November is a month to sit back and reflect on the garden season. Spring and summer’s challenges reminded us to be ready with plant covers and perseverance, but the unusually abundant moisture provided memories to keep us smiling through winter.
INDOORS
Make some notes about this year’s garden: what worked, what didn’t and ideas for next year. Keep track of where, what and how many outdoor bulbs were planted; if winter is as dry as fall has been, you’ll want to give them some occasional water.
Start amaryllis bulbs indoors in early November for late December bloom and stagger planting into the New Year. Have fun choosing sizes and colors, which include shades of red, salmon, pink, green, yellow, white plus dramatic bicolors and stripes.
Use new potting soil and 6-inch pots with a third of the bulb showing above the pot rim. Water well and place in a cool area. Hold off on more watering until growth appears, then water more frequently and move to a sunny location. Good-quality bulbs should produce two flower stalks with four flowers on each stem. More: www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1303.html
Paperwhite narcissus bulbs are quick and easy to grow in either water or soil. Garden centers stock paperwhites through the winter season, so plant them often, and ask the kids or grandkids to help.
Use a clear container filled with a 2-inch layer of pebbles. Place the bulbs on top, then fill in around them with more pebbles to keep them in place.
Add water until it touches the bottom of the bulbs and maintain that level. Place in a bright room that’s not too warm (70 is just fine). They’ll start blooming as early as three weeks after planting. Use twigs, chopsticks or stakes to support the stems.
The three most common indoor seasonal cacti — a.k.a. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter cactus — explode with color just at the time you think they would. Cool temperatures (60 degrees at night) and nine hours of sunlight cue these plants to bloom after six or more weeks. Reduce watering when the flower buds form, then water weekly as the buds swell.
Flower color deepens when the plant is allowed to dry out between watering (but don’t go so dry that flowers will drop). More: www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1353.html
Houseplants don’t need as much care as family pets, but they, too, enhance your life. Indoor plants need you most in the winter, with its dry air, fluctuating temperatures and light conditions.
Know your plant and what kind of moisture it prefers. Too much or too little water is a common problem. The general rule is, water when the top third of the soil is dry. Water until it drains from the bottom of the container (if it doesn’t drain, make drainage holes, especially for plants that are gift-wrapped in foil.
Rotate the plant so all sides get even light. Move them away from heater vents and open windows.
Groom regularly: Cut off yellow or withered leaves.
Watch for whiteflies, mealybugs or scale insects. Many pests can be treated with insecticidal soaps: www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05595.html
Most houseplants don’t need fertilizing this time of year unless they are getting ready to bloom.
If you’re buying plants in cold weather, cover them with bags or cloths for the trip to the car and to your house to protect against cold. Isolate them for a few days to make sure they aren’t carrying hitchhiker insects.
If you’re itching to try some houseplants this winter, the easiest ones to grow have thicker leaves. Look for Zamioculcas (the “ZZ plant”) Chinese evergreens or philodendrons. Don’t overlook gorgeous bloomers such as orchids, cyclamen and bromeliads. For fragrance, try gardenia, jasmine and lavender. Find more detailed how-to information on popular indoor plants at www.cmg.colostate.edu/pubs/HousePlants.html
IN THE LANDSCAPE
“Finish up, clean up and put away” is the general theme this month.
Rake fallen leaves and use as plant-insulating mulch throughout the landscape or in vegetable beds. You don’t want the leaves to mat, so mow over them first or shred them using a mulching machine.
Don’t like to rake? Hate the sound of a leaf blower? Leave leaves on the lawn to improve your turf and soil. Mow over them several times in different directions when leaves are dry. Chopped up leaf litter is organic gold to your lawn.
There are exceptions: Cottonwood and oak leaves don’t break down as easily, so chop them and put in the compost pile.
Check wiring, straps and stakes on newly planted trees to make sure they aren’t pinching or girdling the trunk or nearby branches. These supports are only necessary for a short while on new trees (one to two growing seasons). More: csfs.colostate.edu/pages/planting.html
Fall is an excellent time to prepare a new planting area for next spring. The popular “lasagna gardening” method, also known as sheet composting, is a very easy and inexpensive way to prepare a new bed using what you have: leaves, lawn clippings, spent foliage, cardboard and kitchen scraps. For all the details, consult this plan, written for schools: http://bit.ly/1wwY0zV
Fall is a great time to test the soil in your lawn, planting beds or vegetable garden, especially if you suspect nutrition or soil quality issues. More: soiltestinglab.colostate.edu/
Turf grass appreciates a last dose of nitrogen-containing fertilizer before it goes dormant for the season. The lawn should still be green and moist when fertilized so there’s good absorption. If it’s been dry, water a day or two before application. If you really want to love next spring’s lawn, aerate, then fertilize.
Winterize your mower by using up all its gas to prevent damage to the carburetor. Disconnect the spark plug, clean the underside with a putty knife or wire brush and sharpen the blade before storing for the winter. The oil can be drained and changed now or early next spring. If you’ve gone electric, you win karma points, and all you need do is sharpen the blade and bring the battery, if it detaches for charging, indoors.
After several hard freezes, mulch newly planted or tender roses like hybrid teas with a mound of well-draining compost or shredded bark. More: www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1726.html
Drain and disconnect outdoor hoses after use, but keep them handy in order to winter-water trees or new plantings. Homes with uninsulated hose bibs or connections may need covering to prevent freezing.
Clean and sharpen your garden toolsso they’re ready when you are next spring. Many hardware stores and garden centers offer cleaning and sharpening services.
Betty Cahill: gardenpunchlist.blogspot.com
