Monthly Tips - November
Historical weather stats in Kitsap County for November:
Average Precipitation = 12.50 inches
Average High Temperature = 52.4 F
Average Low Temperature = 42 F
Try "garbage gardening" with children or grandchildren. Plant seeds of apples, oranges, grapefruit, or avocado in potting soils and set them in a sunny windowsill. If watered regularly, the seeds will germinate and grow into plants, adding greenery to the room over the winter.
November Tips:
- Monitor
houseplants for adequate humidity and water. Turn plants
weekly to ensure uniform light distribution and promote
straight growth. If your plants spent the summer outdoors,
check them often for hitchhiking insects or signs of disease.
Spray with products with low toxicity such as insecticidal
soap if you find pests.
- Tulips
need to be planted in cold soils, or they will send up shoots
before roots are established. If tulips are planted deeply,
they will produce large, uniform flowers. Deep planting
also makes the bulbs less susceptible to mouse and squirrel
damage. Dig holes 2 1/2 to 3 times as deep as the bulb is
wide. Generally, you'll need a hole 4 to 6 inches deep.
In mild-winter climates, you can plant up to 8 to 12 inches
deep, leaving 4 to 6 inches between bulbs.
- Watch
for standing water in perennial beds after long periods
of rain. Water that collects on the surface during winter
will freeze, damaging perennials or causing the crowns of
some plants to rot. Dig shallow trenches to help drain excess
water away and make a note to raise those beds in spring.
- You
can dry herbs quickly in the microwave oven. Place them
between two paper towels and heat for one minute. Remove,
let cool, and then test to see if the leaves are crisp.
If not, return them to the oven for a few more seconds.
Store in jars in a dark place to retain color and flavor.
- Reduce
common perennial flower diseases such as peony botrytis
blight and hollyhock rust in next year's garden by removing
and disposing of all old stems this fall. This will reduce
the number of overwintering sites of the disease-causing
organisms, and you'll have less trouble with your plants
next year.
- A
November application of fertilizer is very beneficial to
lawns. It promotes root development without excessive top
growth, and with a strong root system your lawn will be
better able to withstand droughty conditions next summer.
The best nutrient ratios for fall fertilizer are 3-1-2.
Fertilizers formulated for fall application are often identified
with the term "winterizer." Apply at rates recommended
on the package.
- Grow
paperwhite narcissus indoors by placing bulbs about halfway
down in moist potting soil or in a shallow pot filled with
pebbles. After leaves begin to grow, place pots near a sunny
window. Water regularly, and bulbs should begin to flower
within two months. Bulbs won't rebloom in subsequent years,
so throw them away after the flowers fade.
- Spring
soil preparation will be easier if you rototill beds in
the fall. Add organic matter such as leaves and manure too.
Winter rains will help break up soil clods and break down
organic matter. When soil warms in spring, you can lightly
till the beds and rake them smooth prior to planting.
- Cut
stems back to ground level after your chrysanthemums have
stopped blooming. Dispose of stems and leaves by tossing
them into the compost pile. In cold areas, you might even
protect the plants with a layer of straw mulch. When new
shoots appear in the spring, dig the root mass and divide
the plant, taking some roots with each new shoot.
- Don't
worry if cedar trees are showing patches of dead, reddish
brown foliage - it's probably the natural shedding of older
leaves. This annual occurrence, called flagging, is more
noticeable when trees are stressed for moisture. In years
without drought stress, the dying of older leaves is more
gradual and attracts less attention.
- Wooden handles on tools require special care to keep them in shape. Sand the handles, if necessary, then apply a coat of bright-colored, water-resistant paint to keep the wood from drying out and prevent shrinking or splitting. Brightly colored handles are easier to see if tools are accidentally left out in the garden
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