November Gardening Tips and To-Dos for the Pacific Northwest

Fall has truly arrived in the Pacific Northwest, and the November garden to-do list still has plenty to keep us busy! With cooler days and plenty of that autumn rain we’re used to, now is the perfect time to dive into a few essential garden tasks to prepare for winter and ensure a vibrant start to spring.

Our gardens may look like they’re winding down, but there’s still life beneath those golden leaves and falling temperatures. November’s to-do list is all about tidying up the garden and tucking in our plants before the winter chill sets in.

While each garden is influenced by its hardiness zone, these tips will help you manage seasonal cleanup, protect plants, and prepare your Pacific Northwest garden for the quieter winter.

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November Gardening To-Dos

Here are some November gardening tips and things to do in your Pacific Northwest garden.

We’ve all worked hard this gardening season and are ready for a break, but trust me. These few tasks will help make the biggest difference in your garden’s health next year.

Maintain Garden Beds and Yard

Finish any weeding and mulching to protect the soil from compaction.
Clean up any fruit that has fallen on the ground to prevent disease and pest issues. Pull dead vegetable plants and put them into the compost.
Rake up leaves that have fallen on the lawn and pathways.
A lawn mower can also mulch fallen leaves and spread them throughout the garden beds to replenish nutrients.

wheelbarrow full of mulched leaves November garden

Add Mulch or Other Organic Matter

Add a layer of mulch around sensitive perennials to protect them from winter frost. You can use leaves, bark, or even straw.
Mulching your garden beds helps to keep earthworms warm so they can continue to break down organic matter in the upper soil layers.
Leaves can be left in the garden beds to decompose, providing nutrients that keep the soil healthy and a habitat for beneficial insects.

raised garden beds with tulip bulbs planted in rows

Planting

Take root cuttings of woody shrubs and evergreens such as azaleas and hydrangeas for propagating.
Place your order for bare-root fruit trees and shrubs this November. If your nursery or garden center carries the variety you want, you can plant bare roots.
In your November garden, you can still plant bulbs and garlic in coastal areas where the temperatures have not reached below freezing yet.

geraniums in the greenhouse overwintering

Overwintering Flowers and Tubers

Depending on how cold your winters get, you may want to dig up your tubers after the foliage has died back and store them in a dry place over the winter.
If you keep the tubers in the ground, add a layer of mulch over the area to protect them from a hard freeze.
Transplant geraniums from outside containers to smaller pots and overwinter them inside.

Mulching leaves with lawn mower in November garden

Clean, Sharpen, and Store Lawn and Garden Tools

Your pruners, shears, and lawn mower blades should be cleaned and sharpened.
Clean your tools with soap and water to remove dirt before storing them through the winter. Disinfect tools with blades with rubbing alcohol. Remove rust from tools and oil them.
Drain garden hoses and store them. Cover valves and spigots with foam covers.
If you have an irrigation system, drain the pipes and winterize them.

Clean Gutters on the House

To prevent clogged gutters, fallen leaves, twigs, and pine needles should be removed.

Plan for Next Year’s Garden

Read through your garden journal notes to see what worked and what didn’t in your garden this year. Make adjustments as needed.
Order seed catalogs for next year. Many seeds are available for sale after the first of January, so make sure you’re prepared with your wish list. Popular cut flower varieties sell out quickly.

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I hope this gives you an idea of some gardening to-dos for November in the Pacific Northwest. This is the last month to put your garden to bed for the winter months.

But the great news is you can start planning next year’s garden if you haven’t already.

If you have any questions or additional suggestions, please share them in the comments below. And be sure to share this blog post link with anyone who may find these gardening tips useful.

Until next time,

Happy Gardening

I’m a self-taught hobby gardener. Everything I share on my blog is my opinion and what has worked for me.

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November Gardening Tips and To-Dos for the Pacific Northwest