Illustration by Denise Wantz

(Mid- and High Elevations)
- Choose potted Christmas trees for planting—Select healthy, well-adapted trees that will fit your landscape when mature. Be sure they are not root-bound with “girdled” roots wrapped around each other or growing out of the drainage holes of their containers. At high elevations, consider Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) or Southwestern white pine (Pinus strobiformis). At mid-elevations, try Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica), piñon pine (Pinus edulis) or Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum). Indoors, keep potted trees away from fireplaces, heating elements and direct sunlight. Maintain consistent soil moisture. (Place ice cubes on top of the soil to melt and maintain soil moisture without spillage.) After the holidays (within seven to 10 days), move pots outdoors, although transplanting can wait until late winter/early spring.

GARDEN MAINTENANCE
(Mid- and High Elevations)
- Examine fruit and nut trees—Inspect almond, apricot, cherry, peach, pluot (cross between a plum and apricot) and plum trees for signs of peach tree borers. If trees look weak, with droopy leaves or dying branches, it may indicate their presence. Signs of this pest include reddish-brown fecal matter around the base of the tree and sap oozing from the base where larvae have tunneled into the tree. Entry points also might be below soil level near the tree base. Find entry points and carefully dig out the larvae with a pocketknife, taking care not to damage too much plant tissue. For severe infestations, check with your County Cooperative Extension office for recommended controls.
-  Watering—Plants that are watered adequately during winter months are less susceptible to frost damage. Water evergreens, fruit trees and landscape plants deeply once every three to six weeks, and annuals and perennials every four to 10 days, depending on your growing conditions (i.e., soil, plant maturity, precipitation, temperatures).
-  Frost protection—If freezing temperatures are predicted, cover plants with burlap, old sheets or frost cloth. Remove covers in the morning; otherwise, heat will concentrate underneath and cause plants to break dormancy.
-  Replenish winter mulch—Add 3 to 4 inches of mulch over garden beds and around landscape plants as needed. Mulch inhibits frost heave, in which alternating freeze and thaw cycles force roots out of the ground.

WHAT TO PLANT
(Mid-Elevations)
- Bare-root blackberries, roses and trees—Keep roots wrapped in moist sawdust until planting, which should be done as soon as possible after purchase. Soak the plant in a bucket of water for several hours or overnight before transplanting to hydrate the plant.
- Cool-season color—Set out transplants of aster, bachelor’s button, calendula, chrysanthemum, dianthus, Iceland poppy, pansy, snapdragon, stock, sweet alyssum, sweet pea and viola.
- Cool-season vegetables—Set out transplants of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, and kale. Sow seeds for beets, carrots, green onions, radish, turnip and all types of salad greens.