November Landscape Tips

In November, it is time for our final lawn Fertilizer application this year. Use a product that has a good dose of potassium and phosphorus to support root health like 16-6-8 or similar. Now that the weather has finally cooled and we are watering less, you will notice that your grass is growing more slowly. It is growing so much more slowly in fact, that we can reduce mowing frequency to once every other week instead of weekly and edging every six weeks will be sufficient. You can continue on this pace until spring. The time you save from mowing may need to be spent raking. Clean up leaves as they fall to prevent mildew and fungus spores from spreading. Continue planting perennials, groundcovers, herbs, roses, trees, and shrubs; don’t worry it is not too late. Oddly you may get some of your best rose blooms this month. But stop fertilizing to encourage them to go dormant for a couple of months in January and February. They need the rest, and you need them to go dormant to hard prune.   If we do get rain, it is time to plant native wildflowers such as California poppies. Do not worry, you can plant them in December or January as well, but want to time it with the wet weather.   Remember to turn off the irrigation system if it does rain, or better yet, turn off the system a day before if the forecast calls for a 75% or better chance of rain the next day.  With the damp mornings, watch for snails and slugs. As needed, set out pet safe baits.  Water your established shrubs and trees if there’s no rainfall for more than a week and a half. Even if there is no rain at all, we only need to water 2-3 times a week, and 5-9 minutes per station. Inspect drains, and make sure you are prepared for the coming wet weather; I promise we will eventually get some rain.  Bonus Tip: Backyard garden enthusiasts, plant strawberries in the first half of the month for maximum fruit harvest. Space plants 1 foot apart in rich, loose soil in full sun. The “straw” in the name comes from an old practice of mulching around the berries with straw to prevent the berries from rotting on the soil. Use garden cloths instead for your home garden. Better yet, just be diligent in picking, and expect a few lost fruits