Endless rain; bitter cold and dry; rain; unseasonably warm; really cold and dry; a little more rain - you can't say the winter has been boring.

Coming after an extended warming, the most recent cold spell probably did some damage. That may be largely superficial in the form of freezing premature growth. Actual damage should be less severe than it appears.

In the Lazy Garden, hardy fuchsias took a hit because they'd begun to leaf out during the warm spell. They look pretty sad. Since they had yet to get their annual pruning, re-growth from dormant buds should be no problem - just a bit delayed. Same goes for butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), and many other over eager plants.

Don't hurry to trim back frosted growth. Freeze dried foliage doesn't necessarily mean a plant has been seriously damaged. During the warm spell, premature leafing out occurred on many plants. That soft new growth was hard hit by several nights below freezing. Most plants will recover quickly once temperatures begin to warm for spring.

Permission is granted to cut back plants like hardy fuchsia and butterfly bush that are regularly hard pruned - spare those that are only trimmed for better shape. For most frost damaged plants, wait until spring growth begins before cutting out dead wood.

Chinese witch hazel (Loropetalum chinense) is a new favorite of gardeners that may have suffered. Established plants will show some die-back while those in pots may have expired due to prolonged freezing of the root zone. Only time will tell the extent of damage.

Central Puget Sound is classed as USDA Zone 8, meaning the average low winter temperature is about 20 degrees. We've grown accustomed to recent warm winters when it rarely gets below freezing. Obviously, an average of 20 means it can get colder. The double-barreled cold snaps this winter proved that - again.

A sensible response to the cold hits this winter is to garden with plants hardy to at least one zone colder. Plants hardy to Zone 7 will pull through any but the most arctic of our winters with little or no damage. Gardeners who've grown weary of coddling those nearly hardy darlings of plant collectors can help lead the way toward sensible plant selection. Choose plants that are adequately hardy, require less summer water and less year-round care. Doing so will leave more time to actually enjoy the garden.

Another blow this winter (literally) has been several days of sustained strong winds. Many trees and shrubs have suffered broken limbs and branches. It's important to clean up the damage while they are still mostly dormant. So get at it really soon.

Good remedial pruning of damaged woody plants will help them recover quicker and reestablish a pleasing shape. Proper pruning removes branches back to an appropriate secondary branch or back to a main branch. Do not leave stubs - they're ugly and allow pests and diseases to enter the wood. Always prune back to undamaged wood and clean up any tears in the bark with a disinfected sharp tool - no ragged cuts.

Do not treat pruning wounds with any kind of sealer. Research has proven that sealers actually cause damage by sealing in damaging organisms. Leave the pruning surface smooth and exposed. If the cut is well made at the edge of the branch collar, the tree will respond by slowing growing a callous over the wound. Eventually, the wound may be covered by new bark. The process is remarkable to observe.

March signals the last 60 days of serious garden renovation opportunity before growth and bloom is in full swing. Fall blooming perennials should be transplanted as soon as the soil is dry enough to work. Except for tree plantings, always amend the soil with organic materials in the process of replanting. After planting, mulch with 2 to 3 inches of a good compost to retain moisture, prevent weed seeds from sprouting (many seeds need light to germinate), and continue feeding the soil. A suitable low dose organic fertilizer can be applied once transplants have begun to put on new growth.

Oblivious to the cold, spring blooming bulbs have begun their show. Bulbous iris (Iris reticulata) and early species crocus have been greeting gardeners for weeks. In warmer locations, daffodils may be already budded. Get ready to enjoy the show.

Stephen Lamphear writes regularly in these newspaper and can be reached at lazy.gardener@comcast.net