Gardening Tips For November
Nov 09th 2018
Are you wanting to take a break from planning the annual Thanksgiving dinner? Decompress outdoors with some time in your garden and lawn! November offers near-perfect weather for working outdoors and there isn't a shortage of gardening tasks either! Evergreen Lawn Care, a full-service Gainesville landscaping company, highlights a small to-do list for any gardener this month.
Take Care Of The Lawn
November is the month cool-season fescues and turfs have to be fed for proper lawn care in Gainesville, FL. Without a November feeding, the roots, boosted by a warm soil temperature, struggle to absorb the nutrients needed to withstand intense summer heat. Watch warm-season grasses for wild garlic and wild onion; these bright green clumps can be quickly treated with herbicide.
Most lawns benefit greatly from adding lime every two years to three years. Heavy rainfall, over-irrigating, and regular use of fertilizer have a tendency to create an acidic soil pH level. Lime balances the pH, ideally to 6.0 or 7.0 which is considered neutral for lawns. A soil test will tell you the current pH level of the lawn and how much lime should be used to balance the pH.
Clean Gardening Tools
Whether you have a container garden on a patio or a full-fledged backyard garden, any tools used should be cleaned and repaired before putting them away for the winter.
Cutting & Trimming Tools
After a season of use, loppers and pruning shears need attention to be in top shape for next year. Use a sharpening device, such as a whetstone, to sharpen the blades and apply a lubricating oil to the joints.
Digging Tools
Perhaps the most frequently used tools for a gardener, digging tools amass dings and scuffs with regular use. Check all blades and handles for significant chips and cracks and make repairs as necessary. Remove rust from metal with steel wool and sharpen edges with a file and vise. Wiping the metal blades with oil prevents rust from forming on the surface. Many digging tools have wooden handles which can be protected and preserved by rubbing in linseed oil.
Power Tools
Remember to empty the fuel from all edgers, mowers, and other power tools before storing them for the winter. Remove the spark plug from your lawn mower while changing the air filter and oil. Then, clean all dirt and grass build-up from the chassis and mower deck before sharpening the cutting blade.
Late Fall Planting
You might need to put on a jacket before gardening in November, but it’s an excellent time to hone gardening skills. Many flowers, especially hardy perennials, can be divided, planted, and/ or transplanted in all types of landscape Gainesville homes and businesses feature.
Bulbs & Perennials
Any perennials planted during the fall need at least an inch of water per week until the ground freezes. It’s also a good time to divide and replant hostas while planting peonies this month is the best time. But, before planting peonies, make sure the spot you choose is a good permanent location as these charming bushes loathe being transplanted.
Fruits & Vegetables
If you want to enjoy strawberries next year, plant them in November. The roots will have time to anchor and grow before the soil temperature falls during the winter. Fruit trees benefit from a thorough examination and clean up in the fall. Fallen or mummified fruit can be used as compost while diseased branches and limbs should be pruned from the tree.
Leaf vegetables and greens appreciate the cooler weather and can have a flourish of growth. Root crops, such as carrots and radishes, have a sweeter than usual taste if they’re harvested after a frost.
Prep Garden Soil For Spring
Turning garden soil in the fall takes time but pays dividends in the spring and beyond. How you turn the soil is up to you, whether by hand with a broad fork or hoe, or with a garden tiller. Tilling helps aerate the soil and blend in organic material, such as compost, that may be added during the fall. Chopped leaves from the yard are an easy type of compost to use and add nutrients to the soil.
Landscaping In Gainesville, FL
If the holiday season has already begun for you, let Evergreen Lawn Care provide lawn service Gainesville, FL residents rely on! Our team can prep any lawn for the cooler months ahead and give you an immaculate landscape to enjoy with friends and family. To schedule an appointment, contact Evergreen Lawn Care today!
