Winter is the time when you don’t need to do a lot with your lawn, but it’s still essential that you prepare for the chilly months ahead.

Before the first frost hits, be sure you’ve done the following:

1. Clear your lawn of leaves. Leaf build up can cause mildew and rot, so be sure to blow or rake them off — or run a lawnmower over them to create a mulch.

2. Clean and put away any lawn furniture. Cold temps and bad weather can crack and damage lawn furniture.

3. Aerate and fertilize your lawn before the first frost.

4. Shut off your irrigation system. You should also have your irrigation system drained and blown out so water doesn’t freeze and burst your pipes.

5. Be sure you have snow and ice melt and a snow shovel in a handy place for that first winter storm!