Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Nov. 3

Lots of leaves on the ground now: Rake and compost them this month. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

New month brings cooler weather, but it's still great for planting

By Debbie Arrington

It’s a new month with new tasks.

November is when fall weather really kicks in. Although a few days in the 80s are not uncommon, Sacramento’s high temperatures average 64 degrees this month with lows averaging 43.

That’s still good planting weather for shrubs and trees, but the chilly nights signal many plants to shut down for the cold months to come.

What should you be doing in your garden this month?

* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material.

* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.

* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.

* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.

* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.

* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now. Plant garlic and onions.