What to Do In Your Backyard in November

 Average temperature: High 79 Low 59 

 Rainfall: 2.32 inches

 November Plantings

Vegetables: Beet, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collard, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onion, pea, radicchio, radish, rhubarb, rutabaga, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.

Flowers: Ageratum, alyssum, baby's breath, black-eyed Susan, bush daisy, calendula, California poppy, candy tuff, carnation, cat's whiskers, chrysanthemum, cleome, cornflower, delphinium, dianthus, Drift roses, dusty miller, foxglove, gaillardia, geranium, goldenrod, heliotrope, hollyhocks, Iceland poppy, impatiens, larkspur, lobelia, ornamental cabbage & kale, pansy, petunia, phlox, salvia, Shasta daisy, snapdragon, stock, sweet pea, verbena, viola and wax begonias.

Herbs: anise, arugula, basil, borage, chive, cardamon, chervil, cilantro, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, lavender, lemon balm, lovage, Mexican tarragon, mint, nasturtium, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sweet marjoram, thyme and watercress.

Bulbs: African iris, amaryllis, anemone, bulbine, crinum, day lily, rain lily, ranunculus, society garlic, spider lily and narcissus; refrigerate Dutch iris, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and similar bulbs needing a cold treatment before flowering.

 Lawn Care

•  Fall is a good time to sod or plug problem areas in lawns; delay Bahia seeding until spring.
• Sow winter ryegrass seed at end of November.
• Complete fall feedings with a low phosphorus fertilizer during early November.
• Lawns can dry quickly during the warmer days of November; water as permitted.
• Set irrigation times to once a week when Daylight Savings Time on Nov 2nd.
• Water lawns separately from trees and shrubs that need less moisture.
• Repair and adjust sprinklers to water efficiently
• Chinch bug and caterpillar control may still be needed during warm fall weather.
• Have lawn soil tested by the University of Florida lab before fertilizing.
• Brown patch disease can be severe in zoysia; treat this month or when first noted.
• Apply herbicides for your lawn type if needed for broadleaf and sedge weed control.
• Continue mowing at normal heights.
• Aerate hard to wet, compacted and nematode infected soils.
• Remove and compost fallen leaves.
• Fill in shady problem spots with ornamental ground covers.

Landscape Chores

•  Renew mulches to help conserve water during the drier months ahead.
• Most shrub pruning should be completed this month to allow new growth to mature before winter.
• Only remove declining fronds and flower or fruiting stalks from palms to maintain vigor.
• Palm diseases may be spread by pruners; disinfect at least between palms. 
• Remove declining warm season flowers and replace them with the cool season flowers.
• Work organic matter into flower beds and replace soil in planters before planting.
• Slow-release fertilizers are best way to feed flower beds and containers.
• Extend chrysanthemum life; remove faded flowers, keep the soil moist and feed lightly.
• Make sure poinsettias receive no nighttime light; keep the soil moist and feed monthly.
• Established trees and shrubs need infrequent watering; moisten only during dry times.
• Flower beds need watering when the surface soil begins to dry to the touch.
• Scale insects have been heavy this year on shrubs and foliage plants; use Neem oil spray.
• Leaf spots and die-back are normal on many trees and perennials as they prepare for winter.
• Cooler months provide the ideal time to move small trees and shrubs in the landscape.
• Check braces and supports added to new trees, palms and shrubs.
• Hurricane season ends November 30; select small sturdy trees for new plantings
• Remove limbs and weeds interfering with sprinklers.
• Complete all tree, palm and shrub feedings by mid-month.                    
• Collect and refrigerate favorite flower seeds in plastic bags and store them in the refrigerator.
• Hurry to create wildflower plantings that won’t flower until spring.
• Reduce feedings of orchids and bromeliads in the landscape as the weather cools.
• Divide perennials and bulbs
• Create compost piles to recycle yard waste.
• Be prepared to cover or move cold sensitive plants to a warm location.
• Fill hard to mow and problem areas with shrubs and ground covers.
• Clean birdbaths and prepare feeders for winter.
• Reduce feedings of water garden plantings

House and Foliage Plant Care

•  Plant chilled narcissus and amaryllis bulbs in containers to begin growth for holiday blooms.
• Remember, prevent any nighttime light for holiday plants until they begin to bloom.
• Water holiday cactus and kalanchoe when the soil dries to the touch; keep poinsettias moist.
• Wash away dust and plant pests with a soapy water solution
• Check and treat outdoor plants for insects before bringing them indoors.
• Discontinue or reduce foliage plant feedings to every other month.
• Begin bringing cold sensitive foliage plants indoors.

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