November & December Gardening Chores
November Checklist
December Checklist
- Continue to mow cool-season grasses on a regular basis.
- Fertilize cool-season grass according to the results of a soil test.
- Plant peonies. Dig, cut into pieces with 3-5 eyes each and replant, ensuring eyes are 1" below the soil.
- Cut chrysanthemum stems after blooming, being careful to leave the cluster of leaves at the base intact. This foliage will survive cold temperatures and grow again in spring.
- Cut back daylilies to 4" tall.
- Plant or move roses, water thoroughly and mulch to protect from freezing.
- Allow rose hips to form. Pruning may stimulate growth, which will be killed at the first freeze.
- Clean up rose beds by raking leaves.
- Plant or move shrubs.
- Plant spring bulbs.
- Mulch root vegetables with a light mulch of shredded leaves or straw.
- Protect tender vegetables with row covers to extend production for a few more weeks.
- Prune “bleeders” such as birch, dogwood, elm, maple and walnut
December Checklist
- Lightly fertilize winter annuals at the beginning of the month.
- Plant sweet peas.
- Cut back dying top growth of perennials. Leave a crown of new foliage at the base.
- Check for frost heaving and reset plants in soil once the ground warms and thaws.
- Late-blooming spring bulbs can still be planted. Try to get them in the ground before mid-month.
- Place protective cover around rosemary.
- Harvest chives, parsley and cilantro.
- Winterize your lawn mower.
- Hand-pull or spot-treat winter annual weeds.
- Continue planting shrubs.
- Water newly planted trees and shrubs.