In the Ornamental Garden

• Water evergreens if soil is not frozen. This will help to avoid winter dehydration.
• Extend the life of Christmas poinsettias by placing them in a cool area with bright light.
• Remove rose cones during warm spells during the winter. This prevents heat from building up inside. Re-cover when temperatures drop.
• Check for frost heaving of perennials. Push back into ground and cover with extra mulch.
• Use sawdust, sand or kitty litter instead of salt to melt snow. Salt will kill nearby plants.
• Do you know that snow is an excellent insulation for plants. The temperature below snow increases by about 2 degrees F. for every inch of accumulation. Soil also gives off heat. A study showed that the soil surface temperature was 28? F under 9 inches of snow while the air temperature was minus 14 degrees F.

In the Interior Garden

• Check houseplants for brown, dry edges. This may indicate a need for more humidity. Increase the humidity by grouping plants together, running a humidifier or using pebble trays.
• Let cacti go semi-dormant. Water to avoid shriveling.
• Plant seeds of limes, oranges, lemons, grapefruits and kumquats for nice looking foliage plants. Remove the seed from the fruit and plant them immediately. Do not allow them to dry out. Place in a sunny spot and water as needed.
• Grow mushrooms indoors. Mushrooms can be easily grown in the basement, bathroom or closet. A variety of mushrooms can be grown including the everyday grocery store mushroom, Shitakes, and European gourmet mushrooms.