Prepare your garden now to weather whatever winter might throw at it.

I love working outside in sweater weather, planting bulbs and getting the garden buttoned up for winter. Arm yourself with the following tips, tools and materials to prepare your garden for storm season.

Start simple. Rake or blow leaves off of the lawn to prevent smothering the turf and keep pathways clear to reduce slippery surfaces. But don’t feel like you have to bag those leaves and have them carted away—although, huge thanks to collection programs that turn green waste into healthy compost. Instead, pile leaves in garden beds where they’ll form a nice fluffy protective blanket and feed the soil.

Over the next several months wind and rain are more likely to impact our region than snow and frosty temperatures—*knock wood. From a municipal standpoint, managing seasonal stormwater is a top priority. As a gardener, you can help.

Read the entire story in the link below

GROW in The Seattle Times