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. Bring houseplants back indoors before temperatures drop into the 50s.

Care for roses – Remove faded flowers, cutting back to the first leaf with five leaflets. Roses, such as floribundas and shrubs, which bloom in clusters, can be lightly sheared after blooms fade. After the first hard freeze in northern areas, apply winter protection. For more information on protecting roses in winter, go here.

Control fire ants – Treat mounds with Bayer Advanced™ Fire Ant Killer Granules or Bayer Advanced™ Fire Ant Killer Dust.

Control garden weeds – This winter’s weeds are easiest to control when young, which is now. Use an appropriate weed killer, hoe or pull by hand. (Spray only the weeds you want controlled and be sure to take care in applying herbicides to prevent spray drift from damaging desirable plants.)

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.

Control insects – In southern-most areas, apply Bayer Advanced™ Complete Insect Killer For Soil & Turf Concentrate early this month to control remaining chinchbugs and other lawn pests. It will also control nuisance pests like ticks, ants and fleas.

Control lawn weeds – Kill winter annual weeds such as chickweeds and henbit with Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer Ready-To-Use. This product kills over 200 types of broadleaf weeds, including dandelions and clover, plus grassy weeds like crabgrass and nutgrass – without harming your lawn (Not for use on St. Augustine grass, Bahia, bentgrass, carpetgrass, centipedegrass of Dichondra). One application in fall will kill many weeds when they are small and easier to control than they will be next spring.

Control slugs and snails – Protect flowers, vegetables and other tender plants with Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Snail & Slug Killer Bait Granules. Can be used around pets and wildlife.

Control whiteflies – Use Bayer Advanced™ 12-Month Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate on ornamentals such as hibiscus, gardenia and ash.

Fertilize lawns – This is one of the most important times of the year to feed cool-season lawns like Kentucky bluegrass and fescues.

Fertilize plants – Fall is an ideal time to fertilize landscape plants. Even though growth of many plants is slowing, roots can still absorb nutrients.

Mow – Growth is slowing. Mow as needed.

Plant flowers – Plant cool-season annuals like pansies, sweet peas, violas and primroses for fall and winter bloom. Nurseries should still have plenty of colorful mums. And don’t forget hardy perennials like penstemon, gaillardia, phlox and iberis. Sow wildflower seeds. It’s also a great time to plant spring bulbs such as crocus, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips. Protect new plantings from insects with Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer Ready-To-Use. It is the only single product that kills insects immediately on contact and keeps killing by systemic action for a month. One thorough spray saves you time and money.

Plant lawns – Start cool-season lawns like tall fescues. Overseed Bermudagrass lawns with ryegrass or tall fescue to keep them green all winter. For more on lawn planting and overseeding, go here.

Plant trees and shrubs – Autumn is the best time of year for new landscaping. Cooler weather will ease establishment and make sure plants get off to a strong start next spring. Plant new trees, vines and shrubs, including roses. Feed and protect new plantings with Bayer Advanced™ 12-Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Concentrate or Bayer Advanced™ Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Granules. Water carefully.

Plant vegetables and herbs – Plant quick-growing cool-season crops like carrots, chard and lettuce for fall harvest. Plant hardy herbs like rosemary, parsley, garlic and thyme. Water carefully until plants are established. Protect vegetables listed on the label from insect pests with Bayer Advanced™ PowerForce® Multi-Insect Killer Concentrate, Bayer Advanced™ or Bayer Advanced™ Complete Insect Killer for Gardens Ready-To-Use.

Prepare for winter – Dig, divide and replant perennials. Cut back mums and other spent perennials. Dig and store tender bulbs, such as gladiolas and tuberous begonias. Deadhead flowers. Clean up planting beds, removing debris that may harbor insects. Make compost.

Protect trees and shrubs – Protect valuable trees and shrubs from next year’s insects, including aphids, scale and borers, with Bayer Advanced™ 12-Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Concentrate or Bayer Advanced™ Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Granules. One application in fall feeds and protects for up to 12 months. Handpick bagworms to reduce next year’s problem.

Rake leaves – Fallen leaves can smother your lawn. Rake often, adding collected leaves to compost pile or using as mulch.

Water gardens – Reduce watering as weather cools. If necessary, turn off automatic irrigation systems. Deep-water trees and shrubs thoroughly to prevent winter drying. In colder areas, 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.

Water lawns – Water less often as weather cools. Consult your local water department for lawn watering guidelines. What’s the best way to calculate how much water your irrigation system delivers at each sprinkling? Place five straight-sided coffee cups randomly around your lawn. After the irrigation cycle is completed, measure how much water you collected. Anything less than 1/2 inch is too little to provide a deep watering. For more tips on how to water your lawn efficiently, click here.

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.