Prepare for the Nebraska winter

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BY KATHRYN CATES MOORE/Lincoln Journal Star

Fall is the season of the 3 G’s.

Garden. Garage. Gutters. 

All of the above are candidates for serious cleaning this time of year.

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Since cold temperatures are creeping up, homeowners need to get busy cleaning up leaves, cutting back perennials and draining automatic sprinkler systems. (Lincoln Journal Star file photo)

Since cold temperatures are creeping up, homeowners need to get busy cleaning up leaves, cutting back perennials and draining automatic sprinkler systems. (Lincoln Journal Star file photo)

And the sooner the better, since cold temps are creeping up on us.

That, ultimately, is what motivates most homeowners to get off the couch and get busy.

The “to do” list can be lengthy, but some are “must do” and others are “maybe do.”

-- Leaves — It’s not good to leave them on the grass. They can smother and kill the green stuff. In the gutters, leaves can clog up drain pipes and cause huge back-up water problems.

On the other hand, a healthy dose of leaves on the compost pile is the perfect ingredient to mix in over the winter.

-- Plants — Once the frost kills your annuals (and you are done trying to save them with blankets on iffy freeze nights), remove the dead blooms, stems and leaves.

Empty out your containers. Most recommend tossing the soil and plants, then cleaning the containers. Stack to save space.

Cut back perennials after they have bloomed, unless you prefer the architectural element they lend to a winter garden. Just make sure none of the leftovers have any disease or fungus. 

Move houseplants indoors before the first frost. Abrupt changes  can shock plants, so make the transition gradually. Start by leaving potted plants outdoors, but move them out of direct sunlight for about a week. After that, bring the plants inside for only a few hours each day for another week or so before bringing them indoors for good.

Don’t think you can’t plant this time of year.  Hardy mums and ornamental cabbages will continue to bloom well after the first frost.  Try new varieties such as “Icicle pansies” and “Icicle violas.” Bred for cold climates, these tough new breeds are supposed to survive the harshest winters.

Bulbs, which will bloom in spring, including lilies, daffodils and tulips, need to go into the ground later when temperatures drop but before the ground freezes.

-- Clean and/or disconnect —  Automatic sprinkler systems top this list, since a frozen line can cause havoc. Drain thoroughly.

Line up your patio furniture and give it a last blast so you can  store it clean. And cover it up before you store it.

Give your deck a final scrubbing — and if you are really motivated, seal it before winter.

Finally, disconnect hoses and store them indoors for the winter.  Nobody wants a cracked hose next spring.

-- Getting the details — “Readying the garden for the chill” (www.hgtv.com) is full of good advice for the novice gardener. The HGTV article offers common sense and also provides lots of links that delve into details about other topics, such as sealing concrete lawn ornaments (to prevent breakage) and constructing a cold frame (to extend the harvest season of winter vegetables).

The Old Farmer’s Almanac never fails to offer a multitude of tidbits. Check it out at www.almanac.com.

Reach Kathryn Cates Moore at 473-7214 or kmoore@journalstar.com.