If you’re tempted to stay inside this month, just think how good you feel after a spending a few hours in the cool, crisp fresh air of fall.
Inspired? Good! Because there is still plenty of work to do in the garden to get planting beds ready for the spring.
Now is a good time to remineralize your soil and replace minerals and trace elements (like magnesium, calcium, silicon and iron) that have been depleted and which are essential to plant and human health. Apply Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster to your soil and let the winter rain and snow take care of the rest. In the spring, your plants will thank you with stronger, faster and healthier growth (not to mention better tasting fruits and vegetables).
Late fall is also a good time to prune lavender to ensure good development of flowers and essential oils in the spring. Cut flowers down to two leaf nodes above the grey and woody part of the stem, leaving about 2 inches of green stalk. This will help prevent leggy, scraggly plants.
November is also one of the best times of the year to plant or transplant landscape trees and shrubs. The cool weather and plentiful rain give root systems a chance to settle in and grow strong before the summer. By planting trees and shrubs in the fall, you make it easier for them to deal with the heat and drought of the next season.
Planting in the fall also gives you a preview of what to look forward to. The vibrant reds and yellows of fall foliage provide a welcome “pop” of color that you can enjoy season after season. Consider planting shrubs like flowering current, sumac, elderberry and mock orange which are not just beautiful to look at but also provide essential food and shelter to birds during the winter.
When planting trees and shrubs, use approximately one cup of Cascade Minerals per inch of trunk diameter. Our all-natural, finely milled volcanic basalt can help promote strong growth and help make trees and shrubs more resistant to disease.
Last but not least, now is your last chance to plant spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. But hurry, time is running short! Soon it will be time to sit back, relax…and start preparing for the spring.
