If you love gardening, there are plenty of Holderness homes for sale with space to grow flowers, vegetables, or anything else you want. How things grow, though, depends on the season. Now that the weather is cooling down, it's time to shift your garden from summer to winter. Here's what you need to do.

• Inspect. The first thing to do is look at your plants and see what shape they're in. Are any of them wilting? Damaged? Do they have pests or show signs of disease? Remove any affected plants and discard them. Be sure to keep them separate, and if you compost, don't add them to the pile, as the problem could spread to your healthy plants.
  
  
• Prune. Once the weather starts to get crisp, take your gardening shears and prune the dead growth from bushes or shrubs, as well as any branches that are growing wild. If you have any dead or dying flower bulbs, trim those too. Getting rid of the dead parts keeps your plants healthy and encourages new growth—but it shouldn't be done in hot, summer weather, as that can cause your plants stress.
  
  
• Remove Annuals. If you have any annuals like marigolds, geraniums, or begonias that only grow for a season, remove them once they start wilting or turning brown or show signs of insect damage. Replace them with something that grows better in fall weather, like petunias or chrysanthemums.
  
  
• Move Indoor Plants. Many people move a few of their indoor potted plants outdoors when it's warmer to add a pop of summer color to their yard. If you do this, then it's time to bring them in again. Do it slowly, though. A sudden shift from outdoor sunshine to dimmer indoor light can cause problems. First, find a shady part of your yard to put your pots, then bring them in after a few days. And don't forget to wash them to get rid of any pests they might have picked up outside before they spread to your other indoor plants.
  
  
• Clear. Autumn brings fallen leaves, dead twigs, and other debris to your garden. They make your garden look unkempt and provide shelter for insects and other pests that can harm your plants. Use a rake and clear away all of that debris from your garden.
  
  
• Mulch. Once you've cleared the debris, don't throw it away. You can use it to make mulch. Any organic matter, like leaves, branches, bark, and more, can be broken down using a lawnmower or wood chipper and spread around your healthy trees and plants to add nutrients to the soil and help them grow. Fall is the perfect time for mulching, as it helps insulate the soil against the cold. It also keeps water in the soil longer, so your plants stay hydrated and keep the weeds out.

If you're looking for your dream home with a garden, you can call your own; our real estate agents can help you find it. Contact us to get started on the home-buying process.