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Hello gardening friends.
How come 43 degrees in November feels so much colder than 43 degrees in March or April?!
The ground isn’t frozen yet so there’s still time to plant perennials and bulbs. It’s not the most ideal time, but if you happen upon a garden center with something interesting left — go for it!
This month you can also:
• Get some extra bulbs for forcing indoors. When the holidays are over, and winter’s dreary days seem to be dragging on, pot up some bulbs!
Place them together closely, leaving the top third of the bulb above the soil line. Water them, and then keep soil ever so slightly moist. Provide a bright warm exposure such as south facing windows. Tulips, narcissus and hyacinths work well.
• I know I’ve said it before, but it’s important that before the ground freezes, make sure everything gets a good thorough watering — especially broad-leaved and needled evergreens. Once you’ve finished with this task, disconnect the hose from the outdoor faucet, drain it and store it for the winter.
• Remember to open the spigot on the rain barrel. This will keep the water level low enough to allow for freeze expansion of any remaining water and will help prevent damage to the actual barrel.
• Bring in your rain gauge.
• Cover your large soil-filled containers (that you don’t decorate for the holidays) with plastic or something that will keep moisture out. Secure the tarps from blowing away. Moist soil expands and may cause a frozen pot to crack or break.
• Concrete birdbaths that don’t remain heated should be turned over. Collection and containment of rain or snow will freeze and expand causing possible damage to the birdbath.
• Put the gas-powered tools, such as the mower, away for the season. Run the motor until the gas is used up or you can add a fuel stabilizer to the tank to keep the gas from gumming up.
• Clean and sharpen your garden tools. If your tools have wooden handles, rub some linseed oil in.
• Don’t apply winter mulch protection too early. Plants need to be dormant first – typically mid to late November. The winter mulch is intended to keep the plants dormant and prevent heaving. Use loose mulch such as pine needles, wood chips or shredded leaves.
• Try not to love your houseplants to death this winter. Most folks (including me) tend to over water and over feed houseplants during the winter months. Houseplant pests seem to hide really well and show up after we’ve brought our plants in for the season.
Hello gardening friends.
How come 43 degrees in November feels so much colder than 43 degrees in March or April?!
The ground isn’t frozen yet so there’s still time to plant perennials and bulbs. It’s not the most ideal time, but if you happen upon a garden center with something interesting left — go for it!
This month you can also:
• Get some extra bulbs for forcing indoors. When the holidays are over, and winter’s dreary days seem to be dragging on, pot up some bulbs!
Place them together closely, leaving the top third of the bulb above the soil line. Water them, and then keep soil ever so slightly moist. Provide a bright warm exposure such as south facing windows. Tulips, narcissus and hyacinths work well.
• I know I’ve said it before, but it’s important that before the ground freezes, make sure everything gets a good thorough watering — especially broad-leaved and needled evergreens. Once you’ve finished with this task, disconnect the hose from the outdoor faucet, drain it and store it for the winter.
• Remember to open the spigot on the rain barrel. This will keep the water level low enough to allow for freeze expansion of any remaining water and will help prevent damage to the actual barrel.
• Bring in your rain gauge.
• Cover your large soil-filled containers (that you don’t decorate for the holidays) with plastic or something that will keep moisture out. Secure the tarps from blowing away. Moist soil expands and may cause a frozen pot to crack or break.
• Concrete birdbaths that don’t remain heated should be turned over. Collection and containment of rain or snow will freeze and expand causing possible damage to the birdbath.
• Put the gas-powered tools, such as the mower, away for the season. Run the motor until the gas is used up or you can add a fuel stabilizer to the tank to keep the gas from gumming up.
• Clean and sharpen your garden tools. If your tools have wooden handles, rub some linseed oil in.
• Don’t apply winter mulch protection too early. Plants need to be dormant first – typically mid to late November. The winter mulch is intended to keep the plants dormant and prevent heaving. Use loose mulch such as pine needles, wood chips or shredded leaves.
• Try not to love your houseplants to death this winter. Most folks (including me) tend to over water and over feed houseplants during the winter months. Houseplant pests seem to hide really well and show up after we’ve brought our plants in for the season.
If pests came indoors with your houseplants, try Bayer Advanced rose and flower insect killer. Works great on houseplants and is my absolute favorite pest control. I typically get spider mites and those pesky gnats for which I apply the spray not only to the plant, but also to the soil.
• One last tip for this month: walkways and driveways will be icing over soon. Look for products that use calcium chloride to de-ice. It will be kinder to nearby plants and lawns than salts that are sodium based.
U of I Extension of Tazewell County Master Gardener Tips for November contributed by Vicki Gustafson.
This list provides basic guidelines and certainly may not be complete, depending on individual circumstances. The Extension has a website with further info- http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/hort.html
Look for more tips in the Washington Times-Reporter next month.
