Every month we bring you fresh gardening ideas and tips, professional advice, and techniques both new and traditional for you to apply to your own home garden and make it the best it can be. Here are your tips for NOVEMBER.

 

 

Gardeners To Do List For November
Average Date of First Freeze in Dallas County: November 21 – 30

Planting

  • Continue to plant shade trees, ornamental trees, and shrubs.
  • Relocate established trees and shrubs after they enter dormancy (late November to January). Plant ‘balled and burlap’ trees and large shrubs.
  • Continue refrigerator chilling of tulips and Dutch hyacinths in preparation for late December/early January planting.
  • Plant pansies, flowering kale and cabbage, dianthus, cyclamen, violas, and other cool season annuals. Plant daffodil and grape hyacinth immediately after purchase.
  • Divide and replant perennials such as Iris and daylily.

Pruning

  • Prune evergreen trees (as needed) such as magnolias, live oaks, and wax myrtles to minimize possible ice damage.
  • Cut back dormant perennials such as lantana and salvia after the first freeze.
  • Trim back tropical plants such as cannas, banana and elephant ears after their foliage freezes down.
  • Do major re-shaping of shade trees as needed after the first freeze when plants go dormant. This is a good time to remove mistletoe that stands out on bare limbs.

Plant Care

  • Mulch leaves on your lawn. Shred excess leaves and add to planting beds or compost pile.
  • Replenish finished compost and mulch in planting beds, preferably before the first freeze.
  • Harvest pecans after mid November.
  • Continue to mow warm season turf up to first freeze.
  • Fertilize new fescue and ryegrass lawns at one half the rate recommended.
  • Apply your favorite fertilizer to pansies and other winter color plants to promote strong growth if needed.
  • Inspect houseplants that are coming indoors to be sure they have no insect pests.
  • Harvest fall vegetables before the first freeze.
  • Remove and drain garden hoses from outlets and cover faucets to prevent freeze damage.

 

Source: Dallas County Master Gardeners