November 2006

   The clocks have been set back and we are starting to think about cooking the Thanksgiving turkey and all of those fun holiday things yet to come !   You should have finished all of your fall planting by this time with the exception of your fall bulbs.  These can be planted until the ground is no longer workable.  And as the weather has been particularly warm you should still have plenty of time for that.

    Now is the time to pot bulbs for indoor forcing.  White narcissus is one of the easiest and will bloom in time for Christmas if brought indoors in mid November.  You can also pot Daffodils and crocus for flowering a little later on.

    You should dig out all of your tender bulbs which are dahlias, cannas, caladiums, gladioli and store them indoors in peat moss or light soil so that they do not dry out.  Do not store them in plastic.  Brown paper is best.  You can keep them in your garage or basement so they will not freeze. 

    Cut and dry artemesias for wreaths, sprays and dried bouquets.  Also cut stems of seed pods for decorations such as Black-eyed Susan, Globe Thistle, Hibiscus, Asciepias, Milkweed and Money Plant to use in arrangements.  Leave your grasses for some winter interest in the garden - they may be cut back in early spring before they begin to grow.

   If you left your pumpkins from Halloween whole you could now cut them up and take out the seeds and roast them for a tasty snack!  Or you can put them out for the birds.

    It is good to mow the leaves on your lawn without a grass catcher and leave them on your lawn as a natural mulch for the lawn over the winter.  They will add nutrition to the soil as they decompose.  Fertilizer can be added to the lawn for the last time in late November.

    Finish cutting back your perennials that have turned yellow or brown.  Some perennials such as Iris and Oriental Poppies produce green leaves in the fall - you should leave these intact.  Wait until the ground is frozen to put down winter mulch (usually late November) It will protect the soil from heaving when the ground freezes and thaws alternately.  Straw, evergreen boughs and pine needle are suitable mulched.  Peonies and Bearded Iris are best left without a mulch so that the roots do not rot.  You may also add organic material such as compost, leaves and manure to your soil. 

    For any of you who were out and about Tuesday morning November 14 you might have seen groups of garden club members at the Black Rock School House, Town Hall and the Route 80 traffic circle. These three gardens are maintained by the Killingworth Evergreen Garden Club. We thank all of you who participated.  For any of you gardeners who are interested in joining the garden club.....We meet the second Tuesday of every month(except July and August).  For more information call Elizabeth Verderame 663-8023.

Happy Gardening