Plant spring bulbs, daffodils, tulips, crocus. Remember to plant twice as deep as the bulb.
On the Mid-Shore (USDA growing zone 7b), November is the transitional month for gardeners.
Our area is shifting from fall and slowly toward winter. Now is the time to prepare your garden for cold weather, while still being able to do some fall gardening tasks.
Remember, fall is really the best time to plant new trees and shrubs, and it is the perfect time to dig-up plants to be relocated, divide perennials that have become over crowded, replant, and for planting spring bulbs.
During the months of autumn, the ground is warm from coming out of the summer season, air temperatures become moderate, weeds slow down growing and there is usually an adequate amount of moisture.
This allows for good root development and helps plants become acclimated to their new location before the winter cold sets in.
Here are some general fall garden maintenance items to consider for fall.
Examine your garden beds
• Look for perennials that are overgrown and becoming crowded. Dig the clump up and take a sharp spade and cut the clump into 2, 3 or 4 new clumps. Replant using Bio-tone plant starter to prevent transplant shock and aid in root development. Also be sure to add some compost like composted manure or leafgro to provide some organic matter for the new planting.
• Check to see if any of your existing sun-loving gardens are being taken over by a tree canopy, making the location more shady.
• Decide whether to re-locate the plants to a sunny location or if you need to contact a tree company to cut back the branches of the tree.
• Clean up all garden beds, removing dead annuals, pruning out any diseased, broken, week or rubbing branches and any debris that the wind may have blown in. Do cosmetic pruning after several freezes. Pruning before a frost you may get new growth that will turn black.
• Weed now, this will save a lot of time next spring and also prevent new weed seed from dropping.
• Rake up any leaves and if possible consider composting.
Check soil pH and apply lime to raise pH and Soil Acidifier to lower. Consider adding an organic fertilizer such as any of the appropriate Tone products from Espoma — Bulbtone, Flowertone, Hollytone, Plantone or Rosetone to provide necessary nutrients for healthy vigor, and for more flowers with intense color.
• Sprinkle a weed preventer around the bed, which stops weed seed from germinating. Apply 2 to 3 inches of hardwood or pine bark mulch around trees and shrubs and all flower beds. This will prevent frost heaving of newly installed plants, and helps to insulate the roots and reduces soil temperature fluctuations.
• Plant spring bulbs, daffodils, tulips, crocus. Remember to plant twice as deep as the bulb and put a tablespoon of Bulbtone or Bone Meal in the bottom of the hole.
Lawn Care
• Walk your lawn and look for fall weeds starting to grow. Chickweed, henbit, wild garlic and onion actively grow in the fall. Spray these and any other weeds with Weed Beater Ultra by Bonide. This product kills over 200 types of weeds without harming the lawn. You are able to reseed grass two weeks after use.
• Consider de-thatching, aerating and re-seeding the lawn if needed.
• Bag up all grass clipping now, the micro-organisms that break down the clippings go dormant when ground temperatures go below 52 degrees. Cut the lawn at a height of 2.5 inches to 3 inches high.
• Keep the leaves raked up and compost if you can. Allowing a thick leaf cover on the lawn will smother out the grass and create a mold problem.
Vegetable and
Raised-bed gardens
• Keep harvesting summer vegetables until you get a killing frost. Cold crop vegetables will tolerate more cold temperatures and will keep producing until temperatures drop below 25 degrees consistantly.
• Add organic matter, (leafgro, composted manure, mushroom soil) which will add microbial life to the soil, will decompose and breakdown by spring. It will also slowly release nutrients that improves root growth and biological activity.
• Get a soil test. Test for pH every year and test for nutrients every other year.
• Consider planting a cover crop. Barley, rye, wheat, vetch or red clover will prevent soil and wind erosion and protects the soil structure.
Ponds and water features
• Stop feeding fish when water temperatures consistently go below 50 degrees since the fish digestive system goes dormant for the fall and winter.
• Get a net to cover the pond to prevent leaves and debris from falling in and turning the water brown.
• Install pond heater if you turn your pond pump off.
• Cut back and drop down water plants to the deepest part of the pond.
• Clean the biological filter.
General chores
• Bring in all liquid chemicals and fertilizers stored outside. They become ineffective if they freeze.
• Sharpen and clean all garden tools, using alcohol to clean pruners loopers and saws. Apply a coating of vegetable oil.
• Gather up and drain all outdoor hoses and drain all in-ground irrigation hoses.
Taking advantage of the warm days this month will not only prepare your garden for winter, but will save a lot of work when spring arrives.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and remember all the many reasons to give thanks.
(Editor’s note: Ken Morgan is the owner of Robin’s Nest Floral and Garden Center in Easton, Md.)
