In many parts of the world, winter brings cold temperatures and, in some places, snowfall. For people who like planting things, gardening may seem far away. 

在世界许多地方，冬季气温寒冷，有些地方还会降雪。对于喜欢种植东西的人来说，园艺似乎很遥远。 

However, during winter weather, there are still things a gardener can do to prepare for the spring. Gardening expert Jessica Damiano recently wrote about such preparatory tasks for the Associated Press. We can also call these tasks "prep work." 

但是，在冬季的天气中，园丁仍然可以为春季做准备。园艺专家杰西卡·达米诺（Jessica Damiano）最近为美联社写了有关此类准备任务的文章。我们还可以称这些任务为“准备工作”。

First let’s talk about seeds. 

首先我们来谈谈种子。

If you have seed packets, she suggests checking their expiration date. That is the date by which they go “bad” or will not grow. Damiano says the seeds are usually considered “fresh” within a year of being packaged. But they can be used for longer than that. 

如果你有种子包，她建议检查它们的有效期。那是它们变“坏”或不再生长的日期。达米亚诺说，这些种子通常在包装后一年内被认为是“新鲜”的。但它们的使用时间可以更长。 

However, you cannot be sure if the seeds are still good just by looking at a date. She suggests testing them.

然而，你不能仅通过查看日期来确定种子是否仍然完好。她建议对它们进行测试。

To do this, she places several seeds on a wet paper towel and then puts that into a plastic container. In about 10 days, she will look to see how many seeds have sprouted. 

为此，她将几种种子放在湿纸巾上，然后将其放入塑料容器中。在大约10天的时间里，她将希望看到有多少种子发芽。 

This gives her an idea of how many seeds to use to get the desired number of plants. However, if less than 50 percent of the seeds sprout, she throws them away. 

这让她知道需要使用多少种子才能获得所需数量的植物。然而，如果不到 50% 的种子发芽，她就会把它们扔掉。 

Damiano tests her old seeds in the winter before the busy spring gardening season. That is when seed and plant stores, or nurseries, can run out of seeds. 

达米亚诺（Damiano）在繁忙的春季园艺季节之前的冬季测试了她的旧种子。那是种子和植物储存或托儿所的种子用完的时候。

She also inspects her gardening equipment. 

她还检查了园艺设备。 

For example, if you use grow lights — lights especially made for plants — make sure they still work. You might have to buy new bulbs. 

例如，如果您使用种植灯（尤其是为植物制造的灯），请确保它们仍然有效。您可能必须购买新灯泡。 

Damiano brings out her grow lights and inspects each bulb. If necessary, she will order replacement bulbs. That way she is prepared to plant at any time, even six to eight weeks in the future. 

达米亚诺拿出她的生长灯并检查每个灯泡。如有必要，她将订购更换灯泡。这样她就可以随时种植，甚至是未来六到八周的时间。 

She also makes sure she has sterile seed-starting potting mix. This is special soil for planting in containers. 

她还确保自己有无菌种子的盆栽混合物。这是在容器中种植的特殊土壤。 

Damiano sharpens her cutting tools, such as pruning shears. Larger tools like lawnmowers should be inspected every year. Like nurseries, places that service lawn equipment might be busier in the spring. You can get ahead of the crowd by getting your tools fixed early. 

达米亚诺（Damiano）锐化了她的切割工具，例如修剪剪切。每年应检查诸如割草机之类的较大工具。像托儿所一样，在春季，为草坪设备提供服务的地方可能会更忙。您可以通过尽早修复工具来领先人群。

Clean your gardening hand tools, like trowels and spades. Cover them lightly with oil. This will help keep them in good working order. 

清洁您的园艺手工工具，例如抹子和黑桃。用油轻轻盖住它们。这将有助于他们保持良好的工作状态。 

Inspect things like hoses, sprinklers and other water systems for damage. Make a list of anything you may need to replace or repair. 

检查软管、喷头和其他供水系统等是否有损坏。列出您可能需要更换或修理的所有物品。 

Damiano says that you could wait until spring to take care of all these things—but why? Once spring arrives, you will have these tasks done. 

达米亚诺（Damiano）说，您可以等到春季来照顾所有这些事情，但是为什么呢？春季到来后，您将完成这些任务。