- Evergreens until mid-month.
- Deciduous trees and shrubs, and tulip and lily bulbs until ground freezes.
OUTDOORS
Frost this month.
PLANT
INDOORS
- As houseplant growth slows, apply less fertilizer and water.
- Move dormant amaryllis into light to begin new growth.
- If houseplants are dropping leaves, move them closer to sunny south-or west-facing windows. Use artificial lights if the room is particularly dark.
TOOL TIP
- The slightly dished head of the rabbiting spade, originally used by farmers to out rabbit burrows, is ideal for digging in confined spaces, removing shrubs and trees, and also digging postholes.
CHORES AND MAINTENANCE
- Mow wildflower meadows when seed pods have formed and seeds have scattered.
- Leave hardy water lilies and fish in ponds deep enough not to freeze solid.
WINTER PROTECTION
- Prune and thin plants to enhance form and silhouette and to reduce wind resistance.
- Water dogwood, broadleaf evergreens, and newly planted trees thoroughly before ground freezes.
- Mulch rhododendrons, azaleas, and laurel with oak leaves or leaf mold. Also mulch small plantings (including perennials, cuttings, and bulbs) to protect from frost heave.
- Avoid frost cracking by wrapping tree trunks with a commercial wrap or painting south and southwest-facing sides of the trunk with white latex outdoor paint. Young, thin-barked trees such as maples and some fruit trees are particularly vulnerable.
- In the vegetable garden: Mulch berry bushes, spinach and strawberries with salt hay. (For strawberries, wait until temperatures have hit 20 degrees to be sure the plant is dormant; if mulch is applied too early, the plant's crown can rot.) Finish preparing beds for spring planting.
Artwork is for display purposes only and does not necessarily reflect specific items. Not responsible for typographical errors.
