When you tidy up the garden after the winter, don’t tidy it too much. “Make sure you leave the mulch layer that covers your garden’s soil,” said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist in the Plant ...

Before winter closes in, do one last thing for all the trees, shrubs and other plants in your garden: Make sure they have a cozy layer of mulch over their roots. “Spread it flat and even, like a ...