October 15, 2025

November Gardening Checklist

Monthly Guide

November Gardening Checklist

There’s so much to love about fall in the garden —and yes, there is still time in November to get the lawn and garden ready for the winter months ahead! Cooler temperatures make it enjoyable for us as gardeners, while warm soil, crisp nights, and increased chances for rainfall create ideal conditions for planting and other key tasks.

pruning

trees, shrubs & perennials

While heavy pruning is best left for spring and summer, fall still offers plenty of opportunities to tidy up the garden before winter.

  • Trees & Shrubs | Remove anything dead, diseased, or damaged at any time. Save heavier pruning and shaping for late winter or early spring (unless it’s a spring bloomer) when temperatures begin to warm up.
  • Established Perennials | Deadhead as needed and cut back yellowed or dying foliage. It’s okay to leave plants that provide winter interest or food for the birds like grasses, coneflowers, sedum, and clematis.
  • First-year Perennials| Let these plants die back naturally; their dried foliage provides natural winter protection. Prune down to the ground once new growth begins in spring. This also applies to newly-planted fall seasonal mums that are trying to establish.

watering

why it's important

If rainfall has been light, keep the garden watered until winter sets in — including established perennials, trees, and shrubs. Providing adequate moisture (1 inch of water per week) helps plants stay healthy through the colder months and reduces the risk of winter damage and dieback.

Pro Tip 1 | It’s best to water in the morning, giving plants time to absorb moisture before temperatures drop at night. Water slowly, deeply, and less frequently, rather than giving lots of shallow drinks, to encourage roots to grow deep into the soil.

Pro Tip 2 | To provide 1 inch of water to in-ground plantings, use a soaker hose for about an hour, or place the garden hose at the base of the plant and leave it on a trickle for about 30 minutes.

planting

trees, shrubs, perennials & bulbs

Fall is still a fantastic time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials. The warm days and crisp night temperatures encourage strong root growth, reduce transplant stress, and set plants up for success when spring returns.

Perennials | It’s best to get perennials in the ground by mid-October. Insulate newly-planted perennials with 4-6 inches of fresh mulch to help protect their root systems through winter.

Trees & Shrubs | Continue planting until the ground freezes in late fall. Use a starter fertilizer, like Espoma Organic® Bio-tone, to encourage healthy root establishment, and water in well.

Spring-Blooming Bulbs | Plant daffodils, tulips, crocus, garlic, and other spring bulbs. A good rule of thumb is to plant each bulb at a depth about three times its length.

fertilizing

to feed or not to feed

  • Evergreens | Feed evergreens like Hollies, Azaleas, and Spruces with Holly-tone® and Iron-tone® before the end of the month
  • Perennials | Wait until early spring to fertilize perennials
  • Deciduous Trees & Shrubs | Hold off on fertilizing trees and shrubs that shed their leaves for winter until early spring.
  • Houseplants | Pause fertilizing houseplants until daylight savings time in March, when they begin actively growing again.

winter protection

for trees, shrubs & perennials

A few simple steps in late fall help gardens thrive, resulting in stronger blooms and healthier foliage in spring.

  • Protect the trunks of young trees from deer, pests, and winter damage by applying a vinyl tree wrap.
  • Wrap burlap around rose canes, mophead hydrangeas, and oakleaf hydrangeas after leaves drop. These plants are particularly susceptible to winter damage, which can affect next year’s growth and flowering.
  • Apply 4-6 inches of mulch around the base of perennials and shrubs, especially those that have been newly planted to insulate roots and help retain moisture.
  • Spray all the deer favorites with Plantskydd®, Repels-All®, or I Must Garden® before a hard freeze; if it is too cold to spray repellents, fence the deer favorites with burlap to keep them from browsing.

Wilt Stop®

for winter protection

Wilt Stop® is an anti-desiccant spray that helps lock in moisture, forming a proactive coating that helps prevent plants from drying out. Apply it to tender plants such as roses and oakleaf or mophead hydrangeas before wrapping them in burlap for an extra layer of protection. It can also be used on boradleaf evergreens like hollies, rhododendrons, and boxwoods in late December to help retain moisture through winter.

Pro Tip | Refrain from spraying blue evergreens (it will turn their foliage green).

indoor gardening

houseplants & bulbs

  • November is typically the time to bring houseplants that have spent the summer outside back indoors. Follow this guide to learn how to prepare them to come indoors for the winter.
  • Lower light levels indoors means no feeding and less watering for indoor plants, and be sure to keep them away from hot and cold drafts through windows, heat vents and doorways.
  • Mist houseplants regularly to help replenish moisture lost by indoor heating, or place them on a humidity tray.
  • Pot up winter bulbs indoors like amaryllis, hyacinth, and paperwhites at the beginning of the month to enjoy blooms in 6-10 weeks — just in time for the holidays!
Watch Planting Winter Bulbs

fall gardening

perfect time of year

November brings an excellent opportunity to plant spring blooming bulbs, while also getting your yard and garden in it’s best shape going into the winter months ahead.

We are so excited to help out at any of our ten locations with any questions, guidance, or materials you may need to begin.

View Our November Checklist

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