Winter pruning ensures the plant is dormant and will continue to “rest” until temperatures rise, saving its energy for a surge of growth in spring. You can prune to maintain a certain shape or size, remove dead, damaged and diseased branches or to encourage growth once spring begins! Winter pruning also gives you the advantage of seeing the form of the plant without leaves on the branches. Look for pesky suckers, unruly crisscrossing stems or crowded spaces that need to be opened up to allow for more light or air circulation.

When removing snow, try to avoid piling the snow from the driveway and road on your grass. Residual salt from the road can build up and burn your lawn come spring. Keep an eye on snowfall amounts in your area. Heavy snow and ice can do quite a bit of damage to your trees and shrubs. If you can safely reach any of the branches with a broom or light shovel, gently knock off what you can to lighten the load.

Get comfy and cozy indoors and document your past growing season. Celebrate your successes and troubleshoot what didn’t go as planned. Did you have any pleasant surprises like a new variety that thrived? Take note of what your favorite combination planters had in them. Organize your saved plant tags and seed packets for future reference. What better way to spend the dark cold months than to dream of future garden adventures!

Take a peek at your houseplants and see how they are fairing with the change in seasons. Winter means shorter days and cooler temperatures. You may need to give your plants some supplemental light to keep them happy and healthy. In addition to light sources, moisture levels may differ this month too since you’ve begun heating your home. Mist your plants or place humidity trays under your pots to make sure humidity levels stay where they should. Indicators of dry air can include browning, curling or drying leaf tips.

Order seed catalogs and bookmark your favorite websites so you can be ready to place your orders at the beginning of the year. The day you open the mailbox and see that your catalogs have arrived is always a treat.

If local birds have become accustomed to full feeders, you may need to stock up on seed for the winter months when resources are less available. Or you can taper off your routine fillings, letting the birds know that there won’t be as much seed available gradually. Luckily, your feathered friends are resourceful and will find food..