December.

Rest, but not idleness

• Drain fuel from mower and tiller

  Ethanol fuel absorbs water. Left over winter, it clogs carburetors and gums up fuel lines. Drain the tank or run the engine dry now.

• Review and expand your garden notes

  You'll never remember July from December memory. Now, while it's fresh, write down what worked and what didn't. Your January self will thank your December self.

• Sketch expansion plans on paper

  If you're adding beds, a fence, or an irrigation loop next year, this is when to design it. Measure, draw, and price it out over the winter — so when November comes back around, you're building, not planning.

Protecting what's here through winter

• Apply the final mulch layer

  One more pass of mulch on the perennial beds, especially the newer plantings. Roses, hydrangeas, and young trees benefit from an extra 2-inch blanket.

• Thick straw over root crops still in the ground

  Carrots, parsnips, leeks, and beets under 8–10 inches of straw stay sweet through winter. Dig them as needed — nothing beats a January carrot.

• Keep foot traffic off frozen grass

  Frozen grass blades snap when walked on. Reroute paths to avoid crossing the lawn until spring.

• Knock heavy snow off trees and shrubs

  Wet snow bends limbs to their breaking point overnight. After a big storm, gently brush snow off young trees and evergreens.

• Move fragile houseplants away from cold windows

  Even double-pane windows carry cold to plant leaves. Move tropicals a foot back from the glass or add a curtain overnight.