In November, plants in the ground, especially newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials, need the equivalent of one inch of precipitation per month. Plants in containers need more since they dry out faster. If natural precipitation does not arrive, this will be necessary throughout the winter for ALL plants. Our expert tips will help you make the most of this late Fall month, read on!

Plant Doctor Quips

Our Pyramid Way Plant Doctor, Nick Macaluso says, “It may seem like a good idea to cut back all of your perennials as soon as possible, but it is important to let your plants go fully dormant before you cut them back. They are in the process of pulling all of the nutrients stored in their leaves to their root system. Cutting the foliage prematurely will prevent this process from happening and could make it so they don’t have enough energy stored in their roots to survive the winter. ”

Our South Virginia plant doctor, Steve Packer explains, “It is still time to plant Spring blooming bulbs like Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinth outside if the ground isn’t frozen. It is also easy and fun to force a few of  these bulbs to bloom indoors if you have the time and space. Begin by planting bulbs (like the ones listed above) in a 6” or Larger pot filled with potting soil. The top third of the bulb should be above the soil. Water in thoroughly and place in a cool dark area like in your roomy fridge or in your garage. Temps need to be around 45 degrees if possible for at least 12 plus weeks before bringing out of the cool darkness. Place in a sunny window and watch them bloom in around 3 or 4 weeks.“

Our Moana Lane Plant Doctor, Jonathan Bruyn says, “Weed Control is one of the most frustrating tasks in Northern Nevada. Weeds seem to sprout up every time we water and water is of course is a necessity. We can minimize weeds with controlling watering but that does not always work. Weeds can germination at any time when a warm period follows one of those precipitation events that we can have, and then when spring comes, that weed shoots up so we can see it. Chemical controls help and Moana Nursery has a good one for that extra leg up for that weed free yards. Ike’s Sandbur and Crabgrass Preventer is a long lasting pre-emergent for lawns and landscape that can significantly help control weeds by preventing the germination of weed seeds. It can be applied multiple times a year, up to very eight weeks for some applications, which makes it very versatile for your needs.”

Our Pyramid Way Plant Doctor, Jeni Lowery says, “Even though indoor plants usually require less water during the winter when we have less daylight, pay attention to any plants that are near a heater vent – as the added air flow and dry air can cause the soil and leaves to dry out faster. If you have Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus – give them a blooming fertilizer to optimize their full potential and produce abundant flowers for you.”

Bird Nerd, Lisa Braginton explains, “If you have dove, quail, spotted towhees, juncos, and white-crowned sparrows arriving in your yard, consider adding a platform feeder filled with millet to your feeding station. Ground feeding birds love this highly digestible, nutritious seed and it helps them to meet their calorie needs in cold weather. One of the best ways to enjoy a wide variety of birds in your yard is to be seasonally savvy, and adjust your food offerings in ways that make sense through the seasons. Our No-Mess Diced Peanut blend is perfect for year ‘round feeding and contains millet, but when temperatures start to really drop, it helps to provide ground feeding birds with a dedicated source of food.“

November
Moana Nursery High Desert Gardening
Timely Tips

  • Once nighttime temperatures drop to below freezing for a few consecutive days, turn off your irrigation system and drain the valves. 
  • Don’t panic if you see yellow or brown needles which then drop on pines, firs and spruce; as long as they are not at the end of each branch, it’s usually normal shedding. If the needle die-off is at the end of the branch, then contact a Moana Nursery professional for advice.
  • Depending on your location, you may need to water during a warm period later this month or early December and continue to do so throughout the winter. This will result in healthy plants that are less stressed and susceptible to disease and insects, thus allowing you to enjoy them more.
  • Regularly rake lawns to keep falling leaves and twigs from suffocating grass.
  • Fertilize lawns for a final time early this month with Fertilome Winterizer for Established Lawns or G&B Organics Lawn Fertilizer slow-release organic product high in nitrogen; it will help lawns retain green color longer in winter and color up faster in early spring.
  • Avoid walking on frozen turf; it breaks grass blades.
  • Add 2 to 4 inches of G&B Organic Soil Building Conditioner (SBC) to garden beds once the ground has completely frozen. Moana recommends SBC because it stays in place.
  • Continue to add grass clippings, leaves and dried plant material to your compost pile; turn regularly to speed decomposition.
  • Before temperatures fall below freezing, disconnect outside water hoses, drain and store indoors.
  • Sharpen and oil tools.
  • Store all unused fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and chemicals in original, labeled containers; check expiration dates to be sure they’re still viable. Be sure to store in a place to prevent freezing to the chemicals.
  • Empty ceramic, cement and terra cotta containers, clean and store in a frost-free space.
  • Avoid using salt-based, de-icing products in or around garden areas for snow removal. Moana recommends Sierra Blue Snow & Ice Melt which is friendly to the environment, pets and plants.
  • If you have not already done so, consider applying a pre-emergent weed control to open areas in your landscape. Many cool-season weeds, including cheatgrass will emerge in late winter or very early spring. Apply by the end of the month to get ahead of next year’s weeds.
  • Treat beds for weeds now with Hi-Yield Herbicide Granules Weed and Grass Preventer pre-emergent herbicide or organically with Jonathan Green Corn Gluten Weed Preventer. Lawns can be treated with Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper unless you have recently seeded them.
  • Continue to plant trees & shrubs with G&B Organics Starter Fertilizer & SUPERthrive; then apply 2 to 4 inches of G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner around the base of the plant to protect their root zones, being careful to keep it 4 inches away from their trunks.
  • Continue to water newly planted trees and shrubs, especially evergreens, until ground freezes.
  • Wait until trees and shrubs drop their leaves or undergo color change before digging and moving them to new sites.
  • To keep deer from rubbing antlers on tree trunks, spread garden netting or snow fencing around abused trees.
  • Deter rabbits and rodents from over-wintering in gardens by cutting down their winter habitats, e.g., ornamental grass clumps, perennials left standing for winter interest.
  • Wrap evergreens like arborvitaes with plastic twine to prevent splaying of branches during winter snowstorms.
  • Spray your broad leaf evergreens, such as rhododendrons, laurels, and photinia with Wilt Pruf to lessen winter damage. One application will last four months.
  • Don’t forget to use appropriate dormant season sprays to control insects and disease. If you identified a disease problem, now is the time to spray with Monterey Liqui-Cop, a copper fungicide. Moana Nursery professionals are happy to help if you need advice
  • Continue to plant spring blooming bulbs this month as weather and soil conditions permit; be sure to add G&B Organics Bud & Bloom Fertilizer, water well and mulch with G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner after planting. To view our bulb planting video, visit: https://www.moananursery.com/expert-advice-tips/planting-fall-bulbs/. If deer, rodents or rabbits have been a problem in the past, plant these pest-resistant bulbs: ornamental onion, grape hyacinth, narcissus, windflower, winter aconite or fritillaria.
  • Use Bonide Molemax to repel burrowing rodents and Plantskydd to protect perennials from deer, squirrels & rabbits.
  • Perennial beds should be cleaned up this time of year, but leave standing foliage to protect the crown, even in those plants that are not being used for winter interest, and to provide food and protection for the birds.
  • Cut back peonies close to the ground and dispose of their stems and leaves in the trash; do not compost.
  • Once perennials are dormant, mulch crowns with G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner to protect against drying winds and freeze/thaw temperatures.
  • Pot up pretreated bulbs, such as amaryllis, paperwhite narcissus and others, for holiday blooms.
  • Winterize aquatic gardens –  click to read our fact sheet WG-2 on winterizing ponds/aquatic gardens.

Pottery:

  • Always use pots with drainage holes.
  • Do not block, plug, or otherwise obstruct drainage holes. Moana Nursery uses a pottery shard.
  • Be sure to use a premium potting soil to ensure proper drainage; we recommend G&B Organics Blue Ribbon Blend Premium Potting Soil.
  • Do not attempt to move pots that are frozen to the ground.
  • Remove saucers during winter to ensure complete drainage.
  • Do not allow standing water to freeze inside pots.
  • Cover pots that are not in use — please note that pots which are planted with bulbs count as “in use.”
  • Although they are not required, using pot feet will further enhance drainage.

 Fountains:

  • Completely drain and remove pump.
  • Place absorbent material in fountain such as burlap or towels.
  • Either move fountain into garage or other protected area or cover empty dried fountain so that no water can accumulate and freeze.
  • Moisture underneath the fountain can cause damage as it will freeze from below. Make sure fountain is covered to ensure no moisture can accumulate under the fountain (such as run off from melting snow).
  • Regularly inspect plants brought in from outside – citrus, gardenia, geranium, etc. for insects. Spider mites and scale will quickly damage plants and spread to other houseplants.
  • To treat fungus gnats, use Bonide Houseplant Systemic or Summit Mosquito Bits on houseplants already residing indoors.
  • To prevent fungus gnats on houseplants that have summered outdoors, treat before bringing them indoors by removing the top ¼” of soil, and spraying with an insecticide such as Bonide Eight, and replace the old soil with horticultural sand. Once insecticide has dried, bring houseplants indoors and place sticky traps nearby to  catch any gnats that may still be around.
  • Pot up bulbs such as amaryllis, paperwhite narcissus and others, for holiday blooms.  For a little variety, consider treating and forcing other varieties such as hyacinths, daffodils, and even tulips, while there is still time.
  • Reduce watering and cut back on fertilizer except for plants intended to bloom all winter, such as miniature roses or geraniums.
  • Violets should be fertilized year-round; we recommend Ferti-lome African Violet & Blooming Plant Food.
  • Give houseplants a 1 to 15-degree difference in day and night temperatures.  Increase humidity with pebble trays and humidifiers.
  • Continue to fertilize orchids with Grow More 20-20-20 orchid fertilizer until they set flowers; run room temperature water through pots every 2-3 weeks to leach salts from soil. Examine foliage to ensure it doesn’t scorch from exposure to direct southern sun.
  • Feed high fat, high caloric content seeds to help satisfy birds’ cold weather needs. Nyjer®, peanuts and finch blend all add needed calories. Our No Mess Plus Blends contain Bark Butter Bits® for an easy way to boost nutrition at feeders or try our Winter SuperBlend™ cylinders – a complete winter food source.
  • Add a treat feeder to your set up and put out a daily offering of mealworms or Bark Butter Bits®, or try out Bugs and Bits®, which has both in one blend.
  • Make sure your suet and Bark Butter feeders are out and filled to maximize the number of winged visitors to your yard.
  • Install a clear plastic weather dome to protect tube feeders from rain and snow.
  • Hang a cylinder feeder with one of our many seed or suet cylinder choices for easy no-fuss bird feeding in winter. Be sure to check out our winter blend seed cylinders, fun characters & festive wreaths along with special seed cylinder holders.
  • Install a birdbath heater to ensure a steady supply of water.  Remember, birds still need to bathe even in winter to keep their feathers conditioned for insulation and flight and need a reliable source of clean drinking water.
  • Store bird food in a sealed container and keep in a cool dry place to prevent spoilage.
  • Install a customized Wild Birds Unlimited bird feeding station where you can easily watch the birds it attracts. It can be installed in the ground, on a patio or on a deck.
  • Schedule Irrigation Services Now
    • Irrigation system repairs and tune-ups
    • Irrigation system turn off for winter – schedule now for November
    • Irrigation backflow testing & certification with test results submitted to Truckee Meadows Water Authority
    • Call (775) 825-0602 x134 or email us to schedule a consultation.
  • Our Seasonal Color Team can help you with custom containers, annual planting beds or a simple refresh of your existing garden. Schedule a free consultation today!
  • Need help with your indoor plants? Contact our Interior Plant Services team. They can help you design, install, and maintain your indoor plants! Want a WOW plant presentation? Ask about installing a LIVING PLANT WALL! Examples of plant walls are available to see at both our Moana Lane and Pyramid Way locations.
  • Our expert Plant Doctors can help you with your high desert gardening;
    • Diagnose disease & insect problems on trees, shrubs & lawns;
    • Identify existing plants in your landscape and how to care for them;
    • Provide plant placement for DIY customers.
    • Stop by any location to ask questions or email plantdoctors@moananursery.com.