Tasks
- The tuberous roots of sweet potatoes will be ruined if the foliage is damaged by frost. Harvest before freezing temperatures kill the vines
- Use fall leaves as mulch
- This is the month to stimulate flower bud formation in your Christmas cactus by placing it in darkness for 12 to 14 hours each day when the temperature is 50° to 55° at night
Pruning
- “Pre-prune” roses by aggressively deadheading spent blooms and removing leaves from canes to nudge plants into dormancy
- Prune shrubs and trees to shape, except for spring-flowering varieties
- Thin black pine candles
Fertilizing
For even application of nutrients, use time?release fertilizer formulations on cool season vegetables
Planting
- As outdoor garden activity slows, use the time to transfer some design ideas to paper
- Fruits and vegetables: cabbage, garlic
- Trees, shrubs, vines: almond, apple, apricot
- Annuals: snapdragon (Antirrhinum), calendula, Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica), Leucanthemum paludosum, Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule)
Enjoy now
- Annuals and perennials: snapdragon (Antirrhinum), calendula
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: paperwhite (Narcissus)
- Trees, shrubs, vines: abelia
- Fruits and vegetables: apples, broccoli, cabbage, limes
- Fall color: aster, Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba)
Things to ponder
- Feed the birds, including resident hummingbirds (and remember to clean your feeders regularly)
- Repair shops are busiest in spring. Now is a good time to have repairs made to power tools and to have your lawn mower serviced
- Historically, Nov. 15 is the first frost date for Zone 8 and Dec. 15 for Zone 9, but frost may occur earlier
- Move or cover tender plants. Plastic is not recommended
Drought tip
- Clean rain gutters and use downspout extensions to direct rain runoff back into the landscape, rather than into the street and storm drains