Mid-South: November & December 2015

Southeast Region

• Continue planting winter vegetables, such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, onions, radishes, and spinach.
  
  
• Continue planting herbs that like cooler weather, such as dill, sage, thyme, cilantro, fennel, and parsley.
  
  
• Plant cool-season flowers, such as carnations, pansies, petunias, and snapdragons.
  
  
• Now is a good time to plant ornamental trees and shrubs.
  
  
• Use dormant oil sprays to control scale on ornamental plants, trees, and shrubs.
  
  
• Protect citrus trees if freezing temperatures are predicted. Water a day prior and you may also use covers.
  
  
• Avoid any heavy pruning jobs, as they will encourage growth that may be damaged during the winter.
  
  
• Remember the birds. As you prune, make a small pile in the back of the yard for your feathered friends.
  
  
• Remember to water your lawn during dry weather to keep it healthy.
  
  
• Plant hardy annuals, such as poppies, pansies, and larkspur.
  
  
• Top-dress your perennial beds with a layer of compost.
  
  
• Be sure to water your shrubs and trees throughout the winter, especially if the weather is dry.
  
  
• Refresh the mulch around your plants to help retain moisture and control weeds.
  
  
• Remove the leaves from your lawn, as they can encourage disease.
  
  

• In some southern areas, you can still plant cool-season vegetables, such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, onions, and carrots.
  
  
• In some areas, you can still plant cool-season herbs such as parsley, thyme, sage, dill, fennel, cilantro, comfrey, and garlic.
  
  
• Take root cuttings from your cold-sensitive perennials. Plant them in pots and keep them indoors; you can use these to replace any plants that are killed during the winter.
  
  
• You can still transplant trees and shrubs.
  
  
• Check the soil moisture of your lawn throughout the winter and water when necessary.
  
  
• Don’t prune cold-damaged plants yet.
  
  
• Continue planting hardy annual seeds to add color to your winter garden: petunia, pansy, snapdragon lobelia, alyssum, and viola.
  
  
• Remember to clean the rows in your garden to help prevent insects and diseases.
  
  
• Test your soil. Now is a good time to add lime if it is necessary.
  
  
• Start inspecting houseplants regularly for pests.
  
  
• Start planning next year’s garden. Think about which crops did well and which didn’t fare well so that you can order better varieties next time. Think about the quantity of each crop and whether it was enough or too much. Assess learning before ordering seeds for next year.
  
  
• Before sending your seed order, draw a map of the garden area. This way, you’ll order the right amount of seeds.
  
  
• In empty garden beds, spread manure and compost over the garden and plow under to prepare your soil for next year.
  
  
• Add fallen leaves to your compost pile or use for mulch.
  
  
• Bring a poinsettia into your home. See Almanac.com for tips on how to keep poinsettias going strong.