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There’s something about that first crisp morning in the garden that makes me realize: okay, fall is really here.

As someone who has spent years working around plants, I’ll admit that I still don’t believe in making fall garden clean-up harder than it needs to be. You don’t need to spend every weekend outside with a wheelbarrow and a pair of pruning shears. You just need to take care of a few important things before winter settles in.

So, if you’re wondering what you actually need to do in your garden and lawn this fall, here’s my simple checklist.

Start With Your Lawn

Your lawn might not look like it needs much attention in the fall, but this is actually one of the most important times to give it a little extra care.

I like to think of fall lawn care as setting yourself up for spring.

Keep mowing for now.

Don’t put the mower away the second the temperatures start dropping. Keep mowing while your grass is still growing, gradually keeping it at a reasonable height.

Going into winter with grass that is too long can encourage matting and other problems underneath the snow. But cutting it extremely short isn't the answer either.

Give your lawn some food.

Fall is a great time to apply a quality fall lawn fertilizer. Your grass is preparing for winter and building up the resources it needs to come back when spring arrives.

This is one of those jobs that feels very unexciting now, but you’ll appreciate doing it when you’re looking at your lawn next spring.

Consider overseeding.

If your lawn has thin, patchy or bare areas, fall is an excellent time to add grass seed. The cooler temperatures and generally more favourable moisture conditions can help new grass get established before winter.

Just remember: seed needs time to germinate and establish, so don’t leave this job until the very end of the season.

Give Your Garden Beds a Little Attention

This is where I think people sometimes get carried away.

You don't have to make your garden look completely bare before winter.

In fact, I actually like leaving some plants standing through the winter. Their seed heads can provide winter interest, and they can offer food and shelter for wildlife.

Instead, focus on removing anything that is clearly finished, diseased or creating a problem.

Pull the annuals.

Once your annual flowers have completely finished for the season, remove them from your garden beds and containers.

If they were healthy, you can add appropriate plant material to your compost. If a plant had a disease, however, it’s better not to add it to your home compost pile.

Clean up fallen leaves, but don't panic about every leaf.

A layer of leaves sitting on your lawn all winter can smother the grass underneath, so it’s a good idea to rake, mulch or remove them from the lawn.

But leaves in your garden beds are a different story.

A little natural leaf litter can actually help protect the soil and plants over winter. You don't need your flower beds looking perfectly manicured before the snow comes.

Don't Forget Your Trees and Shrubs

Fall is a great time to take a walk around your property and have a good look at your trees and shrubs.

Are there broken branches? Dead wood? Branches rubbing against each other?

Remove obvious damaged or dead branches where appropriate, but resist the urge to aggressively prune everything simply because it’s fall.

Some plants are better pruned at different times of the year, and certain shrubs flower on old wood. If you're not sure, it's always worth checking the specific plant before cutting it back.

And please don't forget to keep watering newly planted trees and shrubs while the ground is still workable and conditions are dry. Just because the garden centre season is winding down doesn't mean your new plants suddenly stop needing water.

Mulch Is Your Friend

If there is one thing I wish more gardeners remembered before winter, it's mulch.

A layer of mulch around your trees, shrubs and perennial beds can help protect roots from temperature fluctuations and help retain moisture.

Just don't pile mulch directly against the trunk of a tree or the base of a shrub.

Think donut, not volcano.

That little trick is worth remembering all year long.

Protect the Plants That Need It

Not every plant in the garden needs special winter protection, but some do.

Tender perennials, roses, young trees and certain shrubs may benefit from additional protection depending on where you live and the conditions your garden experiences.

If you're growing something that isn't completely hardy in your area, now is the time to figure out what it needs rather than waiting for the first major freeze.

And don't forget your containers.

Move pots that contain plants that aren't winter-hardy to an appropriate protected location, and empty containers that could crack when water freezes inside them.

Bring in the Houseplants

This is the part of fall I probably look forward to the most.

Before bringing your houseplants back inside after spending the summer outdoors, give them a good inspection.

Look underneath leaves, around stems and along the soil for insects or signs of pests. You don't want to bring your summer guests inside and accidentally introduce a whole new population to your houseplants.

Give them a gentle clean-up, make sure they're healthy, and slowly get them accustomed to being indoors.

And Finally… Don't Forget to Enjoy It

This might be my biggest piece of fall garden advice.

You don't have to get everything done in one weekend.

Fall gardening shouldn't feel like a race against the clock. Take a walk through your garden. Notice what's still blooming. Bring a few flowers inside. Plant a few spring bulbs if you haven't already. Enjoy those last warm afternoons outside.

Gardening isn't about having a perfect yard.

It's about creating a space you enjoy coming home to.

So take care of the basics, give your lawn and garden a little preparation for winter, and then let yourself enjoy the season.