* Scatter wood ash uniformly over lawns and gardens if soils tend to be acidic. Wood ash has about half the liming ability of ground limestone. In other words, two pounds of wood ash are the equivalent of one pound limestone. However, avoid repeated or excessive applications of wood ash since it may raise soil pH to levels that are too high for good plant growth. The best way to monitor pH and control the amount of ash applied is to have soil tested each year. Soil pH test kits are available at most garden centers. Otherwise, send soil samples to the UMass Soils Lab.
* Evaluate your landscape and make note of where to plant evergreens as windbreaks. A windbreak can reduce heat loss from your home during the winter and save on fuel costs.
* Use several kinds of bird feeders and fill them with different types of seed or suet to attract the greatest range of bird species. Be aware that bears are attracted to bird feeders. If you live in an area where bears are known to roam, set up the feeders in your neighbor’s yard. Just kidding! However, if there is a history of bear sightings around bird feeders in the neighborhood, it would be wise to place feeders out of reach or forego the feeders. Birds really can survive without our assistance.
* Move house plants around if they are looking a tad unhealthy. It may be that they are not happy with the light, temperature and/or humidity conditions at their existing location. There are many microclimates within a house, and finding the one that best matches its requirements may be all that’s needed to cure a hapless plant.
* Keep an eye out (Ouch, that must hurt!) for spider mites on house plants. Spider mites thrive in dry air, a common commodity in our heated homes during the winter. Use a magnifying glass and check the leaves – top side and bottom – for the tiny spider-like critters. Isolate any plant with spider mite infestation. Washing the leaves in plain water every day for about a week to ten days is often enough to rid the plant of the pests. Washing every day is also a good idea for humans.
* Check on the condition of dahlias, cannas, tuberous begonias, gladiolus, and other summer “bulbs” in storage. If stored in sand or peat moss that is too moist, those bulbs may have begun their trip into Mushville.
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  Anyone thinking of planting fruit trees should start now. OK, I’ll concede that outdoor conditions are not quite right for planting. However, this is the time to do some planning:
- If ordering by mail, get the order in early to avoid getting shut out of a certain variety.
- Be sure that the trees will be shipped near the time of planting and not in the middle of February.
- Remember that apples and pears need to be cross-pollinated for optimal fruit production, so you’ll need to plant at least two varieties of each of these fruit trees. Peaches, except for Elberta strains, will produce fruit without cross-pollination.
- Evaluate the planting location. Fruit trees need maximum light and good drainage.
- Decide if you want dwarf, semi-dwarf or standard size trees.
