NOVEMBER GARDEN "TO DO" LIST

 

GENERAL GARDEN CARE

• CONTINUE to WATER as long as the soil is not frozen and evergreens are getting at least ONE inch of water every two week.  DO NOT put the hose away YET!

• Disconnect outside water sources, drain hoses, store indoors.

• Sharpen and oil tools.

• Check expiration date on herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers to make sure they are still viable.

• Clean and refill bird feeders.

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ANNUAL AND PERENNIALS:

• MULCH flowerbeds and roses with loose wood chips, pine needles or shredded leaves.

• Plants MUST BE completely dormant before mulching.  This may especially help chrysanthemums, which tend to die in winter due to the soil being too wet.

 

LAWN CARE

• Continue mowing @ 2 inches until the grass almost dormant then last cut should be quite short.  This helps reduce snow mold fungus.

• Fertilize a final time after the last mowing with a slow release organic 4-1-2 or 3-1-2 ratio to help green up the lawn faster in spring.

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INDOOR GARDEN

• Grow Micro greens and sprouts for your winter indoor garden.  https://www.farmanddairy.com/top-stories/two-superfoods-grow-indoors-cool-weather/221572.html

• Pot up amaryllis, paper whites and other bulbs for holiday bloom.

• Try to wash plants occasionally with a warm shower.  Humidifiers and pebble trays raise humidity.

• Continue fertilizing orchids with dilute orchid fertilizer until flower buds are set.  Check southern exposure so it does not scorch foliage.

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HINTS

• Best time to do a soil test is September through December.

 

https://extension.illinois.edu/soiltest/

 

https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/checklist/november

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