Fall is in full force and there is still so much to do in the garden. Here are some November gardening tips and to-dos for your Pacific Northwest garden.
Our weather here in the Pacific Northwest has finally started to look more like fall, especially after the first autumn rainfall. We actually welcomed the rain because we hadn’t had rain of significance since June.
November regional gardening tasks always differ by hardiness zone, but there is a common need to clean up the garden and put it to bed for the winter season.
When it comes to gardening, I have to admit that this is the most challenging time of the entire year for me. I absolutely despise working in the garden when it’s cold and rainy. But having a healthy and gorgeous garden for next year means you need to make sacrifices along the way.
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I’m a self-taught hobby gardener, not a Master Gardener. Everything I share with you on my blog is my personal opinion and things that have worked for me personally.
November Gardening To-Dos
Here are some November gardening tips and things to do in your Pacific Northwest garden. 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.
- Any fallen leaves can also be mulched by a lawn mower and spread throughout the garden beds to replenish nutrients.
Add Mulch or Other Organic Matter
- Protect sensitive perennials from the winter frost by adding a layer of mulch around the plant. You can mulch with leaves, bark, and 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 and provide nutrients that will keep the soil healthy. It will also provide a habitat for beneficial insects.
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. You can plant bare roots if your nursery or garden center carries the variety you want.
- You can still plant bulbs and garlic in coastal areas where the temperatures have not hit below freezing yet in your November garden.
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 decide to 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. Read How to Overwinter Geraniums HERE.
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 any dirt from your tools before storing them through the winter. For tools with blades, disinfect them by using 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 House
- All gutters should be cleaned by removing fallen leaves, twigs, and pine needles to prevent them from getting clogged.
Plan for Next Year’s Garden
- Read through your journal notes to see what worked and what didn’t in your garden this year. Make adjustments as needed.
- Order seed catalogs no 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.
I hope this gives you an idea of some gardening to-dos that need to be done here in the Pacific Northwest for the month of November. This is basically 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.
Please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.
Until next time,
Happy Gardening
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