Your lawn and garden are things that you spend all spring and summer trying to improve. It's almost a shame when the fall and winter come around that you can't keep all the greenery for the whole year. If you want to have a bright and happy garden when the snow melts, you need to take the following steps before the temperature starts to drop.

This is a perfect time of year to start a compost pile. The leaves from your trees and your summer annuals make great fodder for your compost pile. Make sure to check the leaves for disease and add in only those leaves that look healthy. Once you start your pile, keep it going by mixing in grass clippings, flowers that have died away, biodegradable table scraps and any additional leaves that fall from your trees. Turn the compost pile occasionally with a rake and keep it moist.

Your grass needs to be continually mowed as long as possible into the winter. If you let your grass grow tall before the first snow, you could have a bad case of snow mold on your hands come springtime. Aerate your lawn by using the aerator attachment on your lawnmower or using specially designed spikes that attach to your shoes. This will help air and fertilizer get down into your lawn.

Keep your grass short (at no higher than 3 inches) to discourage weeds throughout the wintertime. This is also a good time to fertilize your lawn. You'll get the benefits of fertilizing without encouraging excess weed growth. Speaking of weeds, you'll need to continue to pull weeds as the months grow colder. Pick weeds before the seed hulls begin to sprout. This way you will be virtually weed free when the snow starts to melt in the spring.

Mulching is especially effective during the early fall. Once your annuals have been removed from your flowerbeds, you can apply mulch from two to four inches deep. Pick a mulch that has a slow rate of decomposition and impedes the growth of weeds. Mulch is mixed in with your existing soil to encourage the flow of oxygen and allow water to reach the roots of your plants.

If you've got a vegetable garden, this area of your lawn deserves special attention. Make sure to wait to harvest late blooming crops, such as broccoli and cabbage. You'll also need to wait for carrots and beets that you planted late in the summer. If none of this applies to you, dispose of your vegetable plants in your compost pile. If they have diseases, just dump the plants in the trash. Once all of your plants are gone, you should roto-till the soil to prepare it for next year.

After all of these steps, your garden and grass will be ready to weather the wintertime. In the spring, you'll be glad you did the prep work. You'll be rewarded with a healthy lawn and a fertile garden.