Key Points
November garden prep is key, but it’s easy to make late-season mistakes.Keep watering shrubs and perennials since weather patterns are less predictable now.Don’t cut back all perennials—some, like coral bells, need their foliage for winter root protection.
November may seem late in the season for gardening tasks, but there’s plenty to do before the leaves fall and the ground freezes. However, some gardeners, meaning well, may perform certain garden tasks in November that may end up doing more harm than good.
We spoke with gardening experts to find out which late season gardening mistakes to avoid, which tasks are crucial, and workarounds for various situations.
Meet the Expert
Laura Janney is a gardening expert, botanical stylist, and creator of the Inspired Garden Masterclass.
Chrissie Handley is a gardening specialist at Northwest Turf Ltd.
Don’t Stop Watering
Laura Janney, a gardening expert who created the Inspired Garden Masterclass, says one common mistake made by gardeners in November is to stop watering the garden.
She says that with climate change, late season weather is variable and there may be warm weather and dry spells, so watering shrubs and perennials is still necessary.
One exception to this rule is lawns: gardening specialist Chrissie Handley of Northwest Turf Ltd. in the UK says that watering the lawn too much in November can leave it overwatered and boggy, which might create problem spots in spring.
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Don’t Stop Weeding
Once summer ends, it’s certainly tempting to stop weeding for the season. But staying on top of late season weeds is important, says Janney, to keep perennials from competing for water and nutrients.
She also recommends adding a two to four inch layer of mulch to help prevent weeds, and to protect the roots of perennials through the winter.
Don’t Neglect Lawn Care
Handley recommends doing the final lawn mowing of the season in early November. She also suggests aerating the lawn to improve drainage and airflow.
She says fertilizing sparingly is good, but fertilizing the lawn in November is risky because if the ground freezes the roots of the grass won’t absorb the nutrients.
Finally, Handley says to stay off the lawn! Minimizing walking over the lawn as grass goes dormant helps prevent bare patches and other problems come spring.
Don’t Forget Bulbs
Janney says November is still a great time to plant bulbs, and that they provide the “best bang for your buck” for a show-stopping spring garden. She thinks gardeners will be happy they invested the time when the gorgeous blooms appear in spring.
Though the common wisdom with daffodils is to plant before mid-October to prevent bulb rot from freezing soil, many other spring-blooming bulbs can be planted later, including tulips which can be planted as long as the ground can be worked.
Prune Perennials Selectively
While some perennials should be cut back before winter, Janney says, it’s important not to prune them all, as some benefit from being left intact.
For plants like coral bells and Russian sage, leaving the foliage alone helps protect the plant’s roots for the winter. Peonies and globe thistles should also be left unpruned until spring. Cleaning these perennials up once new growth appears in the spring is better for their health.
Remember the Birds
If you want to make your yard backyard bird-friendly, Janney says gardeners should leave seed-producing perennials like coneflowers and black-eyed Susans uncut, to let their seeds provide snacks for birds and wildlife.
You can also leave various plants intact to provide some shelter for birds: upright sedums provide bird habitat and winter interest in the garden.
Don’t Do Too Much
Handley warns that one of the worst mistakes gardeners can make in November is trying to do too much plant care. Over-watering, over-feeding, or over-mowing can actually do more harm than good, she says.
Letting the garden transition naturally to the cold season is the best approach to late season care, as perennials will gradually stop growing and go into winter dormancy, to conserve their energy for returning in spring.
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