November concludes this year’s growing season. By now any plantings, soil preparation, and any additions to your landscape and gardens should be completed.
There are, however, several activities that you should complete before the colder temperatures arrive and you prepare for the holiday season!
With cooler weather and reduced sunlight, many of your plants, bushes and trees have become dormant. Deciduous trees have lost their leaves and your flowering plants and bushes have stopped blooming.
It is time to begin pruning away dead and entangled branches and flowers and unwanted “suckers” around stems and tree trunks. Once leaves have fallen, you can reshape tree and bush canopies to make them more manageable.
By pruning off dead, damaged or unwanted limbs and branches, you will encourage proper airflow and increased sunlight during the winter months. This promotes robust growth in the Spring.
Palm trees, however, should NOT be pruned once colder temperatures arrive. The “acclimated” fronds protect the center of the trees (where new growth takes place) from strong winds and cold temperatures. For smaller palms, wrap the top portion with burlap to protect them from frost and wind damage.
Flowering plants and bushes should be heavily pruned once the blooms have died off. This is an ongoing task that may continue into early December!
When pruning rose bushes, leave roughly 1/3 of the stems remaining. When pruning lantana, leave about 2-3 inches of stem remaining. The more you prune now, the more vibrant will be the growth in the Spring.
Succulents can continue to be pruned anytime throughout the year. They should, however, not be given any additional irrigation from mid-November through early February.
The root systems of succulents “shut down” during winter dormancy. When this occurs, unabsorbed water will accumulate around their roots and will not be absorbed causing root rot and plant death!
Finally, remove dead leaves and debris from around plants. This will prevent moisture and organic matter buildup that encourages insect and rodent nesting and infestation. You should also apply insecticides around the perimeter of your house to keep these pests outdoors as colder weather arrives.
Have any gardening questions? Contact me: Theplantwhisperer28@gmail.com
