Gardening Calendar for November Colorado State University Extension Tri River Area Mesa Delta Montrose Ouray Counties

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Week 1
Finish planting tulips, daffodils and other hardy spring blooming bulbs, tubers and corms in November. These plants need to develop roots this fall before the ground freezes.	For bulbs and other perennials ordered from mail-order suppliers, prepare the ground where you plan on placing these plants. Apply a three to four inch layer of leaves or straw to keep the ground thawed in case these plants arrive later than expected.	The Dial-a-Garden Message (970 244-1706) provides additional gardening information on a weekly basis.	Irrigation systems need to be prepared for winter by expelling all the water from the system, or damage can occur to pipes, valves, and sprinklers. Consult your lawn care or irrigation professional for proper care of your system.	If you find it necessary to prune a sizable branch from a tree or shrub, leave a stub several inches long. In the spring, this stub can be removed.	Thin bark trees such as ash, honeylocust and maple should be wrapped with a commercial tree wrap from now until April 1 to protect against sunscald.	Grand Junction has two weather stations, one reports an average Fall Frost of 28 ^o F on November 2. Refer to the Climate Information for specifics.
Week 2
Don't burn or dump those leaves. They can be chopped up with a chipper/shredder or lawn mower and used to start a new compost pile.	Cuttings can be taken from many woody plants. Wrapped in damp burlap and buried below the frost line, or in damp sand or peat moss in a cool cellar these cuttings will develop callus tissue and be ready for rooting in the spring.	Grass seed sown this month and lightly raked in will germinate in the spring taking advantage of any winter moisture received. Applying a light covering of mulch helps retain moisture but only works in areas where strong winds are not experienced.	November 6 is Palisade's average Fall Frost of 28 ^o F	Leaf cuttings taken from Christmas Begonias and inserted in sand or vermiculite will root readily if kept about 75 ^o degrees F and moist.	Most house plants will not need fertilizer until spring unless grown under lights this winter.	Cold hardy vegetables such as peas, spinach and lettuce can be planted now for an early spring harvest. Prepare the ground as you normally would, plant seeds of these plants, cover lightly with soil and then with a one inch layer of mulch. Water!
Week 3
Tilling the annual vegetable and flower gardens up now will expose insect egg cases to the elements, permit the breakdown of soil clods and help improve soil tilth. Working organic matter into these areas will improve next year's gardens.	Cold frames should be made snug for the winter. A light covering of hay or leaves scattered inside the frame over perennials and biennials gives added protection from low temperatures.	House plants will need routine attention in regard to watering. Forced hot air heating systems will dry hanging baskets and other potted plants out quickly.	Applications for the CSU Tri River Area Master Gardener Program are due.			If you haven't done so yet, make your late season application of fertilizer to your lawn soon. Be sure to water this fertilizer in.
Week 4
Dry indoor air is hard on houseplants. Currents of forced air are especially drying; check your plants, and move them if they are losing leaves. Misting tends to compound problems of salt accumulation and foliar diseases.	If you must mist, use distilled water at room temperature, and avoid spraying any areas with any dark spots on the leaves. A better solution is to elevate plants over a pan of water, taking care that the pots do not sit in the water. Grouping plants together will also increase humidity.	Avoid placing house plants in west or south facing windows unless a pair of sheer curtains are between the glass and the plant. Imperfections in the glass can cause foliar burning.		Gardening workshops are listed on the World Wide Web. This listing provides local, regional and national workshops that should be of interested to gardeners.	In mid November the soil in Grand Junction has normally reached 40 ^o F at a depth of two inches. Root growth of most plants ceases at or below this temperature.	To protect trees and shrubs from dehydration, water monthly from November through February. Water when air temperature is above freezing, and early enough in the day to allow water to soak into the soil before night. Water that freezes on the surface will cause suffocation problems.
Week 5
When selecting a cut Christmas tree, check to make sure the needles are pliable; brittle needles indicate dehydration has already begun. When you get the tree home, trim off the base of the trunk, and set it immediately in water. A tree may use as much as a gallon of water in the first twenty-four hours; check frequently, to make sure it doesn't dry out.	Clean gutters and drains of fallen leaves to prevent clogging this winter. Do not allow leaves to lie for long periods in masses on the grass as the grass will suffocate and die.	Be sure to drain garden pools before the water freezes. Tropical water lilies and other tender aquatics should have already been taken indoors but hardy water lilies may be over wintered by placing them in a cool cellar in their water logged containers or covering them with two to three feet of leaves or straw in the bottom of the drained pool.	Continue to work the gardens until the ground freezes. This is a good time to work in fresh manure, leaves and other organic matter.	Cold drafts can harm house plants. House plants are also damaged if placed near a heater register or other heat source.	If you are moving into a new home this winter, or planning a new garden in the spring, consider getting your soil tested for salt levels. Salts in the soil cause significant problems for many plants in Western Colorado, especially in our heavy clay soils. A salt test is easily done, and may save a lot of money and heartache.	House plants that receive insufficient light become long and spindly. High temperature can also cause this condition. Be sure to provide the conditions needed by your house plants.