Your November Garden Checklist
Though November in the U.S. is marked by giant turkeys at the centers of dining tables, college football and perhaps the thrill of staying up till midnight to score a sweet deal on the latest Xbox, I like to remember that this month and this season are most noted for what's happening outside. Changing leaves signify upcoming winter dormancy, with fall plantings reaping postfrost rewards.
Whether you live in Vermont or Arizona, get outside and tie up loose ends before it's too cold. Rake, plant and prep for winter. Here's what you can do in your garden this November.
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She continues: "Shades of crimson, amber and gold come and go as each tree and shrub takes its turn in the spotlight. For us, however, it means that just when we thought we had finished sweeping up leaves, we have to start all over again. Consider it your November workout, grab your rake and gather nature’s black gold just as you did last month."
Get her Northwest November checklist | 5 Ways to Put Fall Leaves to Work in Your Garden
"This is a plant that says a lot about gardening in California, and maybe about California in general," he says. Native to Asia, it has made itself home in the state. It's easy to grow. It's quirky — the fruit of the most common species is so astringent that you can't eat it until frost or time softens it."
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"Another way to consider keeping warm in the months ahead is to use only deciduous trees near south- and west-facing walls, which will better absorb extra heat from the sun when cool, but filter the sun from the same surfaces during warmer months," Cristiani says. "Also consider places on your property where you wish to dine and at what time of day — blocking chilly winds and absorbing sun are paramount to winter al fresco dining."
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During the winter months, "find a dry, sheltered place to store your pots to protect them from months of freeze-thaw cycles. My storage area is the back corner of a covered patio; a shed or garage would also do the trick. I have also had luck leaving large, glazed pots right out in the garden, turned upside down and resting on a couple of scrap 2-by-4s," Chilvers writes.
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"Winterize your lawn by spraying it weekly with a seaweed solution, and if you fertilize, be sure to use a lawn fertilizer that is high in phosphorus for healthy root growth. Look for nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratios like 8-6-12, 8-12-16 or 10-5-14 on a winter fertilizer package," she suggests.
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