There are numerous things that gardeners can do this month to bolster the health and performance of future gardens. A little bit of upkeep, soil building & protection, with some general maintenance in garden areas, will allow gardeners to continue gardening through the fall and winter seasons without having any unfinished business (courtesy image: Kellogggarden.com).
By: John Green, Certified Texas Expert Gardener, Orange County, TX
Gardeners, as most of you have quickly learned…there will always be gardening tasks that require our attention! November is no different, but admittedly, my preferred time of year outdoors! Sunny days, cooler temperatures, and fewer mosquitoes…what’s not to love? It motivates me, increasing my desire to get outside to do the things I enjoy most, which is gardening!
Just in case you are wondering, there will always be too many tasks for us (gardeners) to accomplish, but which allow us to continue gardening through all seasons in SETX. For me, it is truly enjoyable to work outside (no matter what the chore) and not have to sweat profusely (from minimal effort like walking outside). It’s refreshing, so why not take advantage of sunny days with light breezes to get a few chores completed that you’ve been postponing?
Frankly, weeding flower beds or the vegetable gardens will never make the top of my favorite’s lists. It is the more dreaded gardening tasks which each of us must perform constantly, otherwise deal with the consequences of weed populations and their exponential growth! This time of year, the ground is a bit softer and makes pulling and digging weeds easier (though my lower back doesn’t register a difference). Once weeds have been extracted, apply a 3 to 5- inch layer of mulch to flower beds to retain moisture, suppress weed seed from germinating, and provide roots warmth for the colder months ahead.
This will help keep the weed seeds which have dropped from sprouting next spring and summer. Applying mulch around shrubs and trees will help to protect them from harsh winter temperatures. As a reminder, leave a small bit of space around the perimeter of the plant’s trunk, to minimize excessive moisture against the trunk which can cause fungi or diseases to form.
Cooler daytime temperatures during fall season suggests that supplemental watering will be dramatically curtailed (finally…since some of us are tired of dragging garden hoses around the yard). Don’t put the garden hoses away just yet, as we might need to water during November (we might have to water some), but not too much thanks to the cooler air and slight breezes. If our local meteorologists’ predictions suggest temperatures will become colder (freezing), then supplemental watering is necessary. Applying water keeps the plant and roots hydrated, meaning plants are less likely to become damaged from a severe freeze. It’s best not to apply supplemental water on plants’ foliage (tops of the plants) as this causes leaves, stems and limbs to freeze or break due to excessive weight. Apply water to the base plants and water deeply. Keep in mind that most areas of SETX remain under drought conditions which means plants, shrubs, and trees are environmentally stressed, when in doubt provide supplemental water.
When we have increased chances of freezing temperatures, especially for long durations, cover plants with frost cloth or something similar will help. Do not use plastic unless you plan on removing daily, at first light in the morning as the sun will burn plants. Frost cloth can be securely fastened using clips, or rope, and weighting edges along the ground with brick, stones, or wood placed on top of it along the ground. A personal experience last year, I decided to build several individual frames around in-ground citrus trees and large tropical plants that were simply too large to relocate into the greenhouse. Each was wrapped frost cloth (1.5oz/ yd2) and all successfully survived the extremely frigid temperature shift.
Adding fall color in flower beds makes for pleasing aesthetics during the fall and winter months and there are many plants which thrive in our mild winters such as celosia, lobelia, English daisies, calendulas, alyssum, pansies, violas, stock, snapdragons, phlox, petunias, nasturtiums, dianthus and cyclamen. When planting, group plants together to create flower beds with vibrant splashes of color. Large containers and planters can also be ‘dressed’ to build “eye-catching” focal points by utilizing grasses of varying heights. When designing containers, create a visual sensation by selecting plants that provide a focal point (filling the container- thriller), another plant selection that trails (spilling over the edges- spiller), and a third plant selection which balances and provides cohesion (several taller plants to bring it all together- filler). Thiller, Spiller, & Filler!
For all of us vegetable gardeners, there remains time to plant beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, Asian greens- (some of my personal favorites grown yearly: Tot Soi, Bak choi, Gai Lan, Pak choi, Chinese mustard), kale, lettuce, onions, radish, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips and garlic (soft-neck).
Have you been wanting an herb garden? This is a great time of year to start an herb garden. Herbs can easily be incorporated into any vegetable garden, flower bed, beneath trees, landscape area, or containers. Many herbs enjoy full sun such as rosemary, lavender, oregano, dill, fennel, sage, Mexican mint marigold and thyme. There are several herbs which don’t require full sun and that do best with less such as basil, parsley, sorrel, oregano and mint. This is but a short list, as there are many more herbs for you to try!
If you plan to grow herbs, my preference is to plant them in a raised bed or large container. After planting, provide water, and then allow nature to take over cultivation duties. Prune as needed by clipping sprigs for use in cooking. Gardeners and cooks who are not accustomed to using ‘fresh’ herbs when cooking meals might be in for a pleasant surprise…meals will become more flavorful!
Until next week fellow gardeners, let’s go out and grow ourselves a greener, more sustainable world, one plant at a time! Gardening questions answered: jongreene57@gmail.com.
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