Tasks
- Water citrus trees well now to produce a good crop next year
- Check and improve drainage around plants in low areas
- Monitor rainfall and adjust water accordingly to keep soil moist for new plantings
Pruning
- Cut back chrysanthemums to 6 inches
- Prune back spent wisteria canes
- Do not apply any treatments to pruning cuts or other plant wounds because these materials are ineffective and often detrimental
Fertilizing
- Fertilize cool-season annuals, perennials and vegetables with a light, high-nitrogen or organic fertilizer
Planting
- Bare-root planting season begins this month. Consider the hardiness of the rootstock when selecting bare-root fruit trees
- Citrus, avocado, and other frost-tender plants should be planted in spring after the danger of frost has passed
- Fruits and vegetables: asparagus (transplant), onions, parsley
- Annuals: toadflax (Linaria maroccana), stock (Matthiola incana)
- Annuals and perennials: toadflax (Linaria maroccana)
- Bulbs, corms, tubers: paperwhite (Narcissus)
- Trees, shrubs, vines: holly (Ilex), Koreanspice (Viburnum carlesii)
- Fruits and vegetables: Brussels sprouts, citrus, sweet potatoes
Things to ponder
Use trimmings of magnolias, juniper, pine and redwoods for holiday greens. Deodar cedar, spruce and western hemlock lose needles quickly