1. Remove any and all rotted and finished plants. Prune back your perennials, plant bulbs you wish to have bloom in early spring, and regenerate your garden soil and replenish mulch. Remember that your garden needs one last final drink of water to maintain moisture in the soil which keeps the ground warmer. Watering before a big freeze will insulate the root structure of your plants and grass, and decrease or prevent injury from the cold.
2. Think winter jacket for your shrubs, trees, and rose buds. Protecting these from the harsh winter at least for the first three years until their roots are well established is a very good place to start. There are some shrubs that need protection every year without fail if they are expected to endure the winter months ahead. Some examples of the types of plants that need this protection are azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons just to name a few.
3. It is important to wrap burlap around your evergreens, junipers, and cypresses as well to prevent them from browning and to help them maintain their lively green colour. By wrapping your evergreens you protect them from sunlight which will cause discoloration due to the fact that the roots will freeze, not allowing for moisture to circulate up into the rest of the plant. Any parts of the plant that are exposed to sunlight but cannot receive water for nutrients will discolour. Properly covering them from bottom to top and tying them with twine will give them the protection they need to stay green and healthy until sprin