Early Winter (gardening work)

• As soon as the ground freezes lightly,cover tender perennials with evergreen boughs.Don't do this too early,or you'll provide an inviting winter home for hungry rodents.
• If you start your own plants,order seeds by early January,before seed companies run out of your favourites.
• Sharpen hoes,shovels and clippers,and put them in their wintering-over spots .
• Take hardwood cuttings of any shrubs and climbers you want to propagate;label and store them upside down in vermiculite for spring planting.

• Read garden books,and sketch out designs and ideas for new planting.