take a few simple steps to protect your garden and home from the cold, advises Joseph Wade, VP of operations at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. By acting now, he says you can avoid costly damage and keep your outdoor space healthy for the spring.

These are the various steps you need to take to winterize your garden.

How to Winterize Your Garden

Disconnect Hoses and Shut Off Outdoor Faucets

Before the temperatures drop, you'll need to disconnect any garden hoses from your outdoor faucets. “Water left in hoses can freeze, leading to ice buildup that may extend into your home’s plumbing, causing potential damage,” Wade says. Shutting off outdoor faucets will prevent freezing and bursting pipes.

Winterize Your Sprinkler System

If you have a sprinkler system in the garden, you’ll need to winterize that as well. Wade says to turn off the water supply by shutting off the main valve to the sprinkler system. Then, depending on your system, you'll need to either manually drain it one valve at a time, or if you have automatic draining, water will exit the pipes once the main valve is turned off.

“To complete the process, run one sprinkler head, loosen the valves to release any remaining water, and insulate exposed pipes or heads with foam covers or insulation tape,” Wade says.

Remove Dead Leaves and Debris

This is also the time to remove any dead leaves and debris from the garden," says Lori Johnson, president at The Grounds Guys, a Neighborly company. Rake and remove fallen leaves to prevent them from smothering the grass.

Susan McIntosh, president at Lawn Pride, a Neighborly company, also suggests removing dead leaves and debris to protect your garden.  “A thick layer of leaves can block sunlight and trap moisture, encouraging diseases like mold," she says. As far as what you should do with the debris you remove, McIntosh says, "We support composting whenever possible.”

Cover Delicate Plants

Johnson also recommends covering delicate plants with burlap or frost barrier fabric to protect against freeze damage.

Add or Refresh the Mulch

Before the ground freezes, Johnson advises adding or refreshing the mulch in your flower beds and the borders. “Two to four inches of mulch, bark, straw, or leaves insulate the soil to reduce root damage from the freeze-thaw cycle,” she explains.

Prune Your Plants, Trees, and Shrubs

“Pruning protects and promotes the health of your plants by providing an opportunity for new, healthy branches, fruit, and flowers to blossom,” Johnson says. She adds that it can also help to deter pests and animals from building nests in your landscaping, which is important since they can cause a lot of harm.

Continue to Mow Until Grass Growth Slows

To keep the area around your garden neat, continue to mow the grass. “Bring the mower deck down one setting on the last cut of the season,” advises McIntosh.

However, she warns against cutting the grass too short, since it could cause undue stress. “Also, be sure not to leave the grass growing too long as it can lay over and create conditions favorable for disease, mold, and dead spots,” McIntosh says.

Aerate the Soil

One thing that you can do yourself or have a professional do: a core aeration application. “This helps relieve soil compaction and allows oxygen, water, and nutrients to reach the grass roots," McIntosh says. If you live in the northern half of the country, McIntosh explains that early fall is the perfect time for lawn aeration, since it will promote root growth over the winter months.