To-Do List for November

Zone 3

If rainfall has been light, deeply water trees and shrubs before the ground freezes.
To successfully overwinter half-hardy plants (such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and butterfly bushes), surround them with a wire cage and cover them with a thick layer of dry leaves.
Force a few bulbs for indoor winter color; plant half now and half in 2 weeks for a longer show.
Check stored tubers, bulbs, potatoes, onions, and garlic for spoilage and softness.
Winterize all power tools before storing.
Sharpen, clean, and repair hand tools before storing them.
Clean and fill bird feeders.

Zone 4

Rid the garden of plant debris that might allow diseases and pests to survive the winter.
Wrap the trunks of young trees to protect their tender bark from winter injury.
Don't remove snow and ice from evergreens—rescue efforts may do more harm than good.
Clean up all dropped fruit and other debris from beneath fruit trees.
Cut lawn grass short now—tall grasses can become moldy beneath snow cover.
After the ground freezes, cover perennials with mulch to keep frost-thaw cycles from heaving them out of the ground.
Turn the compost pile and add water if it feels dry.

Zone 5

Plant garlic cloves and shallots 2 inches deep and 4 inches apart; mulch with 6 inches of straw or shredded leaves.
Dig up remaining root crops.
Still time to haul in a pot of parsley: Pot it, water well, and set in a bright window.
Don't remove chrysanthemum foliage—leave it to protect the crown.
Cut back other perennials (except spring bloomers, roses, and grasses) to a few inches above soil level.
Prune tea roses back to 8 to 12 inches high, mound compost around the bud union, then cover with a rose cone.
Dig the hole for planting live Christmas trees now—before the soil freezes.

Zone 6

Finish cleanup—gather leaves for the compost pile or for winter mulch on beds.
Don't miss your last chance to plant spring-blooming bulbs, such as daffodils and tulips.
Continue to thin lettuce and spinach.
Mulch crops you want to overwinter with a thick layer of straw.
Harvest frost-sweetened Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, cabbage, and kale.
Don't cut back ornamental grasses; they add beauty to the landscape and provide shelter for overwintering beneficials and wildlife.
Cut back other perennials (except spring bloomers, roses, and mums) to a few inches above soil level.

Zone 7

Cover lettuce, chard, spinach, sorrel, chives, and parsley with floating row covers, before the first hard freeze.
Continue to plant trees and shrubs.
Set out new strawberries or move rooted runners early this month.
Sow poppy seeds now for flowers next May.
Gather leaves to add to the compost pile or to shred and use as winter mulch.
Pot up a clump of mint, let it freeze one time, then bring it indoors for snipping throughout the winter.
Feed leeks, then hill up soil around them to begin the blanching process.

Zone 8

Fruit trees will arrive at nurseries for fall planting; shop early for the best selection.
Harvest cold-sensitive veggies—such as tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers—that you planted in July.
Under row covers, plant cool-loving crops, such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, peas, carrots, kale, radishes, mustard, turnips, beets, and spinach.
Plant more cilantro, parsley, and fennel.
Plant strawberries (‘Chandler', ‘Sweet Charlie', and ‘Sequoia') so plants will be established by spring.
Sow seeds of poppies, larkspur, and delphiniums for early spring color.

Zone 9

Pull up tomato plants, roots and all, to hang in a protected place; pick fruits as they ripen.
Plant prechilled spring-flowering bulbs early this month.
Plant garlic, shallots, fava beans, onion sets, and leeks.
Harvest Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, turnips, collards, and kale after frost sweetens their flavor.
Cover spinach and lettuce with floating row covers to protect them from frost.
Broadcast wildflower seed, then lightly rake it in, for a bright spring show.
Spread compost or composted manure around citrus trees to encourage spring growth and blossoming.

Zone 10

See that the garden receives at least an inch of water a week (from either rainfall or you).
If a freeze is predicted, soak the ground (not the plants), then cover everything with straw, row covers, or protective material.
Plant successive runs of tender, fast-growing greens, such as cilantro and chervil.
Harvest beans, peas, lettuce, squashes, carrots, cucumbers, early melons, and kale.
Continue to harvest ripening fruit; clean up unusable fruits that fall to prevent disease.
Continue to start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, but be prepared to protect tender seedlings from cold.
Cut back raspberries.
Feed roses some low-nitrogen, organic fertilizer.
Plant callas, gladioli, and dahlias for spring and summer bloom.