November Trees and Tips

As the Leaves turn to brilliant fall color -

Plant: Spring bulbs including daffodils, narcissus, jonquils and grape hyacinths directly into your landscape as you buy them. Use Cyclamen in the shady areas. However, Tulips and Dutch hyacinths should be refrigerated at 45 degrees until mid-December. Continue to plant pansies, snapdragons, pinks, flowering cabbage and flowering kale.

As soon as you can, divide and plant your spring-flowering perennials such as day lillies.

Plant trees now; see the increased stock at your nursery. I particularly like to add Japanese Maples to understory locations this month. They love morning sun and protection from afternoon sun in the shade of a taller tree. Or ask your nursery professional for recommendations in your area for drought tolerant selections.

Mulch your beds with shredded or chipped bark mulch to keep in soil moisture and reduce temperature fluctuation during the winter months.

Containers: Fill them with a burst of color from kale, mums, pansies, snapdragons and dusty miller for contrast. Also add a trailing vine such as English ivy to spill over the edge and soften the look. Many people use shaped Rosemary in the center to add height to winter container plantings.

Fertilize container plants with a balanced fertilizer. Fertilize new fall tree, shrub and annual plantings with a water soluble mixture. Withhold fertilizer from any container you plan to bring into your home for the winter months.

Disease Control: Use insecticide for insects, mites and treat before bringing containers in for the winter. Apply broad-leafed weed killer spray in your turf to kill henbit, chickweed, dandelions and clover by Thanksgiving. Then withhold any spray applications until the springtime.

Prune: Perennial plantings to remove dead leaves, stems, and old seed stalks. Trim large patio plants as needed to move them indoors before the temps hit 40F. Trim dead and damaged limbs from trees and shrubs. Save major pruning of trees and shrubs until mid- to late winter, Feb.-Mar.  If you trim them now and new growth bursts forth, the freeze damage during the winter will be greater.