Get your garden ready now for planting in early spring.
As autumn comes to an end and winter approaches, it’s important to remember that your gardening tasks are not finished. If you plan to have a spring garden, take some time this month to prepare for the next growing season. Here are some maintenance tasks to complete before cold weather and freezing temperatures arrive.
Garden Clean-Up
Remove all dead annuals, cut back your perennials, and clear away fallen leaves. You can use the leaves as mulch, but too many leaves can retain water, which may lead to root rot in your perennials and attract pests.
Save Seeds
Preserve the seeds of any vegetables and flowers you want to keep for next year. Make sure to store them in a dry, airtight container, placed in a cool, dark location to avoid moisture.
Compost
Gather all dead plant material, cuttings, twigs, weeds, and leaves, and add them to your compost pile. Be sure to separate any diseased or infested material and dispose of it in the trash to prevent contamination.
Final Watering and Fertilizing
Water and fertilize your perennials before the first freeze. For most climate zones, the cutoff date is usually before Thanksgiving.
Soil Enrichment
If your soil is hard and compacted or if you need to enhance your existing topsoil, cover your garden with a layer of compost and turn the soil. This will add nutrients back into the ground and improve soil structure. If you need to adjust the acidity of your soil by adding lime, do this now.
Preserve Tender Bulbs and Roots
November is an ideal time to lift dahlia, canna, and begonia tubers for indoor storage during winter. The best time to dig them up is typically after the first frost. This is also a good opportunity to dig up and divide overgrown clumps of herbaceous perennials for replanting while the soil is still warm. Thinning these plants will enhance their health and appearance.
Grow Cover Crops
Consider planting cover crops such as rye grass and crimson clover. These crops help suppress weeds, prevent erosion, and enrich the soil when they die back during the winter. If they do not die, you can cut them down and till them into the soil before planting your new spring garden a few weeks before the planting season. Cover crops also attract beneficial insects that aid in pest control.
Winter Protection
To safeguard vulnerable perennials from harsh winter weather, apply a layer of straw over them. You can also wrap them with burlap and paper or construct cold frames for added protection. Mulching with wood chips or pine straw also provides effective defense against the elements.