As the temperatures begin to head downward, Texas gardeners need to start planning and preparing their gardens for seasonal changes.
“Wetter and cooler weather is predicted as we move into the November gardening season,” said Larry Stein, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulture specialist, Uvalde, and professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Horticultural Sciences. “Now is the time gardeners need to be thinking about their cold protection plan.”
A protection plan helps gardeners prepare their plants and yards to survive colder weather, whatever month that may arrive in your part of Texas.
Enacting your protection plan A plan for protecting plants from the cold should include mulch, mound trunks and plant covers as appropriate. The ground offers natural insulation, and mulch serves as an extra layer of insulation.
Fallen leaves from trees can be mulched up — your lawnmower can do the work — and then used to protect those same trees or other plants in your yard. Leaves can also go into your compost pile. Keep in mind that some insects overwinter in leaf litter.
Plants in pots outside can be clustered and covered together as needed. Some container plants may also need to come inside.
When the water in the cells of plants freezes, ice crystals form and damage cells.
Frost also impacts plants, but it is usually the top or outermost part of the plant that will take the biggest hit — unlike a freeze, which can kill the entire plant.
“Now is also the time people should begin to monitor their lawn for late-season fungus issues, which could be exacerbated by receiving too much water or rain,” Stein said.
Beyond plants, protect equipment A protection plan for your garden tools and lawn equipment is also important.
Drain gasoline from power tools and run the engine until fuel in the carburetor is used up unless you have made the switch to ethanol-free gas. Even with ethanol-free gas, running the gas out of the carburetor is a good idea.
Drain and store garden hoses and watering equipment in a readily accessible location. The lawn and plants may need water during a prolonged dry spell, so theyshouldn’t be accessible.
November gardening tips Plant containers, wait on bare roots Container trees and shrubs can be planted; wait until January to plant bare root stock.
Select and plant the appropriate annuals If you have not already done so, now is the ideal time to select and plant annuals such as pansies, violas, ornamental cabbages and kale.
Think ahead for spring color Plan now for your spring flowering season with a mixture of annuals and perennials.
Pause on pruning Don’t get in a hurry to prune woody plants. Late December through February is usually the best time to prune them.
Bring the late-bloomers indoors Bring in late-blooming plants such as decorative kalanchoes or Christmas cacti so they may finish flowering in the warmth of the house.