November in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. is a time to wrap up gardening for a while, finish up those lingering to-dos and start enjoying cozy fires and seed catalogs indoors. It is also time to start thinking ahead and prepping for next year. Chores that aren't completed this month will have to wait until the winter snows have cleared, and soggy chores aren't nearly as much fun as crisp fall chores. Plus, there are always additional tasks to be done in early spring, so why burden yourself more later when you can get ahead now?

Join me today as we check off a few chores from the garden to-do list and then kick back to enjoy the long winter ahead.

More Regional Garden Guides Amy Renea The sun sets earlier every day in November; we're nearing the time of year when we wake up in the dark and come home from work in the same. It can be depressing, so make sure to enjoy those sunsets when you can. The drying plumes of ornamental grasses still standing are gorgeous when backlit. BLANCO BLANCO Compost is a more difficult chore in winter, and a trip to the compost pile might require boots. Try an indoor solution for daily cooking scraps, saving them for a once-a-week trek to the outdoor compost pile. Birdseye Design You might also consider stockpiling gardening materials in bulk this time of year. Leaves can be raked, dead plants can be composted and fresh mulches can "ripen" over the winter. Create piles now, before temperatures dip, so winter's freezes and thaws can work their magic. Jocelyn H. Chilvers Speaking of leaves, you probably have more than you want lying on the lawn right now. Run them over with a lawn mower to feed the grass below or go the traditional route and rake them. Add them to your compost pile or pile them onto a vegetable garden to give next year's growth a boost. Amy Renea If you're getting sunny and warm afternoons but the nights are freezing, you can still hold on to your flowers. Snip the tops of fall mums and asters, pot them up and bring them indoors. You will get a second flush of blooms in a few weeks and extend autumn just a little further. Colleen Brett Once the freezing nights hit, I am a potting machine. Everything from herbs to bulbs to cuttings and perennials gets potted and moved indoors. The problem is that I always run out of pots! Get creative with tins, cans and other recyclables for little green bursts of life indoors. Amy Renea This is also the time of year to continue collecting seeds. Seed sellers on eBay are finishing up collecting seeds from their gardens, and you can get the best selection and freshest seeds this month. decordemon It's also time to stock up on gardening essentials from retail stores. The last of the garden clearance sales are going on now, and the deals are sweet. Pick up potting soil, soil amendments, tools and even seeds. Many seeds will still be fine by next spring, and at 10 cents a packet, if even half of them sprout, it's still a great deal. Thrifty Decor Chick To round out your completed chores, clean and oil your tools, drain gas-powered tools and get everything organized. While you are in the garage, make sure to get that snow blower primed and ready. Snow will be here before you know it (if it hasn't hit already).

Tell us: How do you get your garden ready for winter?