1. Plant a tree: now is still a perfect time to get that shade or orna-
mental tree in the ground.
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2. Plant flowering perennials: it’s never too late. Even though
their tops will be burned back with the first hard freeze, their roots
will be hardy. During the cool days of winter, they will establish
a healthy root system for a show in the spring.
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3. Plant some winter blooming annuals: in central Texas, we can
grow pansies, snapdragons, violas, stock, cyclamen, flowering cabb-
age and kale. Remember to work in some organic plant food such
as blood and bone meal. These slow release plant foods will feed
your plants throughout the winter and into the spring. Pansies love
blood meal.
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4. Plant fall bulbs: still plenty of time for this. There is a great
selection of late winter to early spring flowering bulbs to choose
from. Look for tulips, narcissus, jonquils, muscari, daffodils, ranun-
culus, and anemones. Bulbs benefit from the slow release phosphorus
found in bone meal. Mix a tablespoon in the root zone when planting.
For 'a drift' of any of these flowers, you'll need 30 or more.
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5. Force some bulbs indoors: this is a fun activity for Thanksgiv-
ing and Christmas time. The easiest are paperwhite narcissus. Add
some potting mix to a clay or plastic 6” bulb pan (fill about ½ way).
Place 3 to 5 bulbs on top of the soil and add some decorative gravel
to keep them upright and firm. All you need to do now is water the
bulbs in and place the pot in a sunny location. It takes around three
weeks for the bulbs to force out their foliage and open their flowers.
Easy and decorative.
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6. Winterize your lawn: use a slow release organic lawn food.
This will give nutrition and strength to your lawn for the coming
cold months.
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7. Cut back your perennials: do this after the first frost, and mulch
your beds with compost and mulch mixed together. This combinat-
ion will feed the roots while conserving water and warming the bed.
(Average day for first fall frost is November 28.)
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8. Onions, scallions, garlic: November is onion, scallion, and gar-
lic month. To be successful with these vegetable gems, don’t wait
until the days get long again. Success requires growing in the short
days of winter. You can grow an onion 6” across! Timing is most
important.
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9. Keep on the lookout for fall bedding (annual) plants. As temp-
eratures cool, we can begin to plant dianthus, snapdragons, and
petunias.
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10. Watch for black spot and mildew on roses. With cooler weather,
these pesky rose diseases will begin to show up. An organic spray
of Neem oil or wettable sulfur should help in keeping it at bay.
Happy gardening everyone!
