November chores

Gardening Chores for November

November brings most plants to dormancy and is the prime time to get things in order for the spring that will breathe new life back into our gardens and yards.
Most perennials are now dormant, so you can safely clean them up by removing all the dead or dying foliage or if they are totally brown, you can now cut them back to just above the ground.
 Do not cut your roses back until they have shed all of their leaves for the season. Do not cut back spring-flowering shrubs until after they bloom in the spring. If you cut them back now, they will not bloom in the spring. Your evergreen plants will not need a trim until just before new growth starts in the early spring, so they won't look butchered all winter. They need foliage to make food through photosynthesis this winter so they will not starve.
Now is the prime time for planting your trees and shrubs. The cooler temps and the much-needed rain has finally set the stage for a great planting season ahead. Plants may be planted any time now through winter as long as the ground isn't frozen. When it does freeze, it doesn't stay frozen long. To see our video on How to Plant a Tree CLICK HERE.

 Now that plants are going dormant, you will want to stop fertilizing. Plants will not be using the nutrients right now. You may resume fertilizing in the spring when they are coming out of dormancy.
If you planted a cold crop garden you may want to clean up your plantings by removing any drying or yellowing leaves and pull out any late growing weeds.
 Planting trees and shrubs? Right now is an ideal time. However, even if your plant is dormant you will still need to make sure that the soil around your new planting stays consistently moist.  You won't need to water quite as much as you would if the plant was still in its active growing stage but water is still very important to get your new planting acclimated to its new surroundings. Do not fertilize at this time, but a good planting mix containing manure will help get the plant off to a good start.
 You should see the fruits of your labors from your cold crops now as they should all be producing vegetables or nearing this stage.
 November brings clean up to the front of the chore list with newly deposited leaves and falling twigs and such being strewn about in the yard. I love the fresh air and exercise. If you haven't done so yet, mulching is another good chore for this time of year to protect your tender perennials or to get a jump start on weed prevention for the spring.
 No matter what your chore list consists of, be sure to take the time to take in all the sights and sounds that come with the season. Even the air takes on a different scent. Gardening is a year-round activity. If you enjoy it, it will never be a chore.