Garden lovers know the season doesn't end in August. With a bit of advance care, you can prep your garden to last into the early fall, and ready it for winter. The following tips are great to tackle while the weather is warm—and the soil is workable.

Remove debris. Move through your beds and clean out any debris, like fallen leaves or crops. Clearing space will give your plants room to move into the next season.

Weed. Thoroughly weed your beds, removing anything that isn't a plant you plan to nurture. 

Boost your soil. Now is the time to mix in some compost or fertilizer, and till your soil, which will give your plants a boost.

Prune perennials. Take the time to prune your trees and perennials, looking for discoloration, disease or growth that needs to be trimmed back.

Bring sensitive plants inside. Move your more sensitive plants indoors for the cold season to make sure they survive. This includes flowers but also herbs—pot that mint or basil plant and bring it inside to enjoy an herb garden year-round.

Add mulch. Now that you've trimmed your plants and prepped their soil, add a layer of mulch to protect them from frost.

These tips should help your garden transition from summer to fall, and keep your plants healthy for the spring.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com