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Gardening Calendar
I think we can all safely say we are happy to put this gardening
season behind us. Let’s hope for a better year. Even though
gardening is winding down, there is plenty to do in the garden.
Luckily the weather is conducive to gardening, and we actually enjoy
being outside to do it. So rake some leaves, plant some bulbs, start
a compost pile, harvest your fall vegetables, but get gardening!
November is the ideal month to plant a tree. We have many damaged trees and
shrubs in our landscapes as a result of two bad weather years. If you need some
new trees, consider planting one now. The soil temperature still has some
residual heat, and the root system can spend its time growing roots while the
tree is dormant. You will end up with a stronger plant for next growing season.
Some large trade shade tree choices include willow oak – Quercus phellos;
tulip poplar – Liriodendron tulipifera; and lacebark elm – Ulmus
parvifolia. Some good mid-sized trees include little leaf linden – Tilia
cordata; red maple – Acer rubrum; and Chinese pistache – Pistacia
chinensis. Prepare the site well, and amend in an area three times the size
of the planting hole. Plant it slightly shallower than it is growing in its
container. Water and mulch, and you are off to a good start.
Fall can also be an ideal time to plant hardy shrubs. I would avoid any that are
marginally hardy or that can commonly suffer winter injury such as gardenias,
azaleas, crape myrtles and hydrangeas. They are better planted in late winter to
early spring so they have a season to get their root system established before
cold weather arrives.
One of the easiest ways to add color in the home landscape is by planting
spring-flowering bulbs. They are still available now, and it is a great time to
plant them. Choose large, blemish-free bulbs. You can immediately plant, or
store them in a cool place until you get around to planting. Tulips, daffodils,
crocus and hyacinths are the most common, but there is some more unusual fare
available as well. The nice thing is that all you have to do is dig a hole and
drop the bulb in, and then sit back and wait for spring color. They do well in
the ground or in containers.
Poinsettias will be arriving in every available outlet very soon. Remember to
keep them colorful, they need bright light and even moisture. Too much water or
not enough is not good. With proper care, they can stay pretty inside for
months. Other holiday plant choices include amaryllis bulbs, cyclamens, mums,
azaleas and bromeliads.
When choosing the family Christmas tree, look at size, but also a straight stem.
Make sure you get a fresh cut on the bottom of the tree before moving it
indoors. Give it plenty of fresh water, but remember the longer it is inside,
the dryer it becomes. Be safe.
In central Arkansas, the average first frost is early to mid-November, so pay
attention to the weather forecasts, and take whatever precautions are needed.
Houseplants should have been moved back inside last month, but if you haven’t
done so, do it now. Don’t be alarmed if they start dropping leaves, because
there will be a huge shift in their growing conditions. If you are storing
houseplants or tropicals in the garage or under the house, make sure the move is
made prior to a frost so you don’t lose the plants.
We have started pushing the plants’ hardiness zones, planting things that
normally don’t overwinter for us, but have been in recent years—amaryllis bulbs,
lantana, Brugmansia, bananas, etc. Plants that are moderately hardy outdoors
often overwinter fine with a little extra mulch, but don’t apply this extra
protection until after the plants have gone dormant. If you add extra protection
while they are actively growing it will actually prevent those plants from going
dormant, which can result in a dead plant the following spring. Allow the plant
to go dormant following a frost, then cut off the plant debris and add the extra
mulch. Pay attention to the drainage of your soil. Winter soils often retain
more moisture with less evaporation and less water usage of plants while they
are dormant. Wet feet can lead to rotting of many perennials.
There is still time to plant winter color in the form of pansies, violas and
even ornamental kale and cabbage. The key with late planting is to plant
established plants—or those with flowers. If you start this late in the season
with tiny, non-blooming plants, chances are you won’t see any flowers until
spring, which sort of defeats the purpose. If you planted earlier this fall,
deadhead spent flowers and fertilize periodically to keep them blooming their
best. Pansies in particular are heavy feeders, and if you can feed them, they
will pay you back with more flowers.
If your garden needs color, look at some options. Camellia sasanqua is blooming
now in a wide range of colors. Nandinas are taking on their winter color, and
their berries are showy as well. Hollies also have good berry set. Color can be
achieved with flowers, berries and foliage. Even the bark of our crape myrtles
gives added color.
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