November Backyard and Garden Care Tips

Your squirrel proof birdfeeder is clean and full of seeds. Your decorative birdhouse has been cleaned and is ready for birds to roost in. You have planted your bulbs, cut back your periennels, and raked your lawn more times than you can count. And even winterized your outdoor garden fountain. So what could be left to do you say???...

There are still a couple more chores to complete before winter arrives. Keeping the lawn free of leaves is not all that has to be done in November.

Outdoor Furniture

If you live in the area of the country that has a winter season. This is the time to put your outdoor wooden furniture in a shed or garage. Other outdoor furniture should be covered.

If you live in an area that you are able to use your outdoor furniture year round this may be a good time to clean your outdoor furniture again. Specific cleaning instructions are detailed here..
Tips for Protecting Your Furniture From Water, Temperature, and Chemical Damage are also worth reviewing..

Prepare your Roses for Winter

Regardless of where you live, roses will require some preparation during the coming weeks. For those living in warmer hardiness zones, your tasks will be minimal. For those in colder climates, extraordinary preparations may be required. I found that GardenGuides.com gives great information by zone on this...

Trees and Shrubs:

• During the winter months, rabbits often gnaw on the bark of recently planted young trees. Apple, pear, crabapple, and serviceberry are frequent targets of rabbits. To protect these young trees from damage wrap it with either wire mesh, plastic wrap, or cylinders of hardware cloth. These materials should stand about 1 to 2 inches from the tree trunk and extend several inches above the expected snow depth. The bottom 2 to 3 inches should be buried beneath the soil.
• To help prevent winter injury of evergreen plants, make sure they are well watered going into freezing weather.
• Prune shrubs and trees that touch the house — in other words, create a breathing space between your house and your plants. Other than pruning as suggested above, it is best to wait to fully prune most plants until late winter. (Do not prune flowering shrubs and trees until after they bloom in the spring).

Other Garden Chores

• Mulch garden beds, but not until later in the month when plants are dormant. Use no more than 3 inches of mulch -- over-mulching holds in too much moisture and will lead to rot.
• Thoroughly water all your perennial plants to survive the winter
• November is a good time to place an order for new fruit trees, if you plan to plant or replace any trees next spring. Order only cultivars that will do well in your hardiness zone or location

Care of Garden Tools and Equipment

• Remove caked-on soil from shovels, spades, hoes, and rakes with a wire brush or a stiff putty knife and wash thoroughly with water
• Wipe the metal surfaces with an oily rag or spray with WD-40 to prevent rust.
• Sharpen the blades of hoes, shovels, and spades.
• Sand rough wooden handles, then wipe with linseed oil to prevent drying and cracking.
• Remove grass and other debris from the underside of the lawn mower. Drain and change the oil on mowers with four-cycle engines. Clean the air filter. Check the spark plug and change it if worn. Start the lawn mower and let it run until it is out of gas. Sharpen the mower blade.

Now seat back and relax till springtime

Wait a minute you can't relax you need to think about getting down your outdoor holiday lights to see what light sets need to be replaced. Need a new outdoor Christmas Decoration? So much for sitting down!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are looking to buy a decorative birdhouse, outdoor garden fountains, outdoor candle lanterns, outdoor wooden furniture, outdoor wrought iron furniture, ceramic tile tables, tuned wind chimes, or garden yard stakes. visit my website for the lowest prices of the 2008 season.

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October Backyard and Garden Care Tips
September Backyard and Garden Care Tips