As fall winds down, you’ll pull sweaters out of storage and crank the thermostat, but what about your outdoor plants? Knowing how to winterize a garden is key to welcoming spring with an abundance of thriving greenery—as opposed to a sad brown patch of lawn. If frost, snow, rain, and freezing temperatures are in the forecast, know that your outdoor spaces don’t have to face the elements without a little assistance.

What materials are needed to winterize a garden?

To prepare your garden for winter, you’ll need burlap; straw; garden tools like pruning shears and a pruning saw or lopper ; a compost pile or ready source of nutrient-rich matter; and, ideally, some winter-ready plants that can take the place of flowering annuals and edible plants.

One more item to add to your list (in potentially large quantities): mulch . “One of the biggest things we do is mulch, and then mulch some more,” says Christina Stembel , founder and CEO of D2C e-commerce flower company Farmgirl Flowers.…