Planning

• Begin to use garden notes, photos, and sketches to assess areas that need plants
• Determine types and quantities of plants to order
• Order plants from seed and nursery catalogues

Chores and Maintenance

• Inspect ornamental trees and shrubs for scale insects
• If a thaw occurs, apply an antidesiccant to newly planted narrow-leaved or broad-leaved evergreens
• Check for frost heaving on perennials and cover with extra mulch as necessary
• Use wood ashes from the fireplace as a good source of potash
• Avoid the use of salt to melt snow, as it is toxic to most plants. Use sawdust, sand, or cat litter instead
• Check on dahlia, canna, and gladiolus bulbs for rotting and/or drying out
• Keep bird feeders filled throughout winter

Pruning/Fertilizing

• Prune away storm-damaged branches promptly to prevent tearing of the bark
• Prune forsythia, pussy willow, quince, etc. for forcing indoors

Indoors

• When buying houseplants in winter, be sure to wrap them well for the trip home. This prevents the foliage from freezing and protects tropicals from drafts
• Give houseplants as much light as possible as days grow shorter
• Provide houseplants with increased humidity; mist often or place plants over a tray of moist pebbles
• As houseplants grow more slowly during winter, increase the time between waterings but do not cut back on the amount of water
• On frigid nights protect indoor plants from freezing; move them away from the glass or cover glass with thick newspaper or cardboard
• Continue to clean leaves of large and smooth-leaved houseplants like dracaena, philodendron, ficus, etc.
• Inspect houseplants for insect pests. Remove pests by hand and spray with insecticidal soap, if needed
• Clean clay pots by soaking overnight in a solution of 1 gallon of water, 1 cup of vinegar, and 1 cup of bleach