Area gardeners are acutely aware the first killing frost of the season is imminent. According to master gardener Don Pfeiffer, that first frost is even a little late. He says it normally comes around the end of September or beginning of October, and as a result, gardeners have been able to enjoy their plants and flowers a bit longer than anticipated. However, Pfeiffer knows it’s only a matter of time before the frost comes, so he offers some advice on getting gardens ready for the winter freeze.

He says it’s possible the first killing frost will last no more than a day, so you can keep your plants alive by covering them before it happens, which is a common practice during the spring. Once the frost takes hold, however, he says the most important thing is to remove dead vegetation. If a person has time, he also recommends doing a small amount of garden tilling, which can include adding compost to the garden to make it easier to work with next year. Pfeiffer recommends either putting dead vegetation in your own compost pile or taking it to the city waste water treatment plant for disposal. If you’re looking to add compost to your garden, he said the treatment plant is also a good place to get it. However, be aware of any diseased plants and dispose of them properly so as not to spread the disease elsewhere.