Falling temperatures have reminded us that our time of
illusion is over and winter will be here soon.
We don’t need to watch the nightly TV weather forecast to know that
there is a chill in the air. Plants feel
it too and like people, need to bundle up for the winter.
The
first step is to clean up the total landscape.
Fallen leaves and twigs can become hazardous. Lawn grasses need air and can’t thrive under a
coating of wet leaves. As leaves decay
they create slippery spots on walks and patios, and those leaves can lead to
falls. (Another one of those reasons for
the name of the season?) Keep garden litter raked up this month and throughout
winter. Discard any diseased leaves, but
place healthy leaves in compost piles to decay over winter and provide
excellent mulch in spring.
November
is typically a rainy month, so we need to keep surface water flowing rather
than backing up. To help prevent yard
debris from clogging storm drains, be sure to rake away leaves and twigs that
wash into drain openings. Check for
jammed or leaky gutters, because water overflow onto plants can erode soil
around them, causing root exposure and plant damage. Soil that washes off landscapes can enter
streams and rivers, reducing water quality and making life more challenging for
fish species.
Mulching is one of the
best lines of defense for perennial plants against chilling temperatures. Mulching also can prevent the repeated freezing
and thawing of soil that causes plants to “heave” out of the ground.
But the trick is not to mulch too soon. Mulching needs to be done after the ground
starts to freeze but before the first significant snowfall of the year. If you mulch sooner, mice and other rodents
may nest in the mulch, and plants may not be completely dormant. The end of November is a good time to
apply. If an early snowfall is
predicted, you may want to apply before it hits.
Apply
at least three to four inches thick around each plant. After you’ve laid it down, gently pull it
away from the trunks and stems to give plants room to breathe. This helps prevent disease problems. Deeper mulching may be necessary in
especially cold or windy sites.
Tie
up long rose canes and other climbing vines to keep them from whipping and
breaking in strong wing storms. November
isn’t the month to give roses a heavy pruning.
But you can trim back canes lightly to reduce wind damage. Remember to mulch over the graft union on
roses, and save the major pruning for late February.
During the
winter, hungry deer look for young, tender growth to eat. Often this means the branches of your new
tree or shrub. To protect your plants in
winter, wrap the tree or shrub with burlap or netting, covering the plant or at
least extending the covering 5 to 6 feet high around the plant. You may also try hanging bars of smelly soap
near plants, which may repel them. Just
don’t hang the bars on the plants, as this may attract mice!
Winterizing
Tips:
• Empty
garden hoses and bring indoors during winter.
• Turn
off outside water faucets.
• Store
your garden tools and furniture.
• The
most important fertilization of the year for lawns is late fall – apply before
November 15.
• Don’t
cut off tops of perennials until they have dried (usually late winter).
• Water
trees and shrubs thoroughly before the ground freezes.
• Put
up Christmas outdoor lighting before the blast of storms and freezing cold
conditions.
• Try
not to shovel salted snow onto your plants.
Tom McNutt is a professor emeritus at The Ohio State University and a retired TV garden expert.
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