Ornamentals
~Continue watering evergreens until
the ground freezes. Soils must not be dry when winter arrives.
~Now is the ideal time to plant
trees and shrubs. Before digging the hole, prepare the site by loosening the
soil well beyond the drip line of each plant. Plant trees and shrubs at the
depth they grew in the nursery and not deeper. Remove all wires, ropes and
non-biodegradable materials from roots before back filling. Apply a 2-3 inch
mulch layer, but stay several inches away from the trunk. Keep the soil moist,
not wet, to the depth of the roots.
~Remove the spent flowers and
foliage of perennials after they are damaged by frost.
~Newly planted broad-leaf evergreens
such as azaleas, boxwood and hollies benefit from a burlap screen for winter wind
protection. Set screen stakes in place before the ground freezes.
~Now is a good time to observe and
choose nursery stock based on fall foliage interest.
~Plant tulips now.
~Mums can be cut back to within
several inches of the ground once flowering ends. After the ground freezes,
apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of loose mulch such as pine needles, straw or leaves.
~Mulch flower and bulb beds after
the ground freezes, to prevent injury to plants from frost heaving.
~Roses should be winterized after a
heavy frost. Place a 6 to 10-inch deep layer of mulch over each plant. Top soil
works best. Prune sparingly, just enough to shorten overly long canes. Climbers
should not be pruned at this time.
~Take steps to prevent garden pools
from freezing solid in winter. Covering pools with an insulating material or
floating a stock tank water heater in the pond will lessen the chance of ice
damage.
~Covering garden pools with bird
netting will prevent leaves from fouling the water. Oxygen depletion from
rotting organic matter can cause winter kill of pond fish.
Vegetables
~Fall tilling the vegetable garden
exposes many insect pests to winter cold, reducing their numbers in next year's
garden.
~Any unused, finished compost is
best tilled under to improve garden soils.
~To prevent insects or diseases from
overwintering in the garden, remove and compost all plant debris.
~Overcrowded or unproductive rhubarb
plants can be divided now.
~Root crops such as carrots,
radishes, turnips and Jerusalem artichokes store well outdoors in the ground.
Just before the ground freezes, bury these crops under a deep layer of leaves
or straw. Harvest as needed during winter by pulling back this protective
mulch.
~For Thanksgiving, weave a holiday
wreath of garlic, onions, chili peppers and herbs. It will make a gourmet gift
for a lucky friend.
Fruits
~Keep mulches pulled back several
inches from the base of fruit trees to prevent bark injury from hungry mice and
other rodents.
~Harvest pecans when they
start to drop from trees. Shake nuts onto tarps laid on the ground.
~Fallen, spoiled or mummified fruits
should be cleaned up from the garden and destroyed by burying.
~A dilute whitewash made from equal
parts interior white latex paint and water applied to the southwest side of
young fruit trees will prevent winter sun scald injury.
Commercial tree guards or
protective collars made of 18-inch high hardware cloth will prevent trunk
injury to fruit trees from gnawing rabbits and rodents.
~Mulch strawberries for winter with
straw. This should be done after several nights near 20 degrees, but before
temperatures drop into the teens. Apply straw loosely, but thick enough to hide
plants from view.
Miscellaenous
~Now is a good time to collect soil
samples to test for pH and nutritional levels.
~Roll up and store garden hoses on a
warm, sunny day. It's hard to get a cold hose to coil into a tight loop.
~To prevent injury to turf grasses,
keep leaves raked up off of the lawn.
~Continue mowing lawn grasses as
long as they keep growing.
~A final fall application of
fertilizer can be applied to bluegrass and fescue lawns now.
~Clean house gutters of leaves and
fallen debris before cold wet weather sets in.
~Set up bird feeders. Birds
appreciate a source of unfrozen drinking water during the winter.
~Be sure to shut off and drain any
outdoor water pipes or irrigation systems that may freeze during cold weather.
~For cyclamen to bloom well indoors,
they need cool temperatures in the 50-60 degree range, bright light, evenly
moist soils, and regular fertilization.
~Reduce or eliminate fertilizing of
houseplants until spring.
