It may still be difficult to keep up with what your garden is producing. Continue harvesting from your plants at least every other day. Many are approaching the end of their productive life. Lettuce and cilantro have bolted; probably even your second seeding has done this. Carrot tops are a foot tall. Potato leaves are beginning to brown around the edges. The zucchini leaves are fewer, and their vines are lanky. There are no small fruits that show promise of growth and few green leaves to feed them. It’s time to pick the last of these veggies and pull up the plants.

Now you have two choices: plant a winter garden or put the garden to bed until spring. If you are an avid gardener, you might consider a cover crop, but that’s beyond most home gardeners’ patience or practicality.

This year, a winter garden is likely to perform well with adequate watering. Experts are forecasting warmer, drier-than-average weather. At this time, the sooner you can get winter vegetables in the ground, the better. If you love root vegetables, you’re in luck—winter is when plant growth is focused in the ground. Here are a few suggestions: arugula, beets, celeriac, carrots, leeks, lettuce, rutabagas, onions, and turnips. A few leafy vegetables like cooler weather as well: bok choy, cabbage, and kale.

Now is also the time to plant the trees and shrubs you’ve been thinking about. Why? Trees focus growth in their roots through the winter. By planting in early fall, shrubs and trees can literally get a grip on their new home before they have to produce leaves and branch out into their new environment. All new trees and shrubs will need to be watered in their first year. Even native plants need extra support, especially with the soil drying through the summer and another dry winter ahead.

As you put your garden to bed, think about next summer. Do you want the same layout as you have now? Great—then go ahead and cover your soil to fend off the encroaching lawn. You’ll want to do this even with raised beds to reduce weed and mold growth. Burlap coffee bags, landscape cloth, three or four layers of newsprint, or finely shredded newspaper are all good first layers. Any of these should be covered with leaves or arborist chips—no treated chips in an edible garden. The second layer helps settle the first and is a bit nicer to look at. Leaves and newspaper will both decompose into the garden and feed the soil. No treated or colored paper (e.g., comics pages) should be used.

If your garden shape is not what you want next year, here’s how to start changing it now. To expand your garden into your lawn, lay down several layers of plain, untreated cardboard in the exact shape you want. Then cover the cardboard as you did the rest of the garden. By spring, the grass or foliage beneath will have died, making it easier to remove and dig your new garden. If you want to return part of your garden to lawn, now is a good time to level the soil and reseed.

Did you just love your Early Girl tomatoes? Don’t worry if you missed a few overripe fruits that burst while you were clearing up. Their seeds will likely “volunteer” for an encore before you could plant them yourself next year. In fact, you can expect any number of repeat bloomers in the spring. You can also save seeds from your squash, cucumbers, or other vegetables. Start by straining seeds from the pulp and rinsing until clean. Place the cleaned seeds on paper towels or wax paper in a single layer. They may need to be stirred by hand to dry thoroughly. It’s best to store seeds in paper envelopes to ensure any residual moisture evaporates, preventing mold. Be sure to label seeds—or next year’s garden could be a Pandora’s box!

If you’ve had your eye on a specific gardening tool or structure, now is a great time to buy. With fall in the air, merchants are clearing the way for holiday merchandise. Live plants can be a bargain if you can give them the extra care required during the winter. Structures and hardscapes are especially attractive if they fit your overall garden plan.

Master Gardeners are at local farmers’ markets to answer your winter garden and other questions. You can call the MG hotline Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at (425) 357-6010.