VEGETABLES

* Bare soil in the garden can erode and give way to winter weeds. Several inches of leaves, preferably shredded or chopped, can be used as a cover and also allow early access to plant a spring garden.

* Check your seed supply before ordering more. Seeds more than a couple of years old should probably be replaced. Do a germination test if in doubt. To test seed viability CHECK OUT THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

* Start your garden plan on paper as you browse garden catalogs. Review last year’s notes or memories for what worked and how much was too much.

* If you have any winter vegetables in a greenhouse or under plastic, remember to vent on sunny days to prevent overheating.

*Good sanitation is important to keep insects and diseases down during the next growing season. Remove spent plants and infested material. Compost separately, clean and infested.

* Take advantage of a sunny window to grow herbs, microgreens and veggie starts.

EAT FRESH GREEN IN THE WINTER AND CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO ON GROWING MICROGREENS

ORNAMENTALS

* Dispose holiday greenery carefully. Be sure to remove wires, hooks and anything artificial before composting, chipping or placing in the woods.

* Help shrubs and trees overwinter and avoid pruning until February. Removing deadwood and odd stems here and there is OK.

* Water recently planted evergreens, including live Christmas trees. Evergreen plants can dry out during sunny winter days.

* Inspect houseplants for insects such as spider mites, scale and whiteflies. Treat as needed. This Clemson Cooperative Extension publication reviews various pests and treatments for houseplants.

* Scout Hemlocks for hemlock wooly adelgid egg sacs that resemble tufts of cotton. The Hemlock Restoration Initiative website has many helpful resources to guide your decision making for treatment and timing.

FRUIT

* Investigate which fruit trees grow best here in WNC. Peaches, nectarines and plums for instance will live and grow here but getting decent looking and reliable crops can be a challenge. They are considered moderate to high maintenance due to the diseases and insects that are prevalent here in our region.

* Check out the North Carolina Production Guide for Smaller Orchard Plantings for information on selecting fruit trees that can be successful in our area, best site to plant, rootstock information and cultivar recommendations.

* This publication from Purdue Extension titled Disease Susceptibility of Apple Cultivars outlines a rating scale for many apple varieties and their susceptibility to Scab, Fire Blight, Juniper Rusts (Cedar apple) and Powdery Midlew)

* Chapter 15. Tree Fruit and Nuts in the North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook is also an excellent resource for more detailed information.

* Small fruit such as blueberries, raspberries and blackberries do very well in our area and can be a good first step for growing fruit. Check out Chapter 14. Small Fruits in the NC Extension Gardener handbook.

LAWNS

* To learn more about establishing or maintaining a lawn in western north carolina, Check out CH. 9 Lawns in the NC Extension Gardener Handbook

* Look at these Lawn Care Maintenance Calendars to know what and when lawn tasks are best done.

* Review the “Organic Lawn Care Guide” publication. Natural or “organic”  methods of lawn care that emphasize selection of the right turfgrass for the location and good management to maintain a healthy lawn.

* Consider making changes to your lawn this coming season to reduce maintenance costs and time and helping pollinators
– Tolerate some diversity! Many weeds provide important resources for pollinators – especially early spring bloomers. Self heal, clover, dandelions to name a few.
– Increase the size of perennial beds and mixed shrub borders.”
– Choose an alternative groundcover or planting. Check out Lawn Alternatives.
– Reduce the amount of Tall Fescue and add more Creeping Red Fescue, Chewings Fescue or Hard Fescue types. These are less competitive and require less fertilizer and watering.

* Read more about Planting and Maintaining Bee Lawns.

* Click on the link if you want to Bee Friendlier with Your Lawn Care

OTHER

* Catalog shopping has begun in earnest. Seed and plant catalogs can be an excellent source of information on vegetable and flower varieties to consider for next year’s garden.

* Clean out birdhouses and set up new ones. Bluebirds and some other songbirds start scouting for spring nesting boxes.

* Clean out and organize the garden storage area. Check tools and equipment before you need them. Brush dirt from shovels and hard rakes and apply a light oil to prevent rust.

* Use deicing salt sparingly. Sweep excess from pavement as soon as it has dried. This prevents runoff into adjacent landscape areas and water supplies.