November Garden Tips

As we enter the cooler weather, be prepared for freezes to occur. Make sure you have enough frost cloth available and landscape stakes on hand for those tender perennials that need a little extra protection. During the cooler months, you can still plant all trees and hardy evergreen shrubs. There is always something to do in the garden!

THINGS TO PLANT

Flower Plants: Ajuga, Alyssum, Bluebonnet, Butterfly Weed, Calendula, Candytuft, Carnation, Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Cornflower, Dianthus, Daisy (African, English and Painted), Euryops, Forget-Me-Not (Myositis), Gazania, Indian Blanket, Liatris, Nasturtium, Ornamental Cabbage and Kale, Pansy, Penstemon, Petunia, Phlox (paniculata), Obedient Plant (Physostegia), German Primrose (Primula obconica), Snapdragon, Stock. Flower

Seeds: Alyssum, Bluebonnet, Candytuft, Cornflower, Daisy, Delphinium, Hollyhock, Larkspur, Nasturtium, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Pinks, California Poppy, Scabiosa, Snapdragon, Sweet Pea, Sweet William, Verbena, Viola, Wildflowers.

Bulbs: Agapanthus, Allium, Alstroemeria, Amarcrinum, Amaryllis (in container), Anemone, Ground Orchid (Bletilla), Calla, Crinum, Crocus, Daffodil, Freesia, Spider Lily (Hymerocallis), Ipheion, Dutch Iris, Spuria Iris, Ixia, Snowflake (Leucojum), Lily, Liriope, Monkey Grass, Muscari, Star of Bethlehem (Orthinogalum), Rain Lily, Society Garlic, Spraxis, Aztec Lily (Sprekelia).

Vegetables:

Early- Mid Month: Carrot, Chard, Mustard, Turnip

All Month: Kale, Lettuce, Radish, Spinach Herbs: Borage, Burnet, Caraway, Catnip, Celeriac, Chamomile, Chervil, Chives, Comfrey, Coriander, Cumin, Dill, Fennel, Fenugreek, Lemon Balm, Mexican Mint Marigold, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Santolina, Winter Savory, Sorrell, Thyme, Yarrow.

Fruit: Strawberries

TASKS IN THE GARDEN

Fertilize: Fertilize strawberry beds with a 3-1-2 ratio fertilizer. Keep soil moist to promote good plant vigor and berry production next spring.

Water: Water everything well before a freeze, but avoid overwatering.

Transplant: Divide and replant crowded perennials throughout the winter months. Transplant chives, garlic, and multiplying onions. Now is the best time to move woody ornamentals. Prepare the new site before transplanting.

Prepare Soil: Have landscape and garden soils tested now to determine soil balancing needs. Forms are available at your Extension Office. Check winter mulch and replenish if needed. Stockpile leaves for mulch and composting throughout spring and summer.

Lawn Care: Bring a sample of problem turf into the County Agrilife Extension Office in a labeled plastic bag for analysis. A mulching mower makes raking leaves obsolete or use grass catcher as a mulch catcher. Use shredded leaves and grass clippings as a mulch or put into the compost bin.

Diseases/pests to look for: Watch roots of removed annuals for nematodes (knots on the roots). Check houseplants for spider mites, scale and mealybugs.

Prune: After blooming, chrysanthemums should be cut back almost to the ground. Prune long, gangly shoots on shrubs. Remove dead and damaged wood from shrubs and trees.