10 Gardening Activities for November in the South

1. Divide Perennials

There are wide variety of perennials that you can divide and move around your garden in the fall: agapanthus, amsonia, asters, bee balm, black-eyed Susans, catmint, coneflowers, daylilies, dianthus, goldenrods, gaura, hostas, Joe Pye weed, mums, sage, sedge, snake plant, summer phlox, tickseed, yarrow, and more. Be sure to divide and replant perennials well before frost is expected so they have time to get established. To learn more about dividing perennials, check out this guide from PennState Extension.

2. Fertilize Cool-Season Lawns

If you didn’t fertilize your lawn earlier in fall, November is a good time get it done. You’ll only want to fertilize cool-season lawns such as bluegrass or fescue. Warm-season lawns such as Bermuda or zoysia should be fertilized in the spring. You can also aerate or dethatch your lawn as needed in the fall, but you need to do it well before frost (it can also be done in early spring). This will give the lawn time to heal before cold weather sets in. Consider using a hand aerator if your lawn isn’t too large. For large lawns, rent a large aerator. Learn more about aerating and dethatching your lawn from Scotts.

3. Plant Peonies

It’s time to get new peonies in the ground. Look for varieties that perform well in Southern climates such as ‘Felix Supreme’ or ‘Sarah Bernhardt’. One option is to buy from a Southern farm like Terra Ceia Farm located in Pantego, North Carolina. You can also find a wide selection of peonies through online retailers such as Breck's or Burpee. When you’re ready to plant peonies, check out this guide to growing and caring for peonies.

4. Clean Houseplants

During the busy summer, houseplants can get neglected. Give them a refresh before the holiday season to make sure they’re looking great when you’re spending more time indoors and hosting gatherings. To clean plants, wipe down leaves with a damp cloth. You can do it outdoors if leaves are particularly dirty or there are pest issues, otherwise use a bathtub—be sure to plug the drain to prevent spilled soil from going down the pipes. You may also want to spray leaves with a nutrient mist. Giving your houseplant fertilizer can also be beneficial. Add houseplant fertilizer directly to the soil, then water well. Fall will likely be your last application. Spring is often the most common time to fertilize but fertilizing spring through fall gives plants added nutrients. Check out this houseplant fertilization guide because each genus can be a little different.

5. Plant Bulbs in Containers Indoors

If you want to plant bulbs indoors, do your research and find out if the bulbs you’re planting need to be pre-chilled, such as tulips, crocus, daffodils, and others. Other varieties such as amaryllis, anemones, and paperwhites do not. If you do need to chill them, place your bulbs in a refrigerator drawer (without fruit) for the recommended chilling period—each bulb variety can be different. This article on forcing bulbs has a handy chart with chilling times. You can buy pre-chilled bulbs online from suppliers such as Brent and Becky's Bulbs.

6. Store Firewood Properly in the Garden

It’s important to stack firewood in a location where it will stay dry and raised off the ground so your wood doesn’t rot. Find a location away from your home (at least 5 feet), as storing wood up against your house can lead to pest problems. Using a firewood storage rack can help organize your wood in a stable pile that won’t topple over in a storm (the stack should be no higher than 4 feet). Watch this video to see how to properly stack firewood as well as this one on storing firewood for the winter.

7. Winterize Irrigation

In climates where there’s hard frost and snow much of the winter, winterizing your irrigation system is important to prevent damage to pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. Any water that’s left in the lines can freeze, expand, and eventually break these parts which leads to expensive repairs. There are several ways to winterize irrigation, depending on what your system is equipped with: manual drains, auto drains, or blowout. The most common method is blowout because it guarantees that all water is removed from the lines. It’s often best to hire a professional for blowing out irrigation lines if you don’t have experience. Read more about this process from Hunter Industries.

8. Prepare Your Raised Beds for Spring

A little work in the fall will go a long way to improving soil health come spring. Add a layer of organic compost to your raised beds—a 2- to 4-inch layer should be sufficient. Use a broad fork to open up the soil so nutrients can penetrate the surface. This is also a good time to plan out your edible garden for next year while this year’s crop performance is fresh in your mind. There are also good resources out there to help you with planning your garden layout such as the GrowVeg app.

9. Clean Up Around Your Fruit Trees

Raking leaves surrounding your trees, removing old fruit from branches, and picking up rotting fruit will help prevent pest issues and plant diseases. A large rake can help speed up the process, while a fruit picker will help you reach fruit that’s high up in trees.

10. Make a Fall Arrangement

Bring in the beauty of the season. Seed heads, flowers that have dried out, cuttings from ornamental grasses, branches with fall foliage, snipped conifer foliage, and more all make wonderful arrangements indoors. They can be placed in small arrangements throughout your house, or combined into one large centerpiece. Check out this arrangement from Alice & Lois for inspiration.