1. Cut back roses and shape your shrub roses. Those tall bushes can be trimmed to 1 ½ to 2 feet in height with open centers. Use a sharp pair of pruners and a good pair of leather gloves. Climbing roses should be left un-pruned until after their spring bloom. March is also a good time to add roses to the landscape.

2. Care for fruit trees. There is still plenty of time to spray wintering insects with dormant oil. Pruning to open up the centers will help to reduce disease problems with better ai...