November Garden Calendar
Vegetables and Fruits
- Sort apples in storage and remove spoiled fruit.
- Clean and remove fallen fruit from around trees to reduce insects and disease next year.
- Protect trunks of fruit trees from rabbit damage with tree wraps.
- Take a soil test and make needed adjustments this fall.
- Till garden soil and add organic matter.
Flowers
- Clean up the rose bed to help reduce disease next season. Cut back tall rose canes to 24 inches to prevent winter breakage.
- Remove frost-killed annuals.
- Till annual flower beds and add organic matter to improve soil.
- Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs.
- Depending on your gardening style, leave or cut back perennial stalks to 4 to 6 inches.
- Apply a winter mulch to perennials and roses after several hard freezes.
Lawns
- Rake fallen leaves from the lawn to prevent winter suffocation.
- Video: Tired of Raking? Try Mulch Mowing
- Fertilize cool season lawns, bluegrass and tall fescue, with a quick-release high-nitrogen fertilizer to promote root development and early spring green up.
- If needed, water turf so it starts winter with ample moisture.
- Control dandelions, henbit, and chickweed before spring green up.
- Continue to mow into the fall at 2 to 3 inches.
Trees and Shrubs
- Water newly planted trees and shrubs.
- Plant new trees and shrubs.
- Video: How to Plant a Tree
- Rake leaves and place in compost pile.
- Check mulch layers and replenish.
- Prune dead or hazardous limbs.
- Wait to prune spring flowering trees and shrubs until after bloom.
Miscellaneous
- Clean and oil garden tools, sprayers, and other equipment. Store them for winter.
- Drain garden hoses and sprinklers and store indoors for increased life. If you decide to leave them outside, unscrew them from the faucets.
- If fuel is to remain in power equipment, add fuel stabilizer. Otherwise, drain gas from power equipment for winter storage. Make any needed repairs.
- Protect ornamental and fruit trees and young plants from rabbit damage by wrapping or enclosing in wire screen.
- Start a compost pile with fall leaves.
- Turn compost pile to hasten breakdown.
- Start planning for next year.
Have questions? The Garden Hotline is staffed by trained EMG volunteers and Extension staff who will assist you with questions.
Phone: (913) 715-7050
Email: garden.help@jocogov.org