• All outdoor wiring should be waterproof, and lights should be fastened securely to trees and shrubs.
• Any gardeners on your Christmas list would most likely rather receive something gardening related as opposed to neckties or hankies.
• As soon as the ground freezes hard, perennial borders can be covered.
• Be stingy with water on Christmas Cactus and the buds won't fall off.
• Bend Raspberry and Blackberry canes to the ground and cover with soil to prevent killing back of the canes.
• Brownish collars of egg clusters on the twigs of your trees are next year's tent caterpillars, and should be rubbed off.
• Check guy wires on all newly planted trees.
• Christmas trees should be set securely in holder that will hold water, and filled daily.
• Cones and seed pods can be used to brighten up wreaths, table decorations and gift packages.
• Cuttings of Japanese Yew can be made now.
• Don't be to hastily in removing leaves gathered around shrubs, allow them to remain for winter protection.
• Drain gas and oil from mower before storing.
• For some lovely, sweet smelling blooms indoors, force some Lily-of-the-Valley pips.
• Fruit trees broken down or split should be taken care of promptly.
• Gift Amaryllis bulbs can be planted now.
• Gladiolus should be covered with naphthalene flakes when being put away, to eliminate the thrips.
• Grape vines can be pruned any time now.
• Keep all bird feeding stations stocked and well filled.
• Lawns should not be covered with fresh manure over winter, to prevent burning.
• Mulch newly planted trees and shrubs.
• On these gardenless days, why not spend some time reading up on your favorite gardening subject.
• One of the most indestructible house plants seems to be Crassula.
• Peat moss is an ideal medium in which to store Dahlia tubers.
• Place straw matting over cold frames in very cold weather.
• Plants received as Christmas gifts shouldn't be subject to too much dry heat, and kept out of drafts.
• Seeds that are to be kept over winter should be wrapped in cotton and placed in a tightly-covered tin box.
• Slat screens over cold frames will keep them at an even temperature.
• Snow fencing should be placed to block the prevailing winds, and cause snow to pile against it.
• This is a great time to page through all of the new seed catalogues, filling out a wish list.
• Throw away old gardening catalogues as new ones arrive.
• To prevent Tree Peonies from having their buds blasted by late frosts, net them with wire and cover with leaves.
• Try using materials from your own garden to decorate your home for the holiday season.
• Tulip and Lily bulbs can still be planted as long as the ground isnĵt frozen too deep.
• Two good choices for blue flowers indoors are Browallias and Saintpaulias.
• When your pots of bulbs in the basement are filled with roots, they are ready for forcing in the light.
• Why not poke some evergreen branches in your window boxes to add interest over winter.
