November only may be one of the most ideal months of this year — Indian summer is officially gone, and today are marked by a crisp coolness that’s a welcome relief in heat October temperatures. Use this time to find some significant garden chores done before the really cold weather strikes — and then remind yourself that the work you do now in the garden will repay next spring using a lush, healthful landscape.
J. Peterson Garden Design
Plant trees and shrubs. All shrubs and trees should be planted in the autumn for best growth next year, as autumn planting makes it possible for these bigger plants several months to build deep, healthy roots. They will be drought resistant and have more vigorous expansion.
Try planting some spring-flowering shrubs and trees, such as azaleas, abelias, redbuds and Mexican plums — they are some of the very first to herald the arrival of spring after a long winter.
The Todd Group
Care for your lawn. Overseed your lawn with perennial rye to get a green winter lawn. In our area it is not really perennial and will perish after the weather warms up at the spring.
Winterize your lawn by spraying on it weekly using a seaweed solution, and if you fertilize, make certain to use a lawn fertilizer that’s high in calcium for healthy root development. Start looking for nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratios such as 8-6-12, 8-12-16 or 10-5-14 in a winter fertilizer bundle.
The best way to give your turf a fall tune-up
Susana Merenfeld p Weisleder
Prune dead limbs from trees and shrubs. Complete this job before the leaves fall off and remove only those limbs that are clearly dead. Don’t prune off any living or healthy limbs at this moment. Always make certain you know which sort of shrubs and trees you’ve got and what their particular care is, however it is a good general guideline to get rid of dead growth before winter storms pick up.
Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture
Mulch around plants. Very similar to how Mother Nature provides a blanket with fallen leaves, mulch “blankets” your landscape plants and shields them from winter cold. Ensure you’ve got a good 2- to 3-inch layer of wood mulch, but avoid heaping mulch upward on the plant bases, which may quickly rot the crops. I like to “feather” mulch until the bottom stem or trunk of a plant to get the very best coverage.
Niki Jabbour
Add row covers to protect against freezes. Although our area of Texas experiences quite mild winters, we are all aware that’s subject to change. It is not uncommon to have freezing temperatures and occasional ice and snow cubes, so be ready to safeguard your winter vegetables with row covers.
Many nurseries and garden centers have frost blankets that you could drape over arched PVC pipes to pay your beds; be sure to remove the covers if the dangerous weather has now passed.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Plant vegetables and herbs. Continue your autumn and winter vegetable and herb garden with transplants of mustard, winter greens, spinach, peas, cilantro, dill, fennel, parsley, chives and oregano.
Some seeds may be sown as well — try mustard, radish and lettuce in the very first part of the month. Always consult the local planting graphs for the optimal times to plant in your town.
Westover Landscape Design, Inc..
Plant annual flowers and decorative plants. Spruce up your container plantings and perennial beds using some bright-colored annuals. Great cold-tolerant options include decorative cabbages and kale, pansies, violas, alyssums, snapdragons, cyclamens and stocks.
If your area is anticipating a hard freeze, water these plants nicely beforehand to protect them. A plant that’s hydrated has a far greater chance against the elements than one that’s fighting.
Jennifer Jamgochian / Multiflora
Plant perennials. Get those perennials in the ground this month with transplants of lantanas, salvias, ornamental grasses, yellow bells, coneflowers, rudbeckias and columbines.
Perennials planted at the time of year is going to have much bigger growth and increased blossoms than those planted in the spring. Remember to mulch around your freshly planted infants to keep them secure over the winter.