By Bonnie Moss

For those who live through winter, the gardening season is over. But not really. There IS work to do! If you have not tidied up the garden, there is still time before the ground  freezes and is covered with snow.

Pull out the rest of the annuals. It is too late to trim any perennials, so leave these alone.

Mound mulch around your favorite rose bush and other perennials. Some recommend piling up leaves over perennials. Others don’t. The argument is that leaves tend to rot. However, if you’ve done this before and it works for you, go for it.

Bring in your precious garden ornaments. Wash and dry these  before storage. Hanging baskets should be taken down if you intend to re-use them next year. Most urns and big planters are safe to leave outdoors, except those made of  terracotta and other breakable materials. Planters made of heavy duty polyresin, plastic, cast iron or metal can withstand freezing temperatures. These can be stashed away  in a safe corner to keep them away from snow removal. However, if you want color, decorate these planters  for the Christmas season. It adds a festive mood to your garden.

Protect the spring bulbs by covering these with screen material or a wire mesh and pile up mulch  generously. Those pesky four-legged creatures do not hibernate over winter. Don’t forget to uncover these come Spring.

Take a good look at your garden, envision what worked, what didn’t last summer. A bare garden plot is a canvas waiting for someone to express creativity. This is a chance for you to re-assess the arrangement of plants. If you like a change of garden design for next season, this is the best time to study the garden layout to get a good idea  what changes you will undertake next season.

If you have rocks or stones in your garden, spend some time to rearrange, to strengthen or fill in the gaps. If you have ideas of adding more rocks, it’s a good time to work on the garden while it ‘s bare.

Don’t forget the garden tools. These will last longer if you clean these up and store them

properly. Bring in the nozzles for your hose. These tend to crack if left on the hose over winter.

Tidbit: Store the rake, pitchfork , fan rake and shovels facing downwards, or the wall if you are lucky enough to have a place to hang these.

As you walk around your bare garden, feel the aura of stillness it projects as it prepares for its winter slumber. The garden at this time can still be a place for a quiet moment as you fill your lungs with the fresh and crisp chill of November.

Bonnie Moss writes to inspire and to motivate her readers to explore the depths of their heart and soul and make a difference in this world. She draws from personal experience and her interest in the New Age Visit her website =>http://goldencupcafe.tripod.com

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