BOTANICA LAND DESIGN
BOTANICA LAND DESIGN

November Week 1: Nutrients, Planting and Applying Pre-emergent

Weekly Garden Guide for November by on Saturday, November 2, 2013

raised garden beds

Botanica’s Weekly Garden Guide for November

Hello friends!

It’s November, and here in Texas it is finally starting to cool. This is when many of the plants in your yard and garden will begin to go dormant until spring. This week we want to talk about some important Central Texas gardening tips and considerations for the winter.

Week 1: Nutrients, Planting and Applying Pre-emergent

There’s lots to get done before the Thanksgiving holiday, but don’t feel overwhelmed. We’re going to take it one step at at time, starting with fertilizer. This week it is prime time to fertilize. You will want to fertilize all around your garden so your plants will comeback healthy and vibrant in the spring. Don’t forget your shrubs and trees, especially fruit trees. They will need to be fed before spring is in full swing. There is a very helpful guide from the Parker County Master Gardener Association on how to care for your fruiting trees. You can find it here.

Another thing to have in mind is pre-emergent treatments. Sure you want your lawn to grow healthy but you DON’T want your weeds in on the action. Pre-emergents should be applied no later than the end of November. Natural pre-emergents, like corn gluten meal, should be applied with a spreader before early spring at a rate of 20 lb. per 1,000 square feet. The application of a pre-emergent will make it difficult for new weeds to take root during sprouting season and the extra nitrogen will help your lawn come back nice and green in the spring.

If you plan on doing some planting, now is a good time to consider roses and new trees. This weekend would be a great time to pick out some vivid annuals and hearty ground covers to plant as well as considering transplanting items that may be outgrowing their current location. You can also divide your perennials now. Keep an eye out for our video on how to divide perennials coming soon.

Lastly, let’s not forget the lawn. Give your lawn a good top dressing with a fresh topsoil/compost mixture. If you’ve been experiencing problems with your lawn, send me an email at [email protected] and I will be happy to address your issues during our end of the month Q&A session. In the meantime consider ryegrass over seeding for lush looking lawns during the cold months. Special note, make sure that if you spread ryegrass seed, you allow it to fully germinate and grow 2-3 inches BEFORE applying your pre-emergent or those poor little seeds won’t stand a chance.

Thanks for tuning in! Come back next week for our discussion on wintertime pest control recommendations and don’t forget to send in your garden questions and concerns before the third thursday so we can help you out in the Botanica End of the Month Q&A Session. We are looking forward to seeing your progress during this wonderful winter.

Oscar Moraes

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