Start fresh
Now’s the time to plan for next year’s garden. It’s seed ordering time and a chance to walk in the garden, pondering what should go where when the planting begins.

Houseplant care
Give your houseplants a shower. Take them into your tub and let the water run over them. It flush out any salts in the soil and wash off the foliage.

Start your garden journal
Now’s the time to start your garden journal, either writing down your thoughts in a physical journal or electronically. A garden journal helps you remember what worked, what didn’t and how you felt about the season.

Check your bulbs
Check any stored bulbs and tubers to see how they are doing. If you find rot, remove any failing plant material. If they are drying out, add a little moisture.

Tree care
It’s time to start a seasonal care program for your fruit trees. Applying dormant oils will smother overwintering insects.

Seed testing
Test germination rates of old seeds. Take 10 seeds, put them in a moist paper towel and then a releasable plastic bag. Store the bag in a warm place and see what sprouts in a week. If germination is 50 percent or higher, keep them for spring sowing.

Winter Botany Walk & Talk with Doug Oster
Everybody Gardens editor Doug Oster, and Pittsburgh Botanic Garden executive director Keith S. Kaiser will lead a winter walk through the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. Lunch and admission to the Garden are included with registration.
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Pruning time
This is the start of the pruning season. Before a cut is made, research the plant to find out when it puts on flowers. You don’t want to prune buds off a spring bloomer.