November 2020

Continue to monitor the mulch around your plants.
Cut back on watering your lawns, trees, and shrubs and reset your automatic sprinklers and drip systems as the days get shorter and cooler.
Deep water established trees, shrubs and garden beds.
New plantings will require more water the first year.
Regularly water houseplants. Do not let houseplants dry out.
Remember to continue watering your plants, even as the temperature decreases; dry plants are more easily damaged by freezing temperatures.

Seed warm season lawns with native grass seed mixes such as Buffalo or Blue Grama
Refresh or plant your container gardens with annual flowering plants.
Mow established lawns weekly.
Plant fruit trees: Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Pecan, Plum, Pear, Pomegranate.
Renew mulches as necessary.
Divide and transplant iris, peonies, and other spring blooms as they go dormant.
Order spring-blooming bulbs
Plant spring wildflowers now.
Plant spring-blooming bulbs as soon as you get them
Plant cool-season annuals, such as pansies and snapdragons, when the temperature begins to decrease
Plant any perennials, Divide and replace overcrowded perennial beds. Remember to apply a layer of organic matter to the new bed.
Cut back annuals when they finish flowering
Reseed over existing cool-season lawns.
Now is the ideal time to landscape with trees and shrubs.
Replace summer flowers with winter-hardy flowers, such as pansies, snapdragons, or dianthus.
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage flowering.
Once leaves begin to fall, be sure to remove them from your lawn; wet leaves can block sunlight and increase the chance of disease.
Leave the foliage on your perennials to help insulate them from the harsh winter conditions.

Check for pinon needle scale and spray with malathion if you see them.
Keep an eye open for aphids, spider mites, etc and eliminate as necessary until the first frost.
Remove any vegetable plants that have stopped producing to reduce the chance of disease or insects.
Garlic and onions are ready when their tops start to bend over. Remove the tops after they’ve dried and store in a cool place.

Plant herbs such as thyme, lavender, mints and and so many more!
Harvest vegetables as they ripen.
Plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, carrots, collards, lettuce, and other cool-season vegetables that will winter over.
Remove old vegetable plants that have stopped producing; this will help eliminate pests and diseases from your garden.

Prune summer flowering shrubs
Clean and winterize ponds, waterfalls and fountains.
Inspect and repair drip irrigation and sprinkler systems as needed.
Hang a fresh chile ristra for a perfect New Mexican Autumn. Add pansies and gourds for an extra pop of color.
This is still the best time to plant perennials, trees and shrubs to give them the greatest chance to get established before the spring winds.
Plant your spring flowering bulbs. Use Dutch Bulb Food to give them a boost for years to come.
Bring in any houseplants to avoid frost.
Prune deciduous trees, but only for structural and safety purposes. Do not prune fruit trees until February or March.