• Northwest, and Northern
  California Gardens
• Southwest, Desert &
  Southern Cal Gardens
• Northeast, Midwest &
  Central Plains Gardens
• Southeast &
  Mid-Atlantic Gardens
• Rocky Moutains &
  California Mtn Gardens
• Tropical &
  Sub-Tropical Gardens

Gardening Tips for November

Southwest, Desert, Interior Valleys and Southern California Gardens

• Plant spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, tulips and hyacinths (and more) in your beds and borders. Remember, plant now in fall, to enjoy these blooming beauties in spring!
• Rake those fallen leaves off your lawn - especially if you've recently seeded. A layer of leaves left on your turf can easily smother young or mature lawns.
• Toss your raked leaves in a compost pile or shred leaves with the lawn mower to use as mulch on landscape beds and borders.
• Recycle your grass clippings back on the lawn - don't bag them. Contrary to what you might have heard, clippings will notbecome thatch (that spongy layer found between grass blades and roots).
• Help stop insect and disease problems in 2010: Remove mummified fruits from trees and rake up those that have fallen to the ground around your apple, peach and cherry trees. Remove and destroy any tent caterpillar egg masses and webby bagworm capsules. Scale can be sprayed with dormant oil now and again in early spring.
• Keep your plants well-watered going into late fall and winter, paying close attention to any that have been recently planted. Plants that face winter "dry" are prone to damage and dieback during the cooler months. The trick is to water deeply, and less often to promote self-sufficient plants. (Otherwise the more you water, the shallower plant roots will be.) A layer of mulch around the base of your plants will also help retain moisture.
• Create some "black gold" to add to your garden next year - it's easy when you compost! Garden debris (like spent annuals and vegetables) and fallen leaves make suitable additions to the compost pile.
• Consider buying a compost keeper for the kitchen. (Or add it to your holiday "wish list.") Some scraps you'd otherwise throw away can also be used to make compost.
• Check your irrigation system and timers to make sure they're in excellent working order. Perform routine maintenance to ensure efficient operation. Cut turf and branches away from sprinkler heads, check rain cut-off switches, fix any leaks or breaks, and unclog heads. Inspect your drip system or low flow heads for blockages, algae or damage as well.
• Add cool-season bedding plants to planters, window boxes and borders. Pansies and violas, snapdragons, calendulas and petunias are suitable candidates to add color and interest through the months ahead.
• Plant cool-season vegetables - there's still time to get growing! Consider leaf lettuces (with so many choices, the leaves are almost too pretty to eat!), cabbage, radishes, carrots, short-day onions, rutabagas and parsnips.
• Clean, oil and sharpen your digging tools so they're ready to go when you need them.

• Take inventory of your property - are there empty areas that could use a little beautifying? It's still planting time for trees, shrubs and perennials. Just remember: right plant, right place.
• Force paper whites for holiday enjoyment. Blooming paper white bulbs are known for their intoxicating fragrance, especially during the winter holidays. If you'd like to enjoy them in December, now's the time to get started!
• Plant some amaryllis bulbs in containers every two weeks from now through early winter for a continual indoor bloom display that can last until spring. Prized for its incredible trumpetlike flowers, amaryllis is easy to grow and enjoy.
• Plan your Thanksgiving Day menu with a little winter squash. Butternut and acorn squash are traditional holiday additions - and are even good for you! Roasted squash is an easy and tasty way to get more of this healthful veggie into your family's diet.
• Come to The Garden Party and share your gardening adventures with other home gardeners in your region, as well as around the country. Post pictures of your garden, write a blog, or ask expert green thumbs for more help, tips or suggestions on how to enhance your outdoor living experience.