Now is the Time to Turn the Soil

• This will expose insect eggs to the effects of winter and hungry birds, and cold, dry weather will help to break apart heavy clods of dirt.

• When the temperatures drop below freezing, make sure to cover your outdoor tropical plants. Home stores sell plant covers, but blankets, towels, even cardboard boxes can do the trick. Remember to secure the covers. Bricks, water filled buckets, bungee cords and clothes pins can work in a pinch.
• Bring your potted plants indoors. Don't just move them into the garage. Take the extra few steps to bring them in the house.
• Learn More about Protecting your Tropical Plants from Freeze

• Clean dust on the foliage with a damp cloth, because this dust can clog the leaf pores.
• Actively growing plants will benefit from a shot of liquid plant food.
• On very cold nights, close the curtains or blinds between the window and your plants.
• Make certain that your plants have sufficient humidity, by setting them on a tray filled with clean pebbles, a little water, or by simply setting a cup of water nearby.
• Hyacinth, Paper White Narcissus, and Lily of the Valley bulbs can be forced into bloom indoors. Use a shallow bowl of water or a pot.
• Be on the lookout for insects on your house plants. If you have a greenhouse, be sure to check those plants carefully too.
• Keep your house plants shiny with the Garden Rebel Plant Tonic.

• Sharpen and oil tools such as shovels, shears, mowers and the like.
• Power tools such as weedeaters and power mowers may benefit from a good tune-up.
• Check out more ideas on tools with the 13 Best Tools for New Gardeners.

• Create a small map of your garden, and use it as a guide for ordering plants and seeds from the catalogs which will be arriving in the mail soon.
• Use the Garden Rebel's Spring Planning Ideas.