Don’t let your green thumb turn brown over the winter!

There are many projects to keep you productive until spring after you have put your gardens to bed for the winter. My last job is to grind up leaves and top dress my beds before I call it a year.

Before the north winds begin to howl and the temperature drops, this is the time to organize your garden shed.

Mine ends up looking like a hurricane went through it during summer as things just get “dropped in.” I store my garden items inside my shed for the winter, so this is the perfect time to put things in order.

Clean and sharpen your garden tools to prepare them for the next growing season. Also, it’s a good time to research and order new tools you might want to try.

Service mowers, trimmers, tillers and other mechanical items. Now that your outside jobs are finished it’s time to move indoors and hang out by the fireplace.

Plan for the upcoming season by selecting seeds, planning garden layouts and researching new plant varieties to try.

I look for something new every year and this year I found a teddy bear sunflower. My seed order is at the top of my to-do list.

By ordering your seeds and bulbs early you ensure that they won’t become out-of-stock items. This also allows you to plan if you intend to start some of your seeds indoors before the planting season. If you save seeds, making a seed catalog will keep track of them.

Embrace your wildlife and set up bird feeders and heated water sources. Have your kids and grandkids construct homemade bird feeders along with some homemade seedcakes to introduce them to the joys of nature. Leaving some garden debris allows insects to overwinter.

If you must keep your hands in some soil, grow some microgreens to enjoy and add some freshness to your winter dishes.

You could also plant an indoor herb garden, giving them a sunny windowsill or under counter grow lights. Nothing beats fresh ingredients in the winter. Basil, chives, mint and parsley are a few easy ones to try.

Give your houseplants some love by repotting and making sure they have the correct light and humidity. Don’t overwater. Use a microfiber cloth to remove any dust. If you bring any that have spent the summer outside, make sure you “debug” them before introducing them back inside.

Another favorite winter activity is to learn something new.

There is a wealth of garden information out there to make a cold winter night enjoyable.

Take a garden class. OSU Extension master gardener volunteers hold classes throughout the year and we’d love to invite you to join us.

Watch for classes on the Valley Grows page or contact the extension office for more information on class schedules.

Baytos is an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Mahoning County.