Prep your garden for winter

Even though it’s November, the garden and landscape still need tending.

This is your last chance of the year to get the landscape in shape before winter. The weather is perfect for getting outside and getting busy.

Azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons need to be fertilized this month with a formula that focuses on the flowers. Use a product with less nitrogen (the first number in the fertilizer formula) than phosphorous (the second number), for example 0-10-10 or 3-20-20. It is usually OK to use a granular fertilizer this time of year, but since the rains haven’t started yet, use a water-soluble fertilizer if you irrigate acid-loving plants on a drip system.

Hydrangeas will lose their leaves as the weather cools. This signals us to begin to treat blue and pink hydrangeas to keep or richen their colors. Blue Mophead hydrangeas will need doses of aluminum sulfate every six weeks now through March. Pink Mophead hydrangeas should be treated with doses of agricultural lime every six weeks as well. Changing the PH of the soil produces different color results for hydrangeas.

Citrus will also need some fertilizing this time of year to help the fruit. Just as with azaleas, fertilize with a formula that focuses on the flower/fruit. Give your lemon, orange or lime trees 0-10-10, 3-20-20 or something similar. Add a dose of iron for yellow citrus. If your citrus looks stressed, consider removing undeveloped fruit to free up the tree’s energy.

As the leaves fall from trees and shrubs in your landscape, think about composting rather than discarding. Dried leaf material breaks down quickly, and the benefits to your garden are amazing. If trees are in beds or fence lines, leave the leaf material on the ground to break down.

Closer to the end of the month, apply dormant spray and copper fungicide to peach, nectarine and plum trees. Many foliage diseases, such as peach leaf curl and fire blight, need to be controlled during the tree’s dormant period. Apply monthly until the blossoms have swelled.

Folks that grow tropical plants, have young citrus or vines should have Wilt Stop handy or frost-protecting covers to help insure your plants’ success. If the forecast calls for frost, make sure your landscape and container plants are watered. Dry plants have more damage during frost than hydrated ones.

It’s also a good time to plant snapdragons, flowering cabbage, pansies, cyclamen and violas in containers and along beds and borders for colorful interest.

Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. Send questions or comments by email to
gardengirl94517@yahoo.com