Gardening Know How recommends stopping fertilizer, clearing fallen leaves and mulching hydrangeas in October. Its source excerpt lists only three of six steps.

Before planting a fall garden, clear spent plants, loosen soil and add compost. University of Illinois Extension advises leaving pruning until later.

A Gardening Know How report warns that seven plants may be vulnerable to cold, wet winter soil and outlines drainage and frost-protection steps.

A disease-by-disease checklist for sorting spent tomato vines into a home compost pile, municipal yard-waste program or trash.