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

Trim straggling chrysanthemums down to four to six inches (10 to 15 cm) to tidy up the garden before winter. This also prevents old growth from forming a mat of soggy vegetation that new spring shoots would have to push through.

Make row covers to protect those last remaining vegetables. Covering plants with transparent plastic supported by hoops will capture the late autumn sunshine and prolong the growth of frost-tolerant greens.

Rectify soggy areas in your garden before the ground freezes by installing French drains. Determine where water can be rerouted, then dig a trench five to six inches (12 to 15 cm) deep, line it with landscape fabric, fill with gravel and wrap fabric over the top before replacing sod.

Make an insulated compost can for winter. Drill ventilation holes into the upper half of a 32-gallon (120-L) plastic garbage can, then cut the bottom off and insert the can six inches (15 cm) into the ground. Wrap and tie a two-inch (five-cm) thick batt of insulation around the can below the ventilation holes and cover this with dark plastic. Alternate layers of green and brown compostable materials and keep the can covered so excess water doesn't collect.

Mulch half-hardy annuals, such as stocks, snapdragons and pansies that frequently overwinter in the Maritimes, with straw or evergreen boughs.

Take cuttings of heathers, rhododendrons and azaleas. Snip three- to four-inch (7.5- to 10-cm) pieces from the branch tips, making an angled cut. Remove the lower leaves from the cuttings and dip the stem ends in rooting hormone. Insert them in moist vermiculite and set the container in a bright basement location. Most cuttings root in 60 to 90 days. Plant them outside next May.

Gather evergreen boughs, pine cones, rose hips and ...