Timely Tips

What to Do in November 2025
Weekly Gardening Timely Tips from
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County

Nov. 16 to 22

Perennials: Once the ground has frozen, cover plants that were newly installed this fall loosely with pine boughs or other loose mulch. This will help to reduce heaving of soil during freeze and thaw cycles, which can kill plant roots by exposing them to desiccation.

Flowers: For fabulous blooms for the winter holidays, try potting an amaryllis bulb. Choose a pot with drainage holes that is no more than two inches wider than the bulb. Add a little potting mix, then the bulb, then more potting soil until the bulb is covered only halfway. Water the bulb well and put it in a warm place (70° to 75° F). From then on, keep the potting mix moist but not wet. When growth appears, move the pot to a sunny window and fertilize the amaryllis approximately every two to four weeks. Turn the pot every day to keep the flower stalk straight. (Still, it might need to be staked.) Flowers appear four to six weeks after potting.

Fruits and Vegetables:Enjoy the satisfaction of homegrown vegetables at the holiday table. This is also a good time to consider sharing a surplus with those less fortunate. Fresh surplus vegetables are appreciated by many food pantries at any time you may have extra.

Trees and Shrubs: Schedule now for pruning of oak trees before next March, while the beetles that transmit oak wilt are dormant and arborists are more likely to have space in their schedules for appointments. Pruning to remove dead, damaged, or diseased limbs and twigs can be done at any time. Compost fallen leaves.

Lawns:Help protect our water resources: When it comes to fertilizer (and pesticide) applications, Cornell Turfgrass expert Dr. Frank Rossi says, “everyone has waterfront property.” Do not apply fertilizer in late fall. Research has shown that November fertilizer applications are not used by grass plants and simply run off the site. New York State law prohibits lawn fertilizer application between December 1 and April 1.

Houseplants: Many houseplants peter out during winter, often because of low light and low humidity. Move plants to a brighter source of natural light or consider supplemental lighting. Resist the inclination to perk them up by overwatering or fertilizing them.

General:Cool weather slows evaporation of soil moisture and after a season with plentiful rain, irrigation should no longer be needed. If you haven’t already done so, drain and store garden hoses. If possible, do this task on a warmer day, when the hoses would be more pliable and easier to coil.

Continue to look for and destroy spotted lanternfly egg masses on many outdoor surfaces. For more information on spotted lanternfly, and how to deal with this invasive pest, seehttps://westchester.cce.cornell.edu/horticulture-environment/invasive-nuisance-species/invasive-pests/spotted-lanternfly

Last updated November 15, 2025