By Mike Roegge

As the growing season comes to a close, there are still a few tasks that will help lawns and gardens for 2010.

For those homeowners utilizing multiple nitrogen applications for their lawn throughout the year, the last application can take place now. We normally recommend 2-3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn, spread out over two or three applications. It's easiest to remember one pound in early May, one pound in early September and one pound in late fall. These applications should also include phosphorus and potassium if your soil test indicates a need.

Remember also to mow the grass as necessary. The recent cool and wet conditions have been ideal for grass growth. Mowing also is a useful way to handle leaves. So rather than raking and bagging, why not mow them up and let them break down to help improve organic matter? You may need a mulching blade if leaves are exceptionally heavy. Of course, you've got to find a dry day as well.

Gardeners can begin the process of winterizing the garden. This year was an exceptional year for certain diseases, especially in tomatoes and vine crops. To help reduce diseases for next year, there are several things to consider. First would be to remove the dead plants from the garden to help prevent carryover of disease. Composting may not even be enough to eliminate the disease organisms. Second would be to rotate crops in the garden. You want to have several years before you plant crops of the same family in the same location of the garden. This reduces the amount of carryover disease organisms in the soil.

Soil conditions now may be difficult to allow tillage to take place. You never want to till wet soils as soil structure and tilth can be damaged. It's best to wait until spring or until soil conditions are better.

Strawberries can be strawed once they go dormant, usually sometime in December. Check the color of the plants. A reddish color would indicate dormancy. Straw is utilized for several purposes. A primary one is to prevent the plants from heaving out of the soil. Straw mulch reduces the soil temperature swings necessary for heaving in the spring. It also serves as a disease control, helping to prevent soil contact with the berry, reducing gray mold (botrytis). Three to five inches of straw should suffice.

Of course, if you planted a fall garden, some of those plants will produce for another month or two. In fact, spinach is a crop that will continue to grow (or at least survive) throughout the winter into the spring.

Refrain from mowing off asparagus plants until spring. Likewise, delay any pruning on tree fruits and brambles until spring.