November gardening to do list
Much of the November list of garden tasks is taken from the OSU Extension Publication, HLA-6408—Landscape Maintenance Schedule. This maintenance schedule is a checklist which emphasizes prevention rather than remediation. Some of the topics mentioned below have individual fact sheets available at osufacts.okstate.edu. If you have gardening questions, master gardeners can be contacted at 405-713-1125.
Gardening
Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs, pansies, kale and cabbage.
If you have tropical plants in pots, they should be brought inside before the first frost. Some can overwinter successfully in a garage and some need to be brought inside where it is warmer.
Lawn
In the first week, fertilize cool season grasses again.
Continue mowing cool-season lawns on a regular basis.
Remove leaves from cool-season grasses or mow with a mulching mower.
Continue to control broadleaf weeds in well-established warm or cool-season lawns with a post-emergent broadleaf weed killer.
Now is a good time for a soil test to correct nutrient deficiencies before winter.
More information about lawn care can be found in OSU Fact sheets, HL6420 and HLA-6421 which are available online at factsheets.okstate.edu/.
Trees and shrubs
Container-grown shade trees and pines are most successfully planted in the fall.
Broadleaf evergreens or bare-root-plants are best planted in the spring.
November 15 to March 15 is the best time to prune most trees and shrubs (HLA-6409).
Scale insects can be controlled when the temperature is above 40 degrees in late fall and winter.
Do not use “dormant” oils on evergreens ((EPP- 7306)
A good time to fertilize trees and shrubs is just after the first frost and before freezing weather.
Yard cleanup
Dispose of pine cones of pines infested with Diplodia and Dothistroma. Prune out dead tips. (EPP-7618).
Compost annual debris and leaves, but do not compost diseased plant parts.
Prepare the landscape for winter.
Remove diseased plant from the landscape to reduce disease problems next year.
Tool cleanup
Drain gasoline from power equipment or use fuel stabilizer before winter storage.
Drain and store water hoses and wrap hydrants.
Clean up all tools. Coat metal surfaces with a thin film of oil to prevent rust.
