November Gardening Tips

1. Always be careful and wear safety gear when necessary.
2. Continue discarding infested leaves from trees and shrubs, do not add them to your compost pile. Healthy fallen leave could be raked and shredded for compost.
3. If you have not done it yet, mulch perennial beds and trees. Do not allow mulch to contact the tree trunks. Mulching after the ground freezes will prevent cycles of freeze and thaw between now and spring. Two inches of mulch will serve as blanket and protect the plant roots. Avoid using hay as mulch, it usually has weed seeds.
4. Spring ahead and plant spring blooming bulbs, they will reward you with a show every year. For more details on planting spring bulbs, please review October gardening tips.
5. Early in the month and during sunny days when the air temperature is above 40° F water perennials, trees, and shrubs. Doing this will help to prevent winter drought injury to plants. Remember to be mindful of rain fall.
6. Empty and clean outdoor containers, store them upside down in a dry place. This will prevent them from cracking, decoloring, or corroding.
7. Drain and store garden hoses and/or turn off sprinkler systems.
8. Empty fuel tanks from garden power equipment. Clean and store garden equipment so it is ready to be used next spring.
9. Clean and sharpen garden tools. Rubbing them with vegetable oil before storing them will prevent them from corroding.
10. A cleaned and organized place is a safe place!   

*Please note that these tips are specific to the climate and growing conditions of the Chicago land area only.