Coastal Region- Laura Lee Rose
- Continue with the gardening chores you didn’t finish last month. It is still an excellent time to plant woody trees and shrubs. Plant ones grown in small containers (one- or three-gallon) as they will establish as well, if not better than larger ones, at a fraction of the cost and effort.
- It is always all right to prune out dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs but save heavy pruning until late February or March. Pruning can stimulate plant growth, and we don’t want to encourage a flush in the fall that may not have a chance to harden off. For the same reason, you should wait until spring to fertilize.
- There are some lovely blooming perennials and large shrubs in late fall. Swamp sunflowers, goldenrod, and fall Cassia (Cassia splendens) are cheerfully blooming alongside salvias, Confederate rose, and Camellia sasanqua.
- You can still divide perennials and keep winter annuals deadheaded.
- In the vegetable garden, cool-season vegetables can still be planted. November is the month to plant garlic and garden peas.
To keep the root flare AT soil level, the planting hole should be dug exactly the same depth as the root ball and 2 to 3 times wider.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2018, Clemson Extension
The root flare is where the first main root attaches to the trunk.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2018, Clemson Extension
Swamp sunflowers provide late fall-flowering pollen and nectar source for bumble bees and honey bees.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2022 HGIC, Clemson University
Goldenrod (Soldiago species) is a native fall-blooming wildflower that is an important source of pollen for beneficial insects.
Barbara Smith, ©2021, Clemson Extension
Daylilies can be easily divided to produce more plants.
Barbara Smith, ©2019, Clemson Extension
Midlands Region – Carmen Ketron
- For most of us in the Midlands, this cooler weather in November is the signal to put the garden to bed. Focus on removing any diseased plants and noxious weeds. Keep some healthy flowerheads and stalks as beautiful winter interests, a source of seeds for wildlife, and a place for beneficial insects to overwinter.
- Place a nice layer of organic material over the garden beds, such as decaying leaf matter, compost, or healthy aged manure, and then top it off with a mulch layer of bark chips or straw to keep herbaceous perennial roots warm through the winter, reduce soil erosion during winter storms, and provide an excellent soil amendment to the beds.
- If you have successful flowering plant varieties you love, allow the seeds to dry on the plant, collect them in a paper bag, and save them for next year.
- As you pull out vegetable plants from the garden, this is an excellent time to take those stray peppers, green tomatoes, and root vegetables and turn them into a chow chow relish.
- If you are looking for a beautiful space next year, you will want to plant wildflowers right now. You plant wildflowers now to allow them to experience the cold temperatures sometimes needed to trigger germination, as well as take advantage of the winter rains, so you don’t have to water the area all the time.
- Keep track of the precipitation rates through November. If there is no significant measurable precipitation in 2 to 3 weeks, you will want to make up for it with a deep watering. This is important for new plantings, fall vegetables, and turf.
Goldfinches and other small birds feed on purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) seeds during the winter months.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2022 HGIC, Clemson University
Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) seed heads are another excellent source of nourishment for birds.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2022 HGIC, Clemson University
Dried dahlia seed heads with viable seeds.
Mary Vargo, ©2022, Clemson Extension
Wildflower meadows are attractive to many pollinator species as well as humans.
Barbara Smith, © 2017 HGIC, Clemson Extension
“A rain gauge is used to track rainfall amounts on the property.”
K. Morganello, ©2020, Clemson Extension
Upstate Region – Millie Davenport
- This month, plant Spring Flowering Bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, to add color to the landscape starting in late winter through early summer. Bloom time will be dependent on which species and variety you select.
- Think ahead and treat the warm-season lawn for any weeds that have been a pest in the past. Ignoring these weeds all winter will allow them to become well-established by spring, making them harder to control.
- Be a lazy gardener, and leave the leaves for the fireflies. This will pay off next summer when you sit on the screened porch in the evening, watching the fireflies dance in the landscape.
- Turn your thoughts inside for the holiday season and force bulbs, such as paperwhites, tulips, hyacinths, or crocus, to flower.
- Create a festive orange pomander to decorate your table this Thanksgiving.
Dutch Master Daffodils (Narcissus ´Dutch Master´) brighten up an early spring day.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2018 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Pink Charm Daffodil (Narcissus ‘Pink Charm’) has an ivory trumpet that has a pink ruffled edge surrounded by white petals.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2018 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus tazetta; synonym N. papyraceus) are one of the more popular bulbs to force.
Barbara H. Smith, HGIC, Clemson Extension
Paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus tazetta; synonym N. papyraceus) bulbs can be forced without pre-cooling.
Photo by Barbara H. Smith, HGIC, Clemson Extension
Start a new holiday tradition with your family this year by making orange pomander balls.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2021 HGIC, Clemson University
