November Garden Tasks and Free Checklist

What to Do in the Garden in November

This post is part of my Month by Month Gardening Guide, a monthly gardening checklist series that helps you stay on top of your garden all year long. Each guide walks you through exactly what to do in the garden that month, from planting and pruning to soil care and seasonal maintenance. You can check out each monthly gardening guide here.

By November, most gardens are slowing down, but there’s still plenty to do before winter arrives. This is the time to clean up what’s left of the growing season, protect your plants from cold weather, and prepare for the months ahead.

Even though most plants are going dormant, your garden still benefits from the attention you give it now, especially when it comes to soil care, mulching, and protecting trees and perennials from freezing temperatures.

To help you stay organized, I’ve created a free printable November Garden Checklist that walks you through each task step by step. It’s the same checklist I use to make sure nothing gets overlooked as I wrap up the gardening season.

This post is part of my Seasonal Gardening Roadmap — a month-by-month series that helps you stay on top of your garden all year long. Each guide walks you through exactly what to do in the garden that month, from planting and pruning to soil care and seasonal maintenance.

If you missed last month’s guide, check out October Garden Tasks, and when you’re ready, move ahead to December Garden Tasks (coming soon!) to stay one step ahead.

Finish Fall Cleanup

Before winter sets in, take some time to give your garden a final cleanup. This helps prevent pests and diseases from overwintering and makes your spring workload a lot lighter.

Start by removing any remaining annuals or spent vegetable plants. If the plants look healthy, add them to your compost pile. But if you see signs of disease or pest damage, such as powdery mildew on squash vines or tomato blight, it’s best to dispose of them instead of composting.

Rake up fallen leaves from lawns and pathways, but don’t rush to get rid of them all. Shredded leaves make an excellent mulch for protecting perennials and insulating garden beds. You can also save some to layer into your compost or pile them in a corner to create nutrient-rich leaf mold.

This is also a good time to take care of your tools and equipment. Clean, dry, and lightly oil garden tools before storing them for the winter. Drain hoses, shut off outdoor faucets, and empty watering cans so nothing cracks when temperatures drop.

Before you finish, clean and store your pots for the winter. Terracotta and other clay pots can crack if they’re left outside with moisture in them. Empty the soil, brush off any residue, and let the pots dry completely before stacking or storing them in a shed, garage, or under cover. Plastic or resin pots can usually stay outside, but it’s still a good idea to move them somewhere protected to extend their life.

Prepare Perennials and Beds for Winter

Once your garden is cleaned up, focus on preparing your perennials and beds for the cold months ahead. This step protects plants from winter damage and sets the stage for strong growth in spring.

Start by cutting back any perennials that have finished for the season, especially those prone to disease, such as peonies and irises. Remove and dispose of the foliage to keep problems like powdery mildew from carrying over into next year.

Not every plant needs to be cut back, though. Leave seed heads on coneflowers, rudbeckia, and ornamental grasses. They provide winter interest in the garden and food for birds.

After cutting back what’s necessary, spread a layer of compost over your garden beds and around perennials. The compost will slowly break down through winter, adding nutrients, improving soil texture, and encouraging beneficial microorganisms. It’s one of the easiest ways to enrich your soil while protecting it from erosion and compaction caused by snow and ice.

Finish by adding mulch around the base of your perennials and shrubs. A few inches of mulch helps regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, and prevent freeze-thaw damage. Avoid piling mulch directly against stems or crowns, as this can lead to rot.

Protect Trees and Shrubs

November garden chores include making sure your trees and shrubs are protected before winter weather sets in. A little attention now can prevent damage from frost, wind, and hungry wildlife later in the season.

Start by watering trees and shrubs deeply before the ground freezes, especially evergreens. Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil and helps protect roots from extreme cold.

Wrap the trunks of young or thin-barked trees to prevent sunscald, which occurs when the sun warms the bark during the day and it freezes again at night. Tree wrap, corrugated guards, or even light-colored cloth can all help prevent cracking and peeling.

If deer, rabbits, or rodents are common in your area, protect the lower trunks with hardware cloth or plastic guards. Check the base of trees throughout the winter to make sure guards haven’t shifted or trapped moisture against the bark.

Finally, inspect any stakes or ties on newly planted trees and shrubs. Make sure they are still secure but not tight enough to cut into the bark. Once the ground thaws in spring, you can remove supports that are no longer needed.

Planting in November

If the soil is still workable, there’s time for a few last planting jobs before winter sets in. What you do now depends on your climate, but even in colder regions, early November can still be a productive time in the garden.

In mild climates, you can continue planting spring-flowering bulbs (learn how to plant allium bulbs here), garlic (planting garlic tutorial here), and even cold-hardy greens such as spinach, kale, and lettuce under a low tunnel or cold frame. These crops thrive in cool temperatures and will give you a head start next spring.

In colder areas, aim to finish bulb planting early in the month before the soil becomes too hard to dig. Daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and alliums all need that stretch of cold weather to form strong roots. Water them well after planting and cover the bed with mulch for insulation.

This is also a great time to pot up a few indoor bulbs for holiday color. Amaryllis and paperwhites are easy to grow indoors and bring a touch of life to the shorter days of winter.

November Gardening is Prepare for Indoor Gardening

As the outdoor season winds down, November is the perfect time to bring a bit of the garden indoors. Preparing early helps protect your plants and gives you something green to enjoy all winter long.

Start by bringing in potted herbs, houseplants, or tender perennials before the first hard frost. Check them carefully for pests, such as aphids or spider mites, and rinse the foliage if needed before moving them inside.

If you enjoy cooking with fresh herbs, consider starting a few new ones on a sunny windowsill. Basil, parsley, chives, and cilantro all grow well indoors with adequate light. Regular harvesting will keep them compact and encourage new growth.

You can also start planning for indoor gardening projects such as microgreens, hydroponic systems, or winter sowing. Setting up your supplies now means you’ll be ready to go once the darkest days of winter arrive.

Taking time to create a small indoor growing space keeps your green thumb active and helps fill the gap between gardening seasons.

Maintain Compost and Tools

Before the ground freezes completely, take a little time to care for your compost and garden tools. This step helps keep your soil-building efforts and equipment in good shape for next season.

Turn your compost pile one last time to mix in fresh material and aerate the contents. If your compost is dry, add a bit of water to help the microorganisms keep working as long as possible before winter slows everything down. Then cover the pile with a thick layer of leaves to hold in heat and moisture through the colder months.

Once your compost is handled, move on to your tools. Clean off any remaining soil or sap, and sharpen blades on pruners, shovels, and hoes so they’re ready for spring. A sharp edge makes cutting and digging easier and helps protect your plants from torn stems or ragged cuts. Lightly oil metal surfaces to prevent rust, and store everything in a dry place where moisture and temperature swings won’t cause damage.

Reflect and Plan Ahead

With most of the outdoor work complete, November is a good time to slow down and reflect on your gardening year. Taking a few notes now will save you time and frustration later when planting season rolls around again.

Start by writing down what worked well this year and what didn’t. Which vegetables or flowers thrived in your garden? Were there certain pests or diseases that caused problems? Did you run out of space, or wish you’d planted more of something? Making these notes while everything is still fresh in your mind gives you a clear roadmap for next year.

This is also a great time to sketch out garden changes you’d like to make. Maybe you want to expand a raised bed, move your compost bin, or try new perennial varieties next season. A few quick drawings or notes now can make your spring planning smoother.

If you haven’t already, sort through your leftover seeds and organize them by type or planting time. Make a list of what you need to order for spring so you can take advantage of early-season sales.

Finally, take a moment to appreciate how far your garden has come this year. Every season brings progress and learning, and the planning you do now will set you up for success when the growing season begins again.

Wrapping Up Your November Garden

By the time November ends, your garden will be ready for its long winter rest, and you’ll be ready for a well-earned break too. While it may feel like the season is over, the work you’ve done this month plays a huge role in how your garden performs next year.

By cleaning up garden beds, protecting perennials, maintaining compost, and caring for your tools, you’ve set the stage for a smooth transition into spring. Every task you check off now reduces the workload later and helps your plants come back stronger.

If you’d like help keeping track of it all, I’ve created a free November Garden Checklist that walks you through each step in an easy, printable format. You can grab it at the end of this post.  It’s the same one I use in my own garden every month to stay on track.

As winter settles in, take time to enjoy the change of pace and reflect on what you’ve accomplished this year. Even though the garden may be resting, you’ve still got plenty to look forward to – from indoor gardening projects to planning next year’s crops.

Your garden’s success next season starts with the care and attention you give it now.

---

Want to keep going?

You can follow the full Month by Month Gardening Roadmap to stay organized all year long. Each monthly guide includes a free printable checklist and clear steps to help you know exactly what to do in your garden every season.

Next up, head to December Garden Tasks for your next set of seasonal to-dos — or go back to October Garden Tasks if you missed it.

Be sure to check out these other Fall Gardening posts:

• The Ultimate Guide to Fall Gardening
• How To Plant Garlic in the Fall
• October Garden Tasks
• December Garden Tasks (coming soon!)

Like this post? Be sure to pin it for later!