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Written by Sylvia Henthorn
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| Annuals |
Clean up any dead annuals still in the ground. |
| Bulbs |
Plant lilies, daffodils and crocus. Wait until the end of the month to plant tulips, because they have a tendency to come up if we have any warm weather and then freeze. Last chance to dig any tender bulbs left in the garden. Be sure to label. |
| General |
Winterize lawnmower—drain fuel, disconnect spark plugs, sharpen blades. A soil test is recommended every 3-4 years if you have done anything to the soil. 80% of the success of any garden is the soil. Check outdoor containers. Top mulching is a joke, since heat loss is transmitted through the container’s sides. Plants in wooden or fiberglass containers can be buried flush with the soil and then topped with mulch. Containers that tend to crack, like terra-cotta or clay, should be stored in a shed or garage. |
| Houseplants |
Be on the lookout for pests. Spray with an insecticidal soap before bringing them inside. Houseplants may be stressed form the move in. Reduce water to acclimate. The really moisture-loving ones, like some ferns, benefit from being put in the shower, getting thoroughly wet, and being left overnight. Buy a Thanksgiving cactus for inside color. |
| Lawns |
Apply fall pre-emergence herbicides., if needed, to control winter annuals. If your soil test indicates a need, apply lime now and retest in the spring. Keep lawns free of fallen leaves—they smother grass. Rake, mulch and compost. |
| Perennials |
Wait until spring to plant. Cut back spent perennials, leaving about 6” to protect the crown. Mulch after the ground freezes. Hay, pine needles, wood chips, straw, leaves form deciduous trees (preferably shredded), and compost are good choices. The purpose of mulch is not to keep plants warn through winter but rather to protect them from thawing and heaving due to the winter sun and wind. |
| Roses |
Rake and remove fallen leaves. Prune growth to 3-4” (temporary pruning). Mulch after the ground freezes. You may spray them with dormant spray. |
| Trees/Shrubs |
Now is the time to plant most trees and shrubs. Remember that many more transplants perish from thirst than form the cold. Water if it has not rained within five days. Mulch azaleas, rhododendrons, and other shallow-rooted shrubs after the soil freezes. Harvest pecans. |
| Vegetables |
You can still plant garlic. Clean up anything that is left in the garden ad add organic material to your beds. |
| Hint: |
Be on the look out for: the first hard freeze. Our average freeze date has passed, so it won’t be long.dry spells. Drought kills more plants than does cold. Pests which may have caught a ride when you brought in houseplants. |
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Forget Me Knots 