November gardening tips for fruits and nuts, indoor plants and turfgrass are provided in this column.
Fruits and nuts
Dispose of fallen, spoiled or mummified fruit from under trees.
Mulch strawberries for winter with a layer of straw. This should be done after several nights near 20 degrees. Straw should be shifted loosely over the plants, just enough to cover them from view. After a few weeks of settling, add additional straw where necessary. For more information, see MU Guide g6135 strawberries at https://extensiondata.missouri.edu/pub/pdf/agguides/hort/g06135.pdf.
Diseased or problematic limbs on fruit trees may be marked with spray paint now for identification during pruning later in the dormant season.
Place tree guards on trunks of trees to prevent rodent damage during the winter months.
Indoor plants
Houseplants that are dropping leaves may need more light. Move plants closer to windows or to sunnier exposures, such as west and south facing windows.
Continue dark treatment for poinsettias by keeping them in complete darkness from 5 p.m.-8 a.m. until color starts to show. For more information, see MU Guide g6511 Care of Flowering Potted Plants at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6511.
As fall progresses, houseplants won’t require as much water as they did in the summer months.
Keep an eye on houseplants for pests such as spider mites aphids, mealy bugs and scale.
Forcing bulbs can be done for holiday bloom, see MU guide g6550 Forcing Bulbs for Indoor Bloom at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6550.
Turfgrass
Wet, stacked leaves will kill turfgrass if left for over late fall and winter. Keep leaves from packing and smothering grass.
In many cases, leaves can be mulched in with a lawn mower and will not adversely affect turfgrass health. The mulched leaves can serve as an organic matter addition that is often necessary in suburban areas. For tips on mulching in the leaves, see https://ipm.missouri.edu/meg/2013/10/Want-to-reduce-waste-and-time-Try-mowing-leavesrather-than-removal/.
Be sure turf goes into winter with moist — not wet — soil. In most years, you will not need to irrigate.
Recondition lawn mower. Store mower with clean oil and empty fuel tank.
Use soluble fertilizer or calcium chloride instead of salt for melting winter ice around turfgrass or landscape plants.
Clean and oil all garden hand tools before storing for winter. All power equipment should be winterized by running equipment out of gas or by adding fuel stabilizer before storage. Consider changing the oil, replacing air filters and sharpening blades.
Source: Missouri Botanical Garden.
Dhruba Dhakal, Ph.D., is a University of Missouri Extension Horticulturist, serving Missourians in Central Missouri. Dhakal can be contacted at [email protected] with gardening questions.
Comments are closed.