Lawn and garden tips for November
Clemson University
Things to do:
Flowers
Bulbs — It’s time to plant those spring-flowering bulbs you purchased in September, such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and crocus.
Soil test — Now is the time to test the soil in your planned beds for plant nutrients. Soil tests usually take 10 days, so test now to have the results when you plant bulbs and beds. It is important to till in the lime needed (if any) for faster soil pH adjustment. You may also sample your vegetable garden now if you do not plan to add more fertilizer for late crops.
Fruit sanitation — Begin inspecting your fruit trees. Be sure to remove any mummified remaining fruits, and rake up and dispose of old leaves and branches that may harbor diseases over the winter.
Lawns
Fertilizer — It’s time for the third application of fertilizer for fescue and other cool-season grass lawns. Follow the recommendations on your soil test report for your lawn. DON’T fertilize warm-season grass lawns late in the fall!
Trampweed — If you saw this fluffy-looking weed last summer and fall, now is the time to treat your warm-season lawn to prevent its return. This should be your first treatment if you have a warm-season lawn. Wait until February if you have a cool-season lawn (such as fescue).
Wild garlic and wild onion — November is the time for the first herbicide application for these two problems if you have them in your yard.
Annual bluegrass — This is a soft little grass weed (also called po annua) the comes up in the yard. Treat this month to keep it under control.
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Trees and shrubs
Leaves — Leaves are continuing to fall. If you have space and a little time composting is a great option; if not, you can also till them into any fallow beds you have or the vegetable garden.
Ponds
Pond stocking — September through January are good months to stock bream in a fishing pond.
Pond liming — September through January are also good times to lime the pond bottom if necessary.
Vegetables
Garden clean-up — Many diseases will over-winter on old infected leaves and stems. Now is the time to finish cleaning and tilling your garden. Planting a nice cover crop, such as crimson clover or vetch, is a great idea.