As the winter season approaches, it’s time to tackle some essential gardening tasks to ensure your outdoor space is prepared for the cold months ahead. Here are some valuable tips for November gardening:
Mowing and Snow Mold Prevention: If you still need to mow your lawn one last time, cut the grass to a height of 2 inches to reduce the risk of snow mold in the coming spring. Long grass provides cover and food for mice and voles, which can damage turf and nearby trees.
Dormant Seeding: In mid-November, consider dormant seeding your lawn. The cold soil conditions will keep the seeds dormant until spring when the soil warms, giving your lawn a head start. This is particularly useful for reseeding bare areas or thickening up thin lawns.
Leaf Mulching: After the recent snowfall and when it eventually melts, use your lawnmower to chop up fallen leaves and mulch your garden beds. This helps enrich the soil and reduce waste.
Tree Protection: Protect new and thin-barked trees by encircling each trunk with a 4-foot-high metal hardware cloth cylinder, sunk 2 to 3 inches into the ground and 6 inches away from the trunk. Plastic tree guards can also be effective on young trees. Remember to remove tree wrap promptly in the spring to prevent moisture buildup.
Deer Repellent: Apply deer repellent to trees and shrubs, especially those favored by deer, like arborvitae, burning bush, and fruit trees, before the feeding season begins.
Buckthorn Removal: Contribute to the reduction of buckthorn by removing it from your property. It’s easier to identify in late autumn when most shrubs have lost their leaves. If possible, dig it out; for larger plants, cut the trunk to the ground and apply herbicide to the stump to prevent re-sprouting.
Winter Mulch: Cover newly planted bulbs, marginally hardy perennials (zone 4), and strawberries with straw or chopped leaves by mid-November. This winter mulch helps insulate plant roots from fluctuating soil temperatures.
Perennial Stems: Don’t cut down all of your dead or dormant perennials, as they serve as seed sources for birds during the winter months. Leave the stems standing to provide habitat for stem-nesting bees.
Potted Chrysanthemums: When purchasing potted chrysanthemums for autumn decor, choose plants with buds just opening to extend their bloom time. Most florist mums are not hardy in your region, so they won’t survive in outdoor gardens.
Thanksgiving Centerpiece: Create a Thanksgiving centerpiece with seasonal produce like gourds, squash, pumpkins, and more. Arrange them in a basket or wooden tray along with backyard finds like bittersweet, branches, dried grasses, wildflowers, and weeds.
Houseplant Care: Prepare your houseplants for winter by cleaning their leaves and stems to eliminate any spider mites or insect eggs. Clean leaves maximize light exposure and photosynthesis. Avoid leaf shine products, as they attract dust.
Flowering Plants: Add long-lasting color to your home with easy-to-grow flowering plants such as kalanchoe, begonia, cyclamen, phalaenopsis orchid, or African violet.
Amaryllis Care: Bring your amaryllis bulbs out of the dark and place them in a bright window. Trim dead foliage and water regularly, and expect flowers to develop within four to six weeks.
Hose Care: Drain water from hoses and store them loosely coiled on the floor to prevent kinking and cracking. Don’t forget to shut off hose faucets before freezing temperatures arrive.
Chemical and Fertilizer Storage: Store liquid chemicals and fertilizers in a frost-free location away from light. Granular products should be kept dry, so seal fertilizer bags and store them on a shelf to avoid dampness.
Tool Maintenance: Clean and sharpen your garden tools, then apply a light coating of oil to prevent rust during winter storage.
With these November gardening tips, your outdoor space will be well-prepared for the winter season, and you’ll have a head start on spring gardening.
