November Garden Tips
PLANTING
Any plant installed this year still needs some attention as winter approaches. Watch new plants for water, and irrigate if soil seems dry. For freshly planted trees and shrubs aim for 1/2” rainfall or equal per week.
It’s not too late to take advantage of sale prices and plant trees, shrubs and perennials this fall. Dormant plants establish well during cooler months, rewarding you with vigorous growth in spring.
Mulch in fall for a neat-looking landscape, to minimize soil temperature fluctuations, reduce weds, and conserve soil moisture. Conserving moisture is just as important in the winter months as in warmer months. (Maybe more so since watering is usually the last thing on your mind in winter!)
Plant spring bulbs around Daylight Saving Time, or any time this fall until the soil freezes! Planting bulbs is a simple way to add great color to the spring garden, just be sure to plant by January so the bulbs get enough cold.
Planting bulbs in pots lets you place spring color wherever you want! Just layer bulbs at the appropriate depth in pots. You can put different types in the same pot too. Try Daffodils, Tulips & Crocus for a fun spring container!
LAWNS
Cooler temperatures bring winter weeds to your lawn (and garden) like chickweed and henbit. Look for an herbicide like Weed Beater Ultra that works at lower temperatures.
Avoid treating for weeds in young turf until grass is well established. Usually once you’ve mowed twice it’s safe to treat, but check the label of your herbicide to be sure. Most will state the safe interval before you can use them on newly seeded lawns.
Your cool season (Fescue) lawn is still growing in fall; make sure it has enough water for growth, particularly if you've seeded this fall. Aim for 1” of irrigation or rainfall a week.
Thanksgiving is a good time to apply a winterizing lawn fertilizer that will help keep your lawn healthy in winter, and provide nitrogen for a quick green-up in spring. Winterizers have a relatively high first number (N) to enhance green-up in spring, and a relatively high last number (K) to increase cold resistance. You don't want a high middle number (P). (Do this for cool season lawns only-warm season lawns should have gotten their last fertilization of the season in September.)
PRUNING
Examine your wax myrtles, butterfly bushes and tall roses. Do they have long stems that could break in winter storms? Prune them back to be safe. Not sure how to prune? Ask us how our garden maintenance teams can help.
Cut back the dead leafy tops of perennials after frost browns them. Leave tops on plants like sedums, ornamental grasses, and euphorbia for winter interest. You’ll also find birds will visit to eat the seeds.
The dried hollow stems of perennials may contain eggs or larvae of our native bees. If you can, leave these standing until next spring also.
The stems of holly, magnolia or other evergreens are great for holiday decorating. Just make the cuts the same way you would for general pruning, at the intersection of another branch.
INDOOR
By now all your houseplants that winter outside should be cozy and warm inside. If you did not treat for possible insects before bringing plants in, do so now. Keep a close eye on them through the winter for signs that an infestation is starting-better to treat early than try to catch up!
Plant paperwhites now for fragrant blooms this holiday season. Any type of container can work and you can use either gravel or potting soil. Dress them up with pretty branches for beautiful holiday décor!
OUTDOOR PESTS
Cool season mites like red mite and spruce spider mites are most active in spring and fall. Watch for them on azaleas, junipers and laurels. All Seasons Spray Oil is ideal for treating cool season mites. If you have a serious mite problem, New Garden offers a spray service. See us for details.