In particular, remove plants that were disease or insect infested, such as tomatoes, squash, and other vine crops. This may help reduce carryover problems for the 1998 season. There is still plenty of time for applying winter mulches to strawberries and perennials. Ideally, the ground should just be starting to freeze, and plants should not be actively growing. The next few weekends should be about the right time for putting these down.
Straw is the popular material.
Another area to check now is storage of garden chemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers. If storing them indoors, place them up and away from children and pets. Make sure the containers are sound. Adequate ventilation is also important. Dry materials, such as fertilizers, may not be damaged from freezing but do not tolerate moisture.