This week in the garden: Nov. 8 - 14

Harvest fall foliage and vegetables to make an autumn centerpiece. (Photo: PickPic)

Tasks

• The tuberous roots of sweet potatoes will be ruined if the foliage is damaged by frost. Harvest before freezing temperatures kill the vines.
• Use fall leaves as mulch.
• This is the month to stimulate flower bud formation in your Christmas cactus by placing it in darkness for 12 to 14 hours each day when the temperature is 50° to 55° at night.

Pruning

• “Pre?prune” roses by aggressively deadheading spent blooms and removing leaves from canes to nudge plants into dormancy.
• Prune shrubs and trees to shape, except for spring-flowering varieties.
• Thin black pine candles.

Fertilizing

• For even application of nutrients, use time?release fertilizer formulations on cool season vegetables.

Planting

• As outdoor garden activity slows, use the time to transfer some design ideas to paper.
• Fruits and vegetables: cabbage, garlic.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: almond, apple, apricot.
• Annuals: snapdragon (Antirrhinum), calendula, Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica), Leucanthemum paludosum, Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule).

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: snapdragon (Antirrhinum), calendula.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: paperwhite (Narcissus).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: abelia.
• Fruits and vegetables: apples, broccoli, cabbage, limes.
• Fall color: aster, Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba).

Things to ponder

• Feed the birds, including resident hummingbirds (and remember to clean your feeders regularly).
• Repair shops are busiest in spring. Now is a good time to have repairs made to power tools and to have your lawn mower serviced.
• Historically, Nov. 15 is the first frost date for Zone 8 and Dec. 15 for Zone 9, but frost may occur earlier.
• Move or cover tender plants. Plastic is not recommended.

Drought tip

• Clean rain gutters and use downspout extensions to direct rain runoff back into the landscape, rather than into the street and storm drains.