What To Do In Your Southern California Garden in November

It’s time to fall back! Daylight savings time is coming to an end, so that means the days are growing shorter – so you have to make the most of your gardening time. Here is your November list of chores.

November is the time to trim evergreen shrubs; you can also remove & replace overgrown shrubs if necessary.



Would you like a new colorful deciduous tree? This is another good month to pick that tree. If you select while the leaves are changing you are more likely to get just the color you like best. But don’t wait too long… those leaves are falling fast!

You can plant cool-season try some chives & parsley. You can pot up summer herbs & bring them into the kitchen. Your rosemary, sage, oregano, and thyme should continue to flourish through most of the year.



If you haven’t planted cool weather veggies, you’d better start now. There is more detailed information on veggies and herbs in my post How to Grow Winter Vegetables In Southern California for more details.

Fall cleaning is in order, clear out around fruit trees, discard split fruit, check those berries and remove raspberry and blackberry plant canes.



You can plant new citrus trees too; there are still plenty to choose from in most nurseries. If you find bare root fruit trees you can plant them too – mail order will probably be the best way to find them now as the nurseries are starting to make room for Holiday plants.

Other bare root plants you can look for are trees, roses, shrubs, and vines – these can be planted right through January or February in Southern California.

You can prune fall and winter flowering vines and shrubs after they have finished blooming. If you are planting during all your seasons, you’ll have plenty to watch and plenty to do in your garden



Planting winter blooming shrubs vines, and perennials is definitely on the list for this month. Get them in and established and your winter bloomers will give you a great show. Clivia, Ceanothus, Carolina Jessamine, Hardenbergia, Breath of Heaven, and Cyclamen (good Christmas décor!)



You can divide flowering perennials & ground cover - lily turf, irises, agapanthus, day lily plants.

Mulch over tender bulbs (cannas, caladiums, dahlias, tuberous begonias & gladioli)



If your cacti and succulents have bloomed and are over growing their containers, it is a good time to repot them.

You should plant winter annuals - ageratum, begonia, petunia, sweet alyssum, and pansies for winter color.



You can plant new cutting grown Ceanothus plants because the weather is cool and the soil is still a little warm. In general if you can plant your Ceanothus (and most all California natives) during the winter instead of the summer, they will do much better



WATERING NOTE: Up to 80 percent of residential water use goes to maintaining our yards. Is your irrigation system running every day? That’s too much! Try taking a day off the timer, preferably the same day the lawn is mowed, and watch the health of your yard improve. If that day is off already… take another one off. If you live in Santa Clarita you should take advantage of your opportunity to obtain a free Weather Based Irrigation Timer. Call Rene Emeterio of SLM at 805-520-7590. You’ll have a short class to attend, but your landscape and your water bill will be better off for it! You can also contact me for additional information.

Fertilizing:

This should be your last fertilizer application of the year—that includes your lawn! So don’t let this opportunity slip by. You’ll want to feed citrus trees with a citrus fertilizer at a rate of 1 pound per foot of tree spread.

This is also a great time to fertilize summer bloomers with a high organic phosphorus fertilizer. The phosphorus takes some time to absorb into the plant so November application will mean May – July flowering plants. Remember that the organics will be dog attractants, so be sure to keep an eye on those digging pups!

Note for Palm Trees, shrubs, and ornamentals:

I like slow-release fertilizers because they provide a steady supply of nutrients for the plants over a long period of time. The main advantage of a slow release fertilizer is its convenience. As you can imagine, slow release fertilizers do not need to be applied as often as water-soluble fertilizers. The optimum fertilizer regimen is three applications per year: once in early spring, once in early summer, and once in late fall. Use a balanced fertilizer (equal numbers) with micro-nutrients.

It is also time to cut back on fertilizing your houseplants as well. Make sure not to feed dormant houseplants!



Don’t forget your compost! You can add a thin layer of compost to just about everything - your houseplants & lawn included!

The beautiful garden path above is at the home of and my collaboration with the wonderful Interior Designer Tami Smight. Together we make up half of The Harmonious Home Team. Take a look on my side bar to learn more about my team. Kim Rocke, Elaine Giftos-Wright, Tami Smight and I can help you with every aspect of your Home - we will create a Harmonious Home!

For more about my designs: thegrassisalwaysgreener

What To Do In Your Southern California Garden In October

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler, so you need to make the most of your gardening time. Remember October is a WONDERFUL time to plant in Southern California, so take advantage of it. Here is a list of some things that you should be doing in your garden now.



The new “cooler” season annuals are starting to become available (bet they just loved our heat wave last week) you can chose from a nice selection for beautiful fall color.



Divide Irises (you only need to divide every 2-4 years) and plant new ones normally I’d say September but… it got really hot near the end and… I forgot to remind you! Take a look at the post How to Care for Iris for more detailed information.



If you are working on a three season or year round garden, it’s a good time to buy and plant fall and winter blooming perennials, shrubs and yes…even trees.

Think about planting California Natives, fall and winter are a great time for our natives if you get them in now they will benefit from any winter water we get.

It’s time to continue planting bulbs – both winter and spring blooming. If you haven’t purchased them yet… get going. Online or in the nursery there are plenty out there waiting for you. Here are two great online resources: Vanveen Bulbs and Brent and Becky's Bulbs.

You should prune your fall flowering vines and shrubs after they have finished blooming.

You can sow your cool season vegetable seeds now, and in the next couple of weeks put in those seedlings that you can find at the nursery.

Fertilizing time for your cacti and succulents – those that are blooming or growing will benefit from a nice fertilization.



Plant groundcover! This is one of the two best months for ground cover in our area. The months of March and October groundcover really take off in. Check your yard and see if you need to fill in anywhere or see if you just want to rip out some thirsty lawn.



Watch for trees with fall color. Over the next two months you will start seeing leaves change, which signals the perfect time for you to select the tree of your dreams. By selecting trees during this time of the year, you will know what color your tree will turn. There is a large range of yellows, oranges, and reds and by selecting now you can find the colors that speak to you. Remember it’s your yard, make it truly your sanctuary.

Keep an eye on the shadows in your landscape. As the days grow shorter the trees and even your house will cast longer deeper shadows, take note so that as you are planning your garden you don’t plant sun lovers in the wrong spot.



Buy Pumpkins! If you haven’t grown yours this year, you need to go shopping. A trip to the pumpkin farm with the kids or even Trader Joe’s can yield some real beauties. They make a great long lasting decoration for your porch, indoors and… don’t forget that pumpkin pie. Anyone have a great recipe? Send it to me and I’ll post it! (With a link to your website of course)

Take a look at your houseplants, I bet they could use a little bit of fertilizer too. Just because your plants are inside, doesn’t mean they don’t need a little bit of TLC. Wash off leaves, with a soft cloth, give them a little spritz from a water bottle – give them much need air circulation and tell them how much you like them! If any of your plants are looking a little peeked, it is still warm enough to put them outside for a bit of time in dappled shade (or deeper if it’s a no sun kinda plant.) They will thank you. Note: please don’t put Ficus benjamina in direct sun – you will BURN their leaves!

For more information on my designs, take a look at my NEW Website!

What to do in your Southern California Garden in April

Spring is in the air, the birds and butterflies are appearing and it’s starting to be very enjoyable outdoors. Here is a list of garden chores that you should take care of this month.



It is a great month to plant your annuals to start creating summer color



April is the time to start plant fall-blooming bulbs such as Aconitum
Amaryllis, Begonia, Lycoris Spider Lily (not supposed to bloom here, but mine do)
and Trycirtis.

You can buy bulbs at a nursery or online – here are two online suggestions.

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs
McClure Zimmerman Bulbs




It’s time to feed and water blooming and growing cacti and succulents.



Your peach trees should be sprayed for peach leaf curl, peach leaf blight, and canker.



If you didn’t do it last month, time to feed houseplants that are growing or blooming.

You can prune spring-flowering shrubs and vines while they are blooming or just after they finish. The beautiful Hardenbergia (Lilac Vine) is almost done blooming, so soon will be a perfect time to prune them.



If you did not go to Tomatomania at Tapia Farms last weekend, put Tomatomania in Fillmore (Otto & Sons) on your calendar (April 1-3) It’s getting warm so this month you can transplant warm-season vegetable seedlings, when you plant your fabulous new tomato plants.



Plan to attend the Earth Day Celebration at Whole Foods Valencia on April 10, 2010 from noon to 3:00 pm – Tami Smight and I will be outside with some fun demos for you. We’ll help you recycle your old pottery, vases, and more into new decorative, green accessories for your home.

Happy Gardening!

For more information: www.thegrassisalwaysgreener.net

February - Is it Spring?

One day it’s cold and rainy, the next it’s bright and sunny. As you can see by my last post there is still a lot of color in Southern California and yes in Santa Clarita too. In addition to the color of fruit and berries, there are flowering plants too.

As I walk around my neighborhood I find some beautiful early spring bloomers, so I’m going to share them with you.

The first sign of spring, or is it snow? The beautiful Pyrus calleryana – Flowering Pear is blooming everywhere at this time of year. Take a look at its gorgeous blossoms both on the tree and on the sidewalk below. An added bonus comes after a rain storm (which we’ve had plenty of) look at the way the bark turns black and glistens in the rain. This tree is a true treat for your senses.



The deciduous Magnolia is beginning to burst into bloom, over the next few weeks take a look and watch them turn the trees pink, lavender and white.



A real harbinger of spring are the daffodils, if you planted early in the fall, you are reaping your rewards now. If not, there are plenty of neighbors that remembered to plant so enjoy their display and don’t forget to pop a few bulbs into your container designs this year so you can be “surprised” next spring!



Now don’t think February is all long walks and flower watching. By mid to late February you should be cutting back your Ornamental Grasses. Cut back Ornamental Grasses to 4 – 6” or even back to the ground Miscanthus is named Deer Grass for a good reason. Pretend you are a deer and just mow it down! You want to cut them back before the new spring growth begins.



Don’t be fooled by the trimmed look of these grasses … they have been cut but not cut back properly… Don’t make this ugly mistake in your garden.



When you are done with your work take a break and be thankful that we have this fabulous Southern California weather, and that you can actually be gardening today and not our shoveling your way out of your house.

For more information see my website www.thegrassisalwaysgreener.net

Turn off your Sprinklers Southern California!

If you haven’t done it already, it is definitely time to turn your sprinklers off! This has been predicted to be an El Nino year, so you may be leaving your sprinklers off for quite some time.

After the rain stops, don’t just turn the water back on immediately, you don’t need to water again until your beds are dry about 2” down, more if you have heavy clay soil. Landscapes that have water wise gardens will be able to leave the irrigation off for up to two weeks!




You can also invest in one of the smart irrigation controllers, many water companies offer rebates and you won’t have to worry about messing with your irrigation controller over and over again. A great investment!



Visit me at my website: www.thegrassisalwaysgreener.net