"Tips to help you with your November Poplar Bluff gardening schedule."

by Master Gardener Nancy

• If you have not fertilized your trees or shrubs this summer, do it now. Fertilize from under the drip line and beyond.
• Coat your garden tools with a light coat of oil after cleaning them, to prepare for storage.
• Drain your garden equipment fuel tanks.
• Prune bleeder trees like maples, elms, and birch in the early part of winter. Prune only for safety and structural purposes.
• Apply mulch around base of roses after mid-November to winterize. To avoid giving insects a place to over winter, wait until after several early freezes to mulch.
• Apply dormant oil for scale-infested trees and shrubs before temperatures fall below 40 degrees F. Follow label instructions.
• Watch for freezing temperatures and be sure to unscrew your hoses from the faucets if freeze warning.
• Prune vines and summer blooming plants. Do not prune spring blooming plants, like azalea.
• Keep feeding the birds and hummingbirds. They know when to leave. Don't worry about it.
• Marigolds will bloom until the frost arrives. Feed, water and deadhead.
• Marigolds will bloom until the frost arrives. Feed, water and deadhead.
• Plant and fertilize pansy's now. Will survive winter if protected with mulch. Other cool weather flowers can be planted now.
• Do not feed your dormant houseplants now.
• Start bringing your non hardy plants inside the house or garage.
• Buy your amaryllis bulbs now so they'll bloom by Christmas. Whoops, the amaryllis bulbs from last year should have been prepared by Sept 15, but go ahead now. Cut leaves off and let the bulb rest for 8 weeks. Then plant in a rich soil. Should bloom in January.
• Plant winter and spring flowering bulbs
• Tie down climbing rose vines to protect them from the winter winds.
• Dig a hole for that live Christmas tree you're thinking of buying, cover the hole to prevent it from freezing, then when Christmas is over, plant in the hole.
• Cover the crown and bud union of your roses with soil to protect from the winter cold. Wait until the ground freezes to apply mulch to deter wintering pests.
• Keep watering shrubs so they have enough moisture to survive the winter.