5 garden tips for this week, Dec. 2-8

1 Keep an eye on the cold
Check weather forecasts regularly and protect sensitive shrubbery from nighttime freezes from now through February. A string of holiday lights often provides enough warmth to do the job. Or support a bed sheet or clear plastic above and around (but not touching) plants at night. For plants that do get nipped, wait until March to prune off damaged stems no matter how unsightly they look, because the dead foliage will provide insulation against future damage.
2 Delay tact