Winter Work for the Gardeners

01For people in parts of the world with seasons, especially cold ones, winter might seem like a time to rest and to take a break from garden work.

02But it is not, says Associated Press gardening expert Jessica Demiano.

03Autumn and winter are the best times to attend to your garden's needs and prepare for the next growing season.

04There is much to do for both outdoor and indoor plants.

05For people who want flowers, like tulips, in the early spring, plant the bulbs that produce them if your soil is not frozen.

06If you can still dig, plant tulips, daffodils, and other bulbs.

07Cover them with about 8 centimeters of mulch, leaves, or dried grass.

08This will prevent freezing and melting temperatures from forcing them out of the ground over the winter.

09During winter months, even in more temperate areas, some plants need protection from the cold.

10These include some fruit trees, like citrus, dahlias, and many plants that bloom in the spring.

11In winter conditions, a cloth cover called burlap can help limit the damaging effects of wind.

12If snow builds up on the branches of evergreen trees and shrubs, remove it.

13The heavy weight can damage branches.

14Keep a record of plants you mean to move from one place to another in your garden.

15The notes will guide you in early spring, a time that is best to move plants that bloom early in this season.

16If you have extra seeds, consider trading them with gardening friends.

17Or at a gardening event.

18Store and organize seeds for the future in glass containers in cool places without light.

19Make sure to write down what they are and when they were collected.

20If insects or diseases were a problem during the growing season, use winter months to read about companion plants that can ease the problem in the coming year.

21The cold winter months also affect houseplants.

22Bring houseplants near a south-facing or west-facing window to get the most sunlight possible.

23Turn the houseplants about one-fourth of a turn each time you water them.

24This will support more even growth.

25If you are buying poinsettias for the holidays, be sure to examine them for whiteflies before bringing them home.

26If you do not, you could bring home insects.

27If you plant amaryllis bulbs indoors now, they will bloom during the coldest months of the winter.

28Plant them with their pointed ends reaching out of the potting soil and place them in a warm, sunny spot, watering them well.

29After they bloom, keep them in a cooler place to extend the life of their flowers, but keep them away from children and pets.

30Amaryllis bulbs are poisonous to eat.

31Damiano also advises to remember that non-migrating birds need food because most of their food sources are gone during the winter months.

32High-quality birdseed and water can help.

33These same birds will repay the effort by feeding on thousands of insects that threaten your garden during the warm growing season.

34I'm Katie Weaver.