The end of summer does not mean the end of your outdoor chores. There are a few things you can do now to make sure your lawn stays healthy throughout the winter.

1. Continue cutting your grass until it stops growing for about two weeks. If you leave your grass too long, it will be susceptible to snow mold; leave it too short and the grass could be damaged during the winter.

2. Do not let leaves build up on your lawn. Raking each week will ensure your grass continues to get sunlight. Extra leaves sitting on your lawn will smother and weaken the grass blades. When you collect the leaves, consider shredding them. Leaf compost can be made with a chipper or by running your lawn mower over the leaves.

3. Keep feeding your lawn with fertilizer. Nourishing the lawn late in the year will keep it strong through the winter and promote growth in the spring. Check with a local landscaping company to find the best fertilizer mix. Consider asking the landscapers about their rental equipment options. Many offer power fertilizers that will get the job done quickly.

4. Aerate your lawn to make sure the grass roots get nutrients from the fertilizer. Pulling out plugs of soil allows the fertilizer to seep deeper into the soil. You can do it by hand or rent a power aerator for larger lawns.

5. Water your lawn before the first freeze. This will hydrate your plants so they are not damaged by the cold weather and snow.

6. Continue weeding your lawn. October is the best month to spray weed killer on your lawn, so consider investing in a sprayer and liquid herbicide.

7. Take time to repair any summer damage. Consider overseeding any brown patches in your yard, as it will prepare the grass to be full and green when the spring weather arrives.

8. Replace the mulch around your trees and flower beds. Bagged mulch is best option to protect the plants from freezing. If you have a large area to mulch, consider hiring a mulch blowing service. After you mulch, cover the plant beds with burlap to keep the weeds under control until spring.

9. The fall is a great time to transplant any trees you want moved. Continue to water the trees you do not want to transplant. Evergreens especially need the extra water to keep leaves moist throughout the winter months. Be sure to install tree guards on all your trees to keep them from being eaten by animals. Prune your trees with prudence. When you prune plants, you are doing so to encourage growth; however, fall is when plants get ready for their dormant period.

10. Make sure your lawn equipment is ready for winter as well. Drain gas from all power tools, clean off any grass clippings and sharpen blades. It is equally important to correctly store chemicals. Check the labels for proper storage conditions.

11. Plan for spring. Consider investing in a perennial mix now – they are cheaper in the fall than in the spring and planting the bulbs now will give you something to look forward to in the spring. Take time to evaluate what you planted this year and whether you would like to use the same plants next spring.