NOVEMBER
"I have never had so many good ideas day after
day as when I worked in the garden."—John Erskine
The trees are bare. The wind definitely has a
chill. Its time to put the garden to bed and start making plans for next
spring.
Don't Stop Watering Yet. Keep newly planted
trees and shrubs watered until the ground freezes. Drain and store the garden
hoses and drip irrigation systems.
Prepare for the Cold. Turn off outside faucets,
drain and store garden hoses. Clean and store your garden tools for winter. Use
a wire brush to remove rust and caked on soil. Apply a light coat of mineral or
vegetable oil.
Pad Your Trees. Protect the trunks of young
trees by wrapping trunks with a commercial tree wrap. This deters rabbits,
voles and mice from munching on the tender bark.
Tasty Treat. Pot up some herbs for winter use.
Keep in a sunny window.
Tree Tip. If you plan to buy a live Christmas
tree to transplant after the holidays, dig the transplant hole before the
ground freezes.
Winterize Your Rose Bushes. Place shredded
leaves or compost around the base of the plant to protect the bud union. Tie
longer canes together to prevent damage from the wind. Do not prune until
spring.
Winter Solutions. Place an electric deicer in
your birdbath to keep a supply of fresh water available for the birds. Make
sure the feeders are kept full.
Clean Up. Remove any debris from the garden.
Cut back perennials. Leave ornamental grasses and plants like sedum in place
for winter interest. Do not compost any plant materials that might be diseased.
After the leaves have finished falling, give the yard one final raking. Shred
and add the leaves to the compost pile.
Winterize Power Equipment. Add fuel stabilizer
or drain the fuel from the system. Sharpen or replace blades as needed.
Evergreen Tip. Place stakes and burlap around
broad-leaved evergreens to prevent windburn and dehydration. Leave a 3-4 inch
space between the ground and the bottom of the burlap to allow for air
circulation. Also, spray broadleaf evergreens with an anti desiccant (such as
Wilt Pruf) to prevent dehydration.