Now that the weather is colder and plants are entering their dormant period, it’s time to inspect, drain, clean, roll up, and store hoses.
Drain irrigation systems in preparation for winter.
Clean, sharpen, organize, and store garden tools.
Inventory any leftover seed packets, organize them by category, and store in a cool, dry place.
Ornamental Garden
Water newly planted trees and shrubs deeply before the first hard freeze so that they are better prepared to withstand winter weather.
Wait until after a killing frost has occurred to cut back late-blooming chrysanthemums. Leave about 3 inches of stalks above the ground.
Fertilize trees and shrubs as needed before the ground freezes so that the nutrients are available to the plants in early spring.
Protect younger trees from deer damage by wrapping the tree trunk with a physical barrier such as a fence, a wire mesh trunk guard, chicken wire, or a plastic tube or pipe. Make sure the barrier does not rub against the bark or restrict the trunk from expanding as it grows.
Finish preparing ponds and water features for winter. Scoop fallen leaves from the water and remove dead stems and foliage from aquatic plants to prevent the debris from decaying in the water over the winter months.
Drain garden hoses and store them in a protected place before the onset of cold weather.
After the ground freezes, place a layer of mulch over the root zone of new plantings added during the fall months to help protect them from soil heaving. Keep mulch from touching the trunks of tree and shrubs.
Tulips and Dutch irises may be planted in November’s cooler weather (less than 60° F). The colder soil temperatures will prevent the bulbs from sending up shoots before the roots are established. Plant the bulbs deeply to protect them from mice, voles, and squirrels.
Clean, dry, and store Terra cotta pots, rain gauges, bird baths, garden art, and any other gardening items that may be damaged by winter weather.
Clean greenhouse windows to allow the maximum amount of sunlight to penetrate to plants. Inspect for any broken or cracked windows and repair or replace them now.
Check all pesticide, fungicide, and herbicide containers to make sure they are well sealed. Store containers in a frost-free area over winter.
Inspect lawn mowers, tillers, or other gardening equipment for any servicing requirements. Do not wait until spring to start servicing equipment.
Edible Garden
Clean up all spent plant matter from vegetable beds. This is important to prevent pathogens and pest larvae from overwintering in the soil.
If you weren’t able to do this in October, cut asparagus stalks back to within 2 inches of the ground once frost kills the foliage.
For cold-season crops being grown under low tunnels and frost covers, monitor both night and day time temperatures closely. On mild days, heat can build up under the frost covers and “cook” the vegetable foliage.
Before the ground freezes, place a thick layer of straw or shredded leaves over root crops such as carrots, beets, turnips, and rutabaga to protect them from extreme cold. To harvest, push aside enough mulch to access the quantity of vegetables needed.
If you didn’t get around to planting garlic in late October, plant it in early November and place a 6-inch layer of straw over top.
Remove all weeds, particularly chickweed and other cold-season weeds, from the vegetable beds.
Lawn
For the last grass cutting of the season, mow the lawn fairly short in preparation for winter. Although not normally a problem in Virginia lawns, grass that is left too long over the winter months can fall over on itself and become matted under a heavy snow. That reduces air circulation and can create the perfect conditions for a destructive early spring lawn disease called snow mold.
Clean your lawn mower and remove any gasoline from it in preparation for winter storage.
