The time between Halloween and Thanksgiving is one of the most important times of the year to take care of your yard. There is a lot to do this month so let’s get stuck in!

This is the time to prune most of your shrubbery, except the spring blooming plants that bloom on old wood like Azaleas and Rhododendrons, or plants that provide winter interest like Ornamental Grasses. Also roses should be pruned in March.

Pruning is an art that requires a knowledge of the growing and blooming characteristics of each plant, as well as correct pruning techniques, and the right pruning equipment. We always prune by hand and in a way that each plant can maintain its individuality within the space allotted for it. Good pruning means you should not see the cuts after the pruning is completed!

Leland Cypresses and Arborvitae should be shaped at this time of year to protect them from ice and snow storm damage.

We recommend feeding your shrubbery with an organic fertilizer like ‘Hollytone’ or ‘Plantone’ when you prune.

Creative Landscapes can hand prune and feed your shrubbery, call or email for a free estimate.

November is the best month to plant deciduous trees. They have lost their leaves and so they can be dug without damage by the nurseries at this time of year. You get a nice fresh plant that will put on roots during the winter, and will be much stronger for next year.

It can sometimes be dry in November, so make sure you continue to water any evergreens that were planted this year. It is also good to give all your evergreens one watering, before you shut the water off, to help them through the winter.

It is important to protect your smaller evergreens this month from winter grazing by deer. Cover your Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Yews, and Hollies with black plastic netting you can buy at the garden center. For more information on controlling deer look at Preventing Deer Damage.

Continue to remove leaves from your lawn and don’t forget to keep cleaning out the gutters! Leaves make excellent compost. All you have to do is put them in a contained area and in one year they will turn to soil!

After the first hard frost you can dig out your annual bulbs like Dahlias, Cannas and tuberous Begonias. Store in the back of the garage, wrapped in burlap and placed in big pots or cardboard boxes. Occasionally apply a little moisture to prevent from drying out completely during the winter.

You can continue to plant spring blooming bulbs such as Tulips and Daffodils into early December. Look at October for more information.

After the hard frost pull out your dead annuals and summer vegetables (leave Swiss Chard, Beets and Carrots), and cut back your perennials as soon as the stems go brown.

Turn off your faucets on the inside and drain the water out by opening the drain valve on the inside. Then leave the outside faucet open for the winter.

After the leaves have been blown off, late November is a good time to put a coating of wood chips on woodland paths.

Make sure you have bought your firewood in early November as some distributors may be sold out by December!

At the end of the month sand and oil all your garden tools and sharpen your mower blades for next year. Put a few drops of engine protector in the gas tank of any small machine or mower you will not be using during the winter. Then run the machine for a few minutes to work the protectant around the cylinders.

Broadleaf evergreens such as Hollies that are exposed to northwest winds, or are in a sunny spot, should be protected by spraying with an anti-desiccant such as ‘Wilt-Pruf’.

Take stock of your garden before it gets too cold, and set up an appointment now with a landscape designer to draw up a landscape plan for next year for those areas of your yard that need improvement.

By calling us now we can have a design ready for you to be installed early next spring, instead of calling us next spring and having the design planted in the summer!

Call Creative Landscapes for all your landscaping projects!

Check the Garden Planner next month and every month to have the best garden in your neighborhood!

Happy gardening from the folks at Creative Landscapes!