Rake the last of the fall leaves from your lawn. If you leave a pile of wet, matted leaves now you'll have big dead spots next spring.

Fertilize pansies, snapdragons and ornamental kale and cabbage with a fertilizer that contains ^nitrate nitrogen^, which helps your plants grow and bloom in cold soil.

Bermuda sod can be planted if it is available but be sure to water it regularly for the rest of winter to keep it from drying out.

Keep holiday plants in the coolest indoor spot possible. Otherwise the flowers and leaves will drop prematurely.

Sprinkle pine straw over bulb foliage that has emerged too soon. The green leaves won't be hurt by the cold but the straw will help hide them.



SECOND WEEK

Prune your evergreen shrubbery and bring the cuttings indoors. Juniper, holly and magnolia foliage is quite decorative. Use holly and nandina berries for a red accent in table centerpieces.

Poinsettias do not need fertilizing now but they do need watering. Check the dryness of the soil daily to keep them looking their brilliant best.

Prune short stubs and dead limbs from trees now that all the leaves are gone.

Ficus plants that lose leaves are reacting to insufficient light or a drafty site. Can you move yours to a better place in your house?

Poke holes in the foil wrapping on pots of holiday plants and set them in individual saucers. Otherwise accumulated water will cause root rot.



THIRD WEEK

Bird feeders bring lots of colorful activity to a yard in cold weather. Most bird experts recommend black oil sunflower seed for general feeding. Thistle seed and suet cakes attract birds you might not have seen before.

Rather than a bottle of wine, bring a houseplant as a gift to holiday parties. Amaryllis, ornamental pepper, Christmas cactus or kalanchoe will be appreciated for weeks to come. Water trees and shrubs you planted this fall. Evergreen plants in particular need regular watering, even in cold weather. Apply 1 gallon per foot of height.

Don't leave your lawn mower out in the rain. Water can get in the gas tank and prevent starting next spring. It is best to drain the tank completely or run the mower until it is out of gas.



FOURTH WEEK

Purchase pots of paperwhite narcissus, African violet or gloxinia for your office and home to bring color and a touch of perfume to the air.

Plant woody vines like Carolina jessamine, wisteria and cross vine now. Make sure to place them next to a sturdy arbor and loosely tie the young vine to it with twine.

Houseplants don’t need many nutrients in the winter. Use houseplant fertilizer at half strength. Don’t water them unless the soil feels dry one inch deep.

Pull mulch at least six inches away from tree trunks. Some professional landscapers pile it high and don’t pull it back - setting a bad example for all of us.

Remove the faded blooms and bloom stalks from amaryllis but allow the leaves to remain. Water only when the soil feels dry.

Fireplace ashes can be scattered over your lawn. They will provide a bit of phosphorus and potassium plus counteract acidity. Spread no more than ten lb. per 1000 square feet per month.