This Month in the Garden: November

When it comes to your yard and garden, the work never ceases, but as English Poet Alfred Austin said, “To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.” Here’s a definitive list of what to do this month.

Top 3 Must-Dos (More info in the sections below.)

1. Don’t put that rake down just yet!
2. Ready your roses for winter.
3. Give your indoor plants a little extra TLC.

Garden Care

• Keep watering until the ground freezes. After that, drain and store your hoses.
• Keep weeding. November weeding is surprisingly awesome because you can see the weeds after your garden begins to fade.
• Plant the last of your spring bulbs and keep dividing perennial as needed before the first deep freeze.
• Sow wildflower seeds.
• Prune rose canes to 3 or 4 feet, and pile about 12 inches of soil around the base of the plants to protect their crowns.
• Fortify your garden beds with compost or manure to feed your soil’s ecosystem and improve its structure.
• Cover your compost with a tarp (or something similar) to prevent excessive water from leaching the nutrients. It’ll also deter pests and help your compost pile hold its heat.
• Cover fall-blooming perennials overnight to protect them from frosts — it’ll prolong their blooms. You can use hoops or stakes to support blankets or tarps. Try to make sure that your covers aren’t brushing against the plants’ foliage and secure their bottoms with weights to keep them from blowing away or letting too much heat escape.
• Use row covers to protect your winter greens from heavy rains and wind in the coming months.
• Winterize your water garden: Decide which plants to overwinter, switch to low-protein fish food, clean up debris, install a bubbler, etc. Find more details here. 
• Have your garden tools cleaned, sharpened, and/or repaired so that they’re ready to go next spring.
• Make sure that tender bulbs are stored in a cool, dry place for winter.

Lawn Care

• Keep mowing through the end of the season — when it gets to be three inches tall, trim an inch off the top. (Cutting grass too short can stress it out.)
• Rake up fallen leaves, which can suffocate grass, and add them to your compost pile — or shred them and use them to mulch your garden beds. When they break down, they’ll naturally amend your soil.
• Clean and fill bird feeders, and consider installing a heated bird bath — winter residents need water, too, and a nice water source will attract more feathery friends to your yard.

Harvesting & Sowing (Fruits & Veggies)

• Plant garlic, onions, and shallots.
• Plant berries!
• Harvest winter squash, beets, carrots, and kale.

Indoor Plant Care

• Check to make sure that your indoor plants are well hydrated as you turn up the heat in your home.

Visit Rexius.com or Give Us a Call If...

• You need fresh soil (or soil amendments) for your spring bulbs, indoor plants, tired garden beds, etc.
• You need help with fall yard and garden maintenance.
• You need help winterizing your yard & garden.
• You’ve got a trailer full of green waste (including brown leaves) and you’d like to drop it off at the Rexius Retail Yard.
• You need help planning next year’s garden.

What’s Coming Next Month

More winterizing, mulching, and how to handle frozen grass.