Complete orders for new seeds from catalogs and online resources. Once the seeds arrive, label the front side of each packet with the year so that, in the future, you can quickly tell how old any unused seeds are.
If starting seeds indoors, order inventory supplies, such as cell packs, transplant pots, potting mix, and fertilizer.
Most pruning of woody plants may be carried out now while plants are dormant.
Ornamental Garden
Continue inspecting stored tender bulbs monthly and lightly moisten them if they are shriveled.
Check evergreen trees for drought stress caused by either frozen soil, which prevents the plant from taking up water, or from lack of rain or snow over the winter.
Prune deciduous woody plants to remove dead, weak, or crossing branches. This is the ideal time to prune late spring or early summer-flowering shrubs such as Abelia, Beautyberry, Buddleia, or Caryopteris.
Monitor trees and shrubs for deer, rabbit, or vole damage; look for scraped or gnawed bark. Pull back mulch from the trunk a couple of inches to discourage vole damage.
Cut back ornamental grasses before spring growth occurs.
Look for emerging foliage of early blooming daffodils, snowdrops, hyacinths, and other spring bulbs. If daytime temperatures are above freezing, the foliage can tolerate short periods of frosty temperatures without harm. If prolonged freezing weather is predicted, protect the foliage with frost covers, a layer of newspaper, light mulch, or chopped leaves.
Edible Garden
Inspect tillers, sprayers, and other gardening equipment to make sure they are well maintained and ready to operate once the gardening season starts.
Prune apple and peach trees to open the canopy and remove any diseased wood.
Disinfect pruning tools between cuts to avoid spreading disease.
Sow seeds indoors for crops such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and onions that can be transplanted in March.
Lawn
If you didn’t get around to this at the end of the last growing season, consider servicing your lawnmower now so that you can beat the crowds at the repair shop before warm weather arrives.
Avoid walking on ice or frost-covered lawns. Foot traffic on frozen grass can damage the leaves and compact the soil.
