Central. (regional wrap-up: GL'S CROSS COUNTRY CHECKLIST FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER).

Protect roadside plantings from salt drift. Wrap or screen evergreens planted near a busy road with two layers of burlap to prevent salt damage. This is especially important on the east side of a road as the prevailing winds come from the west. If you need a de-icer, use a product such as Alaskan Ice Melter containing calcium chloride, not salt; it won't burn your plants or erode concrete and stone walkways.

Shield evergreens and plants prone to wind damage with screens made of stakes and two layers of burlap. Be sure to protect any dwarf Alberta spruce, rhododendrons and Japanese maples that are less than four years old. After a year or two, they should acclimatize to your Zone 6 garden.

Prevent mice and rabbits from nibbling fruit trees by wrapping young trees (those with a trunk less than three inches/eight cm in diameter) with waterproof tree wrap or a vinyl spiral-type guard to a height of three feet (90 cm).

Water container plants overwintering in your garage or shed, using room-temperature water. These perennials need water every month all winter long to combat the drying effects of our low temperatures.

Check your tropical houseplants for spider mites and other pests. If you spot them, spray them with water every day to discourage them. Tropical plants are under a lot of stress from the dry indoor heat and lack of sunshine, so water them regularly.