November What To Do Now Calendar

Care for houseplants – Clean foliage, water regularly and fertilize. Repot as necessary. For more information on caring for houseplants, go to the Bayer Advanced houseplant page. To feed and protect from insects, use Bayer Advanced™ 2-in-1 Insect Control plus Fertilizer Plant Spikes – no spraying, no mess. Just push the spikes into the soil for up to eight weeks of nutrition and protection. To control existing insects, use Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer Ready-To-Use.

Compost – Add fallen leaves, plant debris and old potting soil to the compost pile. Running plant debris through a shredder first will speed decomposition.

Control indoor pests – To control insects like spiders, fleas and cockroaches, use Bayer Advanced™ Home Pest plus Germ* Killer Indoor and Outdoor Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray, a non-aerosol home pest killer that kills insects and reduces up to 99.9% of the germs* they may leave behind. For easier-than-ever control of roaches, use Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Roach Killer Power Pen® Ready-To-Use. For more information, visit the Bayer Advanced home pest control Web page. If just outdoor ants are your problem and you prefer to use a granule, use Bayer Advanced™ Triple Action Ant Killer Granules.
*Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes on hard, non-porous, non-food contact surfaces. No residual sanitizer action. Not for primary use as a sanitizer.

Fertilize lawns – If you didn’t feed last month and the ground hasn’t frozen, do so now. A late application this fall will give you a quick green-up next spring.

Fertilize plants – Where the ground hasn’t frozen, there is still time to fertilize. Even though growth of many plants is slowing, roots can still absorb nutrients. Feed now to encourage healthy growth next spring.

Mow – Mow and trim your lawn one last time.

Plant flowers – Sow hardy wildflower seeds. They’ll germinate in spring. It’s also a great time (you have until mid-November) to plant spring bulbs such as crocus, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips.

Prepare for cold weather – Dig, divide and replant perennials. Dig and store tender bulbs, such as gladiolas and tuberous begonias. Cut back perennials. Remove soil from pots (add to the compost pile) and store in the garage. Clean up planting beds, removing debris that may harbor insects or disease. Apply a fresh, three-inch layer of organic mulch.

Rake leaves – Don’t let fallen leaves accumulate for too long. Your lawn needs the sunlight. Rake leaves regularly and often.

Water – Before the soil freezes, deep-water trees and shrubs thoroughly to prevent winter drying. Drain irrigation systems to prevent freezing. Most belowground systems will have drain valves at their lowest point, but some systems may need to be pressure cleared. To drain drip systems, remove caps on aboveground lines. For more information, contact a local irrigation supplier.

Winterize power tools – Prepare lawn mowers and other power tools for winter according to manufacturer’s instructions. This usually involves draining gas, cleaning and proper storage. Think about how good you’ll feel if your mower has a sharp blade, new spark plugs, changed oil – so when next spring comes around, all you have to do is add gas and go.

Winterize tools – Clean and sharpen all tools, including pruners, shovels and hoes. Wipe down with oil (machine oil for metal parts, linseed oil for wooden handles). Store in a dry place. Prepare and store power equipment according to manufacturer’s instructions.