Keeping up with deadheading through the summer is key to keeping your gardens neat through the fall. I cut back my Oriental lilies in September, giving them time to get all the nourishment they can, but not leaving them so long that they attract bugs. Bee Balm are left alone until after the first frost, mostly because I love to use the leaves in the soaps I make.
I am not a mulcher. I let the leaves do that, and we have a lot of leaves on our five acres. If you grow species that are correct for your growing zone, there's no need for it. I don't grow roses other than the tough rugosa type, but if I did, I would mulch them in the fall.
I have a few blueberry bushes, but I do absolutely nothing to them or for them. Last year, we had so many blueberries we had to freeze them, but apparently during the winter some animal decided that blueberry bark is tasty. The plants came back this spring but didn't even yield a handful of berries.
The heavy weight of the snow usually takes some of my holly, but you can cut a holly way back and it recovers beautifully. I use a lot of holly branches in my Christmas decorating. Apparently I only have females because they blossom but never bear berries.
If you are really strong and willing, you can pull your Hosta up and separate them. The roots will take a sharp edge like an ax or shovel and it's a good thing because I don't think it is humanly possible to pull them apart using just your hands.
Clean all of your garden tools before you put them away for the winter. Use the blast of a hose to clean away the dirt, then dry them so they don't rust.
Now you, and your gardens, can go hibernate.
