The busy and extended gardening season is winding down, but the task of protecting and maintaining your outdoor plants is as important as ever. Before the first frost, Larry Maas of Maas Floral & Greenhouse in Sturgeon Bay recommends that combo planters on your deck be brought inside the house. Some plants can be saved for inside by repotting. He offers tips on what should be done after the first frost of the season.

Maas adds that if you have tall plants, like Hibiscus, prune them down to fit the indoor area and spray for insects. He notes that he does not cut back some perennials like coneflowers. Those plants, left intact, can provide nurturing seeds to birds and the brown ends used for fall decorations.