# 6 Winter Garden Prep Tasks > Experts recommend six key steps to prepare your garden before winter frost hits. - Title: 6 Winter Garden Prep Tasks · Homes and Gardens | Shortify - Summary: Experts recommend six key steps to prepare your garden before winter frost hits. Gardeners should mulch beds, move pots, remove diseased plants, dig up… - Keywords: mulch, move pots, diseased material, tender bulbs, lawn mow, tool storage, frost protection, garden beds, container plants, perennial plants, design, lifestyle - Source: Homes and Gardens — https://homesandgardens.com/gardens/dont-put-your-garden-to-bed-for-winter-until-youve-done-these-tasks - Published: 2026-10-12T16:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: mulch, move pots, diseased material, tender bulbs, lawn mow, tool storage, frost protection, garden beds, container plants, perennial plants, design, lifestyle ## Mulch Beds Mulch beds with 1-3 inches of organic material to protect roots from frost and retain soil nutrients. > One thing gardeners should always do in the fall to prepare their soil for winter is mulching ## Move and Protect Pots Move frost-sensitive pots to south-facing walls or sheltered areas to prevent freezing and rotting. > Any pots that have perennial plants in them get placed up against my house during the winter (south-facing is best) since it is warmer close to the house ## Remove Diseased Material Bag and dispose of diseased plants to prevent fungal growth and pests from overwintering. > Anything that is diseased needs to be bagged and trashed instead of put in your compost because that diseased plant material will infiltrate your compost ## Dig Up Tender Bulbs Lift tender bulbs like dahlias and gladiolus before first frost to store in cool, dry places over winter. > I recommend using milk crates with newspaper or paper bags between the layers, and don't let the bulbs touch ## Give Lawn Final Mow Mow lawn to 2.5-3 inches before winter to insulate roots and prevent fungal issues. > Grass doesn't stop growing just because it's not hot out ## Store Tools and Equipment Drain and store garden tools, hoses, and irrigation systems to prevent freezing damage. > If there's any water left in your irrigation system, it can freeze, expand, and damage pipes ## Check for Pests Treat plants with insecticidal soap before moving them indoors to prevent pest infestations. > Bring frost-sensitive plants into suitable shelter before temperatures fall below their tolerance, checking for pests first ## Remove Fallen Leaves Clear fallen leaves from lawns to prevent fungal problems and bare patches over winter. > Skip the fall work, and you're asking a weaker lawn to survive winter stress and then somehow green up on schedule ## Overwintering Tips Store bulbs in crates with airflow to prevent rotting and ensure readiness for spring planting. > You want them to have really good airflow over the winter so they don't mold and are ready to plant next spring ## Frost Protection Use frost protection for faucets to prevent freezing and damage to garden equipment. > You want to check all of the exterior faucets that you use for gardening and make sure that they are either frost protection type or that they are covered ## Key takeaway Gardeners should mulch beds, move pots, remove diseased plants, dig up tender bulbs, give lawns a final mow, and store tools before winter to protect plants from frost.