Frost will soon be a regular visitor to many areas in the Lehigh Valley.

That is a good time to begin removing annual flower and vegetable plants that have been killed.

If the material is not diseased or weedy, place it in the compost pile.

However, leave ornamental grasses and certain perennials intact because they provide winter interest and food and shelter for birds.

Also keep in mind that beneficial insects, caterpillars, pupae and native bees hide in hollow plant stems, leaf debris and dense crowns during cold months.

There is still time to get the rest of the spring flowering bulbs planted before it really turns cold and you won’t want to be out in the garden.

Make certain to check all shelves in the garage for that extra package of bulbs you purchased in a hurry and set aside until there was time to get them in the ground.

When you finally find them next spring, it will be too late to plant them.

Take a close look at your flower and shrub beds.

Now would be a good time to edge those beds if the grass has begun to invade.

The sod that is cut out can also be placed in the compost pile.

If there is a lot of exposed soil along the edges, apply additional mulch to those areas.

Several narrow leaf evergreens will be shedding their older needles this month.

White pine is probably the most noticeable because it happens rather quickly.

The inner needles will drop, but there is no cause for alarm.

In fact, the fallen needles make an excellent mulch for azalea and rhododendron.

Don’t put the lawn mower away yet.

Lawns should be mowed as long as they are growing.

Regular mowing will prevent the grass from matting under winter snows.

Matted grass is more subject to disease and winter die-back.

It is too late to do any significant pruning on roses now, because they would be more subject to winter injury.

However, make certain you clean up all the fallen leaves from under the plants to reduce the potential for black spot and other diseases next spring.

If you hill soil around the base of grafted hybrid roses, make certain you bring it from another spot in the garden.

Don’t dig up soil from the base of the plant; this harms the roots and exposes them to winter damage.

If you have been bothered by bagworms this past summer, now is a good time to hand-pick the bags from evergreens and other plants.

Check deciduous plants as well; bagworm is not exclusive to evergreens.

This practice will eliminate the spring hatch from over-wintered eggs inside the bag.

As the gardening season winds down, so does the demand for gardening supplies.

Keep your eyes open for special prices of hand tools and power equipment to be given as gifts or used next year.

“Growing Green” is contributed by Lehigh County Extension Office Staff and Master Gardeners. Information: Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-813-6613