November Gardening Tips

Plant

• This is perhaps the best month to plant California natives or drought-resistant plants.  Consider bush anemone, ceanothus, flannel bush, toyon holly, manzanita, Matilija poppy, and wild mock orange.
  

• Force narcissus into bloom for indoor beauty and scent.  Also begin forcing Amaryllis.  
  

• Plant cool-season flowers such as alyssum, calendula, Canterbury bells, cineraria, cyclamen, delphinium, Iceland poppies, larkspur, lobelia, nemesia, ornamental kale, paludosum daisy, perennial candytuf, annual phlox, primrose, snapdragon, stock, sweet william, sweet violet and viola.  
  

• If you want the newest colors of poinsettias, the best selection will probably be right after Thanksgiving.  This is also the month for the best selection of Thanksgiving/Christmas cactus.
  

• Plant winter vegetables: arugula, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, green peas, lettuce, parsley and potatoes.  If you plan on testing the garden for the winter, consider planting a cover crop that can be turned over in the spring.  Check out the crop cover selection at www.ronnugers.com.
  

Feed & Fertilize

• Feed winter-blooming plants like cyclamen, Iceland poppies, pansies and primrose for both growth and bloom.
  

• Cool-season grasses need an all-purpose fertilizer.  Overseed Bermuda grass with annual rye to cover the winter brown.  Mow existing grass short, then scatter seed and cover with a top dressing.  One pound of seed for every 100 square feet of lawn will do.
  

Prune/Trim/Clean

• After they finish flowering, cut back chrysanthemums, leaving six-inch stems.  They will begin to grow again in March.  Old clumps can be lofted and divided, roots cut apart and woody centers discarded, then replanted.
  

• Twist off small buds on camellias for larger blooms.
  

• Prune pine trees and other conifers now.  They will appreciate the care when summer comes and they are under attack from bark beetle.
  

• Prune back certain cane berry plants such as blackberry, boysenberry, loganberry and spring-bearing raspberry.  (Do not prune sub-tropical, low-chill raspberries common to Southern California.)

Miscellaneous

• Renew acid mulches under azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons.  Water them well to make sure they don't dry out from winter sun and winds.
  

• Keep Christmas cacti at 50⁰ to 55⁰ o set blooms.
  

©2006 Canyon Crest Garden Club

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