Deer dining?

Deer are at their hungriest right now.  You don’t have to wait for all your snow to melt.  Re-apply deer repellents to evergreens and any other plants they have favored in the past, but only when the temperature is above 40 degrees.

Ordering seeds?

Once you’ve planned your gardens for the coming season, check with friends to see if they are planning to grow the same varieties of vegetables or flowers. While you may use all of some seeds, many gardeners find themselves at the end of the season with a number of half-full packets, especially of things like squash and pumpkins. Save money by planning ahead and sharing with other gardeners. And don’t wait to put in that order! There may be a foot of snow on the ground now, but January is when the top seed companies are filling their orders.

Watering houseplants

Fill containers the night before so the water is at room temperature and, if you leave caps off, some chlorine will evaporate into the air.  To provide higher humidity, group plants or use pebble trays. While watering, look for any pests such as spider mites that may have infested plants that have dried out.  Washing houseplants in a sink or tub (except for hairy leafed varieties such as African violets) is a good first step in pest control.    Rotate plants a quarter turn every week to prevent them leaning to the light.

White on white?

Is your landscape a little bland at this time of year?  Make a point of photographing it every month.  Make note of what you’d like to see out your windows, do some research, and put it all in your gardening journal.  Next spring and summer, plant trees or shrubs that add more winter interest.  Leaving sturdy perennials up also makes the landscape more attractive —  both to you and the birds.