If you have been holding off on the fall garden clean-up, wait no longer. Last week’s hard freeze brought to an end the growing season for most plants, so it is now time to tidy things up for the winter.

If you have any diseased plant parts, now is the time to get rid of them. U of I Extension Educator Sarah Ruth says there are some good ways to get rid of it, and some not-so-good ways.

As for your leaves, instead of bagging them up to be hauled away, Ruth suggests using them in your garden. She says leaves make great mulch, and you can break them down with a shredder, mulcher, or lawn mower so they decompose quicker.