It is chilly in the morning and warm in the afternoon. The sun sets so early now that after dinner, your body thinks it is time for bed. In those November warm afternoons, you have work to do in and around your garden. Your garden tools need some attention. Get the old dirt off the tools and take a pad of steel wool to knock back the rust. Sharpen any tools that are a little dull. Spray the ends of the tools with some WD-40 and put most of them away for the season.
Your fallen leaves or your neighbor’s leaves are in your yard. Blown into different corners of your garden beds and around your home. Gather them up on a weekly basis and put them to good use in your compost bin, holding bins, or tucked up around pots and plants that need added protection from the weather.
Depending on where you live, you need to prepare for animals that may come in your yard to eat your vulnerable plants. Spray deer/elk and rabbit repellent and mark your calendar for follow-up sprays. Some of your shrubs and trees may need to be covered with netting or fencing to keep the animals from eating them this winter. If it gets really windy where you live you may need to wrap your boxwoods and evergreens with burlap to prevent wind burn.
Our warm afternoons are welcoming to invasive weeds that just seem to come back year after year. We enjoy tending to our weeds before they have a chance to flower for the purpose of greens for the compost bin. If you don’t compost, then you need to pull your winter weeds. Check your beds and around your yard to keep after them. Due to our constant freeze/ thaw, ensure your hose is drained of water. Some of your trees and plants will need to be watered over the winter, the same with your compost pile. You will need to water with a watering can or drag out your hose every couple of weeks to take care of your plants.
Now start dreaming and planning your garden for 2024. To get ready we recommend that you take a free gardening class this November and December. Seed to Supper will be taught on zoom. The six classes will be held from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 27 and 29, and Dec. 4, 6, 11 and 13. It is for adults who live in Apache and Navajo counties. Pre-register by calling Sterling Hancock at (928) 337-2267 or email him at sterlingh@arizona.edu. He works at the Apache County Extension office. You will receive the Seed to Supper book, seeds and other gardening resources. We really enjoyed that class and recommended it to our gardening friends. The class is focused on what works for our climate and growing environment.
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Growing on 66 in Winslow, Arizona. The Larsons can be reached at Growingon66@yahoo.com.
