Sounds of Silence

November 2012

 

Pickaway to Garden

 

Sounds of Silence

 

By Paul J. Hang

 

Silent night will be sung next month. This month of November is the time of silent days outside. Nature for the most part has gone silent. The majority of birds have fled along with their songs. Insects no longer chirp, sing or buzz (or sting and bite) having crawled into some cozy niche for the winter or gone to the great beyond. Freezing temperatures kill many insects whose species only survive by their having laid eggs that may survive.

 

The noises of nature are now reduced to the howling of the wind in the trees during a storm or of coyotes howling on a still night. The sound of leaves crunching under our feet or scratching along pavement pushed by the wind will also soon be silenced by the rains which will turn them into soggy slippery silent carpets. Honking of Canada geese in the morning and evening as they go from places of rest to places to feed and back again may also please us.

 

If you are lucky enough to live near a large white pine you may hear the wind whispering to you. Walking near witch hazel which is now in bloom you may be able to hear the snap of the seed being propelled from its capsule. November may provide the sound of silence provided by a snowfall where all sounds are muffled except for the ringing shouts of children rushing out to join the fun.

 

Admittedly there are still plenty of sounds that are not so pleasing. Cars and trucks roar by. Radios blare Phones ring. However there are no more tillers and no more mowers growling. No more string trimmers fouling. The gardening chores are almost done so shouts of yippee are heard all over. November means no more gardening. Enjoy the quiet time until the gardening urge strikes again.

 

I can't consider November without talking about the election. If you don't recycle those yard signs as you should, save them. The stout wire frames are handy in the garden. I use them to support row covers above the plants, support leggy plants, hold chicken wire hoops to protect plants from nibbling rabbits. I am sure you can find other uses.

 

Things to do in the garden:

 

There are still a few chores to do. It’s not too late to plant spring flowering bulbs. Some say November is the best time to plant lily bulbs. Spring bulbs look best in a cluster. Try excavating an area rather than planting them in a single small hole, one bulb per hole

 

Tender roses should be “hilled up,” mound the soil a foot deep around the base to protect the crowns. Final pruning should be done in the spring but soft growth can be trimmed off now. Climbing roses or ramblers should be checked and tied to prevent injury from being whipped around by those harsh winter winds.

 

If you haven’t done a fall fertilization of your lawn, do it now. Final cutting of the lawn can be done slightly lower than the usual recommended three inches, say two and a half. Empty the gas tank or run the mower until it runs out of gas. Either have your mower serviced now or write on your calendar to have it serviced in late winter to avoid the spring rush.

 

After a cold November rain check your perennial beds for standing water. Cut a channel to drain it away. Wet feet can be as bad for your plants as cold, just like us. While you’re at it check gutters and drains above evergreens and perennial plantings to prevent ice formation.

 

Make sure leaves and mulch are not heaped against the trunks of all young and recently planted trees, generally, and all fruit trees. This invites mice to nest there and use your trees’ bark as a larder for the lean winter months. Bring the mulch a foot away from the trunks of all trees. You may also want to stake them from the winds of winter and early spring storms. Generally new trees more than 2” diameter don’t need staking. Don’t forget to consult ohioline.osu.edu for staking and other gardening information.

 

Have you been keeping a gardening journal? Me neither. I always think I will, I even bought one, but I never seem to get a round tuit. But all is not lost. Take notes and map your garden while you can still see the plants or remember where they were. This is particularly important for the vegetable garden. We do not want to plant tomato and its relatives, or cabbage and its relatives, or cucumber and its relatives in the same spot next year, or the year after that.

 

Clean your gardening tools and put them away. A coat of oil can prevent rust. A light coating of linseed oil on wooden handles prevents splitting due to weathering and drying.

 

If you planted a fall garden, cover the plants you can reasonably expect to survive freezing temperatures like spinach and lettuce. Use row covers and/or plastic.

 

Now is a good time to do a soil test. Labs aren't as busy and you can expect results back quickly with recommendations for soil amendments. Amending soil now is best, it gives time for the soil to absorb and incorporate the additives. Adding nitrogen is an exception, it doesn't stay around long.