Despite our gloomy, cold, snowy (ugh!) October, it is not really too late to plant most trees, perennials and shrubs until the ground is frozen. As I explained on an earlier blog post, I once had an entire landscape (trees, shrubs, perennials and turf grass) installed in mid-November.
You can transplant perennials anytime until the ground freezes in the fall, or wait to transplant them in the spring. Fall is an excellent time to transplant herbaceous perennials because your plants will then have three seasons to establish a good root system before hot summer weather sets in next year.
Around the country in November, the weather turns cooler and outdoor gardening may fade from top of mind. But the fall season is still a productive time for planting in many warmer regions around the United States — as long as you're strategic about it.
By dividing the plant when it is not flowering, all the plant's energy can go to root and leaf growth. Fall division should take place between early September in the uppermost Piedmont and mid- to late October on the coast. Allow at least four to six weeks before the ground freezes for the plants to become established.
With bulbs and bare-root plants in mind, you can successfully plant plenty of flowers in November. While you won't get to reap the rewards for a few months, November is the perfect time to prepare your spring garden. Here are your best bets so that you can have a garden full of beautiful blooms come springtime.
Obviously in the fall and winter you plant cold-weather crops. These include carrots, lettuce, kale, onions, garlic and so on. These types of crops do much better when it is cold.
If your perennial blooms in the spring or early summer, it should be transplanted in the fall. If your perennial blooms in the late summer or early fall, transplant it in the spring. Remember that when transplanting in the fall, the perennial needs to be in its new location about six weeks before the first hard freeze.
After a few years in the garden, these perennials may start to produce smaller blooms, develop a 'bald spot' at the center of their crown, or require staking to prevent their stems from falling over. All of these are signs that it is time to divide.
If you're unsure, mid-November is a safe planting deadline for nearly everyone. - Get everything in the ground before the ground freezes. If you still have plants in their nursery pots, get them in the ground before winter, no matter how late it has gotten.
Light freeze - 29° to 32° Fahrenheit will kill tender plants. Moderate freeze - 25° to 28° Fahrenheit is widely destructive to most vegetation. Severe or hard freeze - 25° Fahrenheit and colder causes heavy damage to most plants.
The general rule of thumb is that most plants freeze when temperatures remain at 28°F for five hours. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Seedlings, with their tender new leaves, often give up the ghost when temperatures dip to 32-33°F. Tropical plants have differing low-temperature thresholds.
Creating Watering Schedules for Winter Gardening
Try watering at mid-day — when temperatures are higher—so it can soak in before it freezes at night. Water your landscape once or twice per month from November to April. New roots form in the months of March and April. It is most critical to water during these months.
Planting. Most perennials should be planted in the fall or early spring. Fall planting gives the plant more time to become established before the start of active growth in the spring. Fall-planted perennials are usually well-established before hot weather.
The answer to this question is: not necessarily. While planting grass seed in November is too late to make the fall growing season, there is a method called dormant seeding.
"Fall is an excellent time to plant almost any perennial, with the exception of many ornamental grasses, which are better planted in spring," says Erin Schanen, Troy-Bilt's gardening partner, a master gardener volunteer and creator of The Impatient Gardener blog and YouTube channel.
The process of trimming back plants is the same for nearly all perennials. Begin by cutting the plant back to 3 to 5 inches above the soil line. Using a sharp pair of pruners or hedge trimmers, cut off all of the foliage and stems. Cut the plants down to within three to five inches of the soil line.
Partial shade and partial sun refer to areas of your garden that receive between four hours and six hours of sun each day. If your plant calls for partial shade, it will do better at the lower end of this sun exposure scale. If your plant calls for partial sun, it will do better at the higher end of this time frame.
A good rule of thumb is to split apart spring- and summer-blooming perennials in late summer or before the fall frost. Fall bloomers are best divided in the spring so that they can devote their energy to growing roots and leaves.
2. Perennials and shrubs that are in your zone or one colder can be overwintered in an unheated garage, buried in the ground, or transplanted. 3. Perennials and shrubs in containers will need water through the winter but should not be kept wet.
It's common to think that everything should be chopped down to the ground in the fall, but some perennials actually need their foliage to protect new shoots through the winter. Other varieties offer up important habitat for local wildlife and some perennials provide height and interest through the winter months.
November in Southern California USDA Zone 10b is the perfect time to start a variety of fall vegetables and flowers. You can either start directly from seed or buy ready to transplant from your local nursery.
The most vigorous growth of plants will be in the summer when the sun is up and out the longest. During winter, the sun is neither as high in the sky, nor in the sky for as long as it is in the summer. For your plants, that means less light. For some plants, this may trigger dormancy.
Leafy greens and Brassicas: Lettuces, spinach, and Swiss chard can be planted from seed or from transplant this month. Plant members of the Brassica family, including broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, and cauliflower, from transplant. Kale can also be planted from seed in October.