By Neely Bower
Nov. 4, 2020: November is a quiet time in the garden. You should be cleaning up plants that are finished for the season. Only prune non flowering shrubs like Hollies, Ilex and Boxwood. Do not prune any spring flowering shrub like Azalea, Rhododendron and Hydrangea, or you will be cutting off the flower blooms for next year.
Then, order your bulbs. I recommend John Scheepers, which can be found online. You can plant your bulbs anytime through the end of November, as long as the ground does not freeze. Also try putting daffodil bulbs in your patio planters, after blooming they can be put in the ground.
Be creative this year. Daffodils are tried and true, but you may already have enough of these. Try Alliums or Leucojum for a change. I stay away from Tulips because they usually bloom only the first year, they are smaller the second year, and then they peter out and stop blooming. Deer, squirrels, and bunnies also love Tulips.
When planting your bulbs, refer to the instructions that come with them for depth, and plant them in groups. Never plant bulbs individually. Dig a hole that will accommodate five or six bulbs, not touching, add a little bone meal, cover, and wait for a surprise in the spring.
Photo by N. Bower