November Gardening
Brrrr. We are starting to get our first frost warnings now. If you haven't already brought in your tender plants, do so now. We finally turned on our heater this morning. The days are still gorgeous but the evenings are getting down in the 30's.
Fall Blooming Grasses
Ornamental grasses are really showing off now. Muhlenbergia capillaris, Pink Muhly Grass, is one of our favorite grasses...and it is native to our area.
 | | Muhly Grass |
Pink Muhly grass is drought tolerant and deer resistant and best of all we carry a good supply of them. Mass plant them in groups of 5 or more for a breathtaking display of billowing inflorescence next fall.
Miscanthus 'Gracillimus' is also looking great right now. The Pink plumes have turned a nice tan now.
Panicum 'Heavy Metal' is another great grass that is underused in the landscape. I love the mixture of blue, red, and green grass blades.
Fall is for Planting
We still have a great selection of pansies, snapdragons, winter vegetables, bulbs, perennials, shrubs, roses, and trees. Remember....FALL IS FOR PLANTING. Don't miss out on having the healthiest plants in the neighborhood because you planted in the fall.
Camellia japonica 'Cleopatra' is really showing off - just like Cleopatra would be. Treat yourself to camellias and brighten up those shady areas of your garden. Speaking of shade, one of the most gorgeous helleborus is ready to go home with you. It is called 'Red Racer'.
 | | "Red Racer' |
Tools
Once you get your fall plants planted it is time to give all your gardening tools a clean up. We have a huge investment in our tools so taking good care of them can really pay off. This is a good time to buy new ones too and we have some of the better quality tools of the trade.
Container Plants
Moving container plants to a protected area and covering the soil with a thick layer of mulch or leaves will help protect against the cold. Don't forget about them though, they will need to stay moist. Keep an eye on your garden and if we haven't had weekly rain take a look and see if you need to water. It's not too late to brighten up those containers with pansies.
Trees This is a perfect time to plant trees and we have some gorgeous sugar maple, and red maple "October Glory" and "Sunset. We also have the ever popular Japanese Maples. If you want apples next year we have Gala and Golden Delicious that will cross pollinate and give you fresh apples.
 | | October Glory Maple |
Japanese Beetle Grubs and Caterpillars
The Japanese beetle grubs are nestled in the soil under your lawn so be sure to apply your Milky Spore to those areas. We carry it at the nursery and it will last for 15 years or more in your soil. Milky Spore is a bacteria that grubs ingest, literally killing them from the inside out. If we can get entire communities to apply it we will likely see the end of their summer visits, so pass the word.
Speaking of bacteria, we noticed the caterpillars are eating our snapdragons out front. If that is the case for you come in and get some Bacillus thuringiensis, BT, a bacteria that organically kills caterpillars.
Annuals, Vegetables and Fruit
Fertilize your annuals and vegetables as needed. This is the ideal time to take a soil sample over to the Clemson Extension office on University Ave. and Cambridge (Old Brewer School) for testing. Soil tests are a wonderful way to have your lawn and plants growing to their maximum. In particular for your blueberries. If the pH needs adjusting it will take three months for it to do its magic.
We have some blueberries for sale in the nursery and there is no better time to plant than now. Speaking of small fruit we have muscadine grapevines as well.
 | | Blueberries |
If you aren't growing a winter vegetable garden, clear out any old, diseased plants to prevent infesting your spring crops. Cover the area in a thick layer of mulch so it will feed the soil as it decomposes and help prevent erosion. If you have lettuce and chard growing you will need to protect them from frost. We find old flannel sheets or lightweight dog blankets to work the best. Your kale and collards love the cold and actually get better tasting with a good frost.
 | | Collards Under The Snow |
Come in and get some pansies to decorate your winter veggie garden. We love to see those smiling faces as we harvest our greens. Is there anything more cheerful than pansies?
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Pansies!
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Seeds
Do you have seeds leftover from last spring? Take your seed packets and place them in a freezer bag and store them in the refrigerator. Heat, humidity and moisture can ruin your seeds. The refrigerator is the perfect spot for them. While you are sipping tea snuggled by the warmth of the fire this winter research what to plant for next spring. Some seeds can be started as early as February. Use the Clemson Extension Bulletin on How to Plan a Vegetable Garden and mark the dates of seeding and planting on your Garden Calendar. This Calendar can also be used to keep track of your rain gauge measurements.
Deadheading and Knock Out Roses
Be sure to deadhead those annuals to keep them blooming. If allowed to go to seed they will put all their energy into seed production so removing the dead flowers is key to lots of flowers. Rose growers will start to let the rose hips form in preparation for winter. The rose hips are eaten by birds, squirrels, rabbits and other wildlife. Be sure to give your roses a good layer of mulch for the winter to protect their roots. We have a mini pine bark nuggets for a great mulch. Don't let your roses dry out. They may still need water if we don't get enough rain. The winter winds are really hard on roses if they are drought stressed. All the knock out roses are not only easy to care for because of their disease resistance but they are easy to prune. We will talk about that in the February issue but for now enjoy those gorgeous blooms until the first frost.
Rain Gauges and Hoses
If you are lucky enough to have bought one of our large rain gauges be sure to either bring it in over the winter or empty out the water so it doesn't freeze and shatter. To prolong the life of your hoses, drain and store them.
Birds
Don't forget to plump up your birds for the winter. We carry unique and lovely bird feeders in our store and the best bird food you can find. It is essential that we continue to help the bluebirds out with nesting boxes in the spring and we have some unique and gorgeous ones in the Garden Shop that will make great gifts for the bird lovers in your life.
Pruning and Transplanting
Don't sheer your shrubs! At this time of year you don't want to stimulate new growth that will be tender and susceptible to frost damage. You can prune out some branches by hand if needed but no heavy shaping or pruning this month. Spring is your major pruning time. There is a great Pruning Calendar at Virginia Tech Extension.
This is a good month to transplant any shrubs. The smaller the shrub, the better it will recover. The more of a root ball the more likely it will live. Water before you dig it up and keep it moist after you transplant it. Continue to keep an eye on the watering for all of your landscape since fall is usually drier than most months. Sending plants into the winter well irrigated reduces the potential for damaged foliage. Clemson Extension has a handout on Transplanting Shrubs and Trees that will take the mystery out of it for you.
Bulbs
Your irises need to have all their dried leaves, stems and other debris removed to help eliminate overwintering eggs or iris borers. When planting your bulbs such as daffodils, randomly scatter them so they look more natural. Don't forget to plant Tulip bulbs under your pansies. This makes a beautiful display in early spring when the Tulips emerge and bloom.
Perennials
There is still time to dig. divide and replant crowded perennials. Be sure to water before and after dividing. Keep on weeding. That chore rarely goes away. Be a lazy gardener and leave your purple coneflower seed heads for the birds. |
