Brrrr-rrr! There's still a chill in the air, but balmy days are ahead. And you want to be ready for the fun growing season that is right around the corner. This month in the garden, the to-do list goes as follows:

Perk up the pansies. Pansies that have overwintered in the garden can be rejuvenated for an early spring show if you continue to deadhead spent flowers, and, at the end of the month, apply a liquid fertilizer around the plants.

Prune dead tree branches. When pruning large branches, undercut a third of the branch before finishing the cut from the top. This will prevent the limb from splitting and tearing away bark from the main trunk.

Transplant now. If you have any small trees or shrubs that you think would look better in another location, this is a good time to move them. If you didn't root prune last fall and for a better chance at successfully transplanting, be sure to dig up as much of the root ball as possible.

Consider losing some lawn. Lots of lawn to mow? While the grass is dormant and relatively easy to remove or till under, consider enlarging flowerbeds and natural areas to tame troubling turf.

Tune up the mower. Now is a good time to put your grass-muncher in the shop -- before the spring rush. Change the oil in your lawn mower if it hasn't been changed in at least two years. Changing the oil is a quick D-I-Y project.

The oil drain plug is usually on the bottom of the mower, underneath the deck cowling. This is also where the blade is, so as an extra safety precaution, disconnect the spark plug before starting work.

Fertilize your favorite grass. If you love your cool-season fescue or Kentucky bluegrass lawn, this Valentine's Day, spread some love by fertilizing the grass with about one pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. To estimate one pound of nitrogen from your fertilizer, divide 100 by the first number (which represents the percentage of nitrogen) on the bag to figure out how many pounds of fertilizer to use per 1,000 square feet that will equal a spread of one pound of nitrogen over the area.

Prepare for a dry spell. Last year was a fairly wet year, but will that be the case this year? To hedge your bets, think about installing a trickle irrigation system, which, combined with a layer of mulch, is a very efficient way to get the best use out of every drop of water if drought conditions return.

Speaking of efficient irrigation, a rain barrel or two can work wonders in home gardens constantly subjected to water restrictions.

Root a cutting. If you have any tender plants, such as coleus, fuchsia, begonia, geranium and lantana overwintering indoors, now is a good time to take cuttings and root them for use in the spring garden.

Clear away dust. Smooth-leafed, indoor plants such as rubber plant, dracaena and philodendron will benefit from having their leaves wiped with a moist cloth to remove dust, which interferes with their photosynthesis process.

Plant veggies. Heat up the cool-season vegetable garden by planting turnips, spinach, onions, radishes, rutabagas, Irish potatoes, mustard, lettuce, carrots and cabbage.

Nurse seedlings along. Warm-season, annual vegetables and ornamentals can get to growing at the end of this month. For better germination, provide bottom heat. Commercial heating cables for seed trays are available, but if you have easy access to your hot water heater, place a small tray or two on top to take advantage of the escaping heat.

Sterilize leftover pots. For pots that will be used for spring seeds or plants, soak the pots for 30 minutes in a solution of one part bleach and 10 parts water. Then, allow to air dry before using them in your planting projects.

Clean out window boxes and patio planters. Wash them thoroughly and paint, stain or varnish if necessary.

Order more catalogs. Keep in mind that many mail-order companies run early-bird specials, so take advantage of the pre-spring savings.

Feed the bird feeder. Regularly stock it with nuts, fruit, seeds, suet and bread crumbs. Also, be sure to wash and refill the birdbath at least once a week.

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