Top 5 Garden Chores to Finish Before November Ends

We believe organic gardening is a year-round activity, with different things to accomplish every season. Here are five garden chores you might want to complete before Winter sets in, this year!

1. Transforming Leaves and Debris

Leaves make for great compost to add back as organic matter to beds. Start a leaves compost pile for use as mulch next year. Leaving leaves on your lawn will cause them to mat over and damage the grass in the spring. Running over dry leaves with a mower to shred them will reduce the amount of space needed to store them and will speed up their breakdown. When hard frosts have killed most of the herbaceous plants you can prune up the dead foliage to add to your compost pile.

2. Protect Your Plants

If you have roses you might want to mound up the soil a few extra inches around the base of them. This adds a layer of extra protection when the ground freezes and thaws during the winter. When the ground finally freezes, place straw over strawberry plants where the stem meets the roots of your perennials and winter vegetables. You can also rely on leaves in place of straw to protect your plants. Mid to late November is the perfect time for this chore so you avoid creating any nesting spots for rodents.

3. Plant Spring Blubs

Spring may be over, and winter may be near but there’s still time to get those bulbs in the ground if it’s not frozen yet. End-of-season specials on spring bulbs make November the perfect time to take advantage. Adding a scoop of bone meal in the hole you plant them in will help the bulbs to grow. To discourage rodents from eating them before they mature, don’t forget to sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.

4. Preventative Care

Clearing any weeds or turf around tree trunks will help to reduce any winter damage by rodents and rabbits. Adding a hardware cloth collar with about a half-inch or smaller mesh provides added protection from these critters. The tree collars should be in place all year, placed about an inch deep into the soil, and standing about a foot and a half high.

You can use November as an opportunity to collect soil samples which will allow you to see where and why an area didn’t fare well. Make sure to collect a sample before the ground freezes and you can get it analyzed by your local Co-op Extension Service.

5. Bring in the Pots

The harsh winter cold will crack plastic pots and freezing water will shatter your beautiful terracotta pots. Washing out the pots before storing them indoors will keep you ready to plant again in the spring. While fiberglass pots are a safer option for frigid temperatures, make sure the soil can drain well because roots sitting in the damp and cold is a recipe for root rot.

Want to learn more? The friendly gardening experts at Homefront would be glad to custom-tailor a perfect solution for your backyard garden. Just get in touch!