November

Perennial stems should be cut down to the ground. Make sure you do a good clean up job and dispose of all debris. Clean garden sanitation can reduce the chances of pests and diseases that will affect your plants in the spring. Place mulch around the base s of your perennials. Do Not cover the crowns of these plants as this will lead to crown rot if the winter becomes excessively warm.

Maintain watering of newly planted perennials, shrubs and trees. If you disconnected your hoses because of frost make that extra trip to the laundry room for water. If plants like mums roots dry out, the plant won’t be back next year!

Take down your bird houses and hummingbird feeders and clean them out for the season. Set up and fill seed feeders and suet cages. You might consider using a bird bath heater this winter because birds need a water source all year! You’ll be surprised how many birds take a bath no matter what the temperature is.

Cut your lawn and clean up the leaves for the end of season. Be thorough because left over leaves can kill the lawn beneath them. Adjust your mowers final cut to 1 ½ inches. Resharpen or replace the blade, change the oil, spark plug and air cleaner. Add a fuel stabilizer to your gasoline power tools to assure easy spring start up. Fertilize your lawn with a winterizer if you haven’t yet.

Clean off and remove all mummified fruit from fruit trees, and rake up leftovers on lawn, and dispose of them. Proper sanitation will reduce pests and diseases for next year.

Apply 1–2 inches of manure to the top of your vegetable garden, and cover with shredded leaves. Let this covering break down under the winter’s snow. Come early spring the earth worms will help break down this organic covering providing aeration as they feed. When you are ready to plant turn the covering into the soil and get ready for an excellent growing season!