This is a great time to winterize your garden

Dear This Is A Hammer: Last winter I discovered how the old, dead cornstalks in my garden could lead water into the ground, where it would freeze solid. My neighbor pointed out that cutting down the stalks and turning the soil before the first hard freeze would prevent this problem and help ready the soil for next spring’s planting. I thought I would pass this along to you and your readers. — Terry F., Hartford, Conn.

Dear Terry: Many thanks! Readers, this is an excellent suggestion and is just in time for the onset of cold weather.

•Once you’ve cut down any old plant stalks in the garden and turned the soil over, cover the area with a thin layer of mulch (or leaves, grass or straw). If you’re worried about the mulch blowing or washing away over the winter, place a sheet of chicken wire or screening on top of the mulch layer. Secure the screen in place with rocks or bricks, placed at the ends or corners so that rain and melting snow can filter through to the soil beneath.

•Mulch is an excellent insulator for outdoor plants, enabling them to endure the coldest months. A light mix of raked leaves and homemade mulch (from that nice, rich pile you’ve been cultivating all year in the corner of the yard — right?) should be placed around the base of trees, shrubs and other plants. If you’re not keen on creating your own, mulch is available at the nearest garden center or home-improvement store.

•Late October through early November is a good time to plan for spring. If the first hard frost is less than three weeks away, it’s a good time to plant those bulbs that you’d like to bloom in the spring. Also, any thin or bare spots in the lawn can be reseeded now — some seeds may sprout, but most will lie dormant through winter.

•Finalize your garden winterizing work by disconnecting, draining and storing hoses and sprinklers. Next year’s garden should be very nice, thanks to all this preparation!

Home Tip: Hold off on raking leaves until most of them have fallen from the trees — and then leave a thin layer on the lawn. Run the mower over them to create a very thin layer of mulch that may help protect the grass over the winter.