Prune deciduous trees, but only for structural and safety purposes. Do not prune fruit trees until February or March.
Gardening "To Do" Tips by Month for Santa Barbara, CA
Get ready for winter frosts. Protect citrus trees if needed.
Bring in any tender houseplants and place them in a sunny spot. Cut back on the fertilizer and remember to water them.
Remember to continue watering your plants, even as the temperature decreases; dry plants are more easily damaged by freezing temperatures.
Harvest all warm-season vegetables before the first freeze arrives.
Continue to plant cool-season transplants such as: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, leeks, onion, parsnips, radishes, spinach, and turnips.
Continue to plant cool-season transplants such as: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, garlic, and lettuce.
Now is the ideal time to landscape with trees and shrubs; dig and transplant trees and shrubs because their roots will continue to grow even though the rest of the plant is dormant.
Replace summer flowers with winter-hardy flowers, such as pansies, snapdragons, or dianthus.
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage flowering.
Continue to overseed Bermuda lawns to keep the grass green through winter.
If you have highly acidic lawns or garden soil, now is the ideal time to fix them. Test your lawn or soil to determine how much agricultural lime is necessary.
Once leaves begin to fall, be sure to remove them from your lawn; wet leaves can block sunlight and increase the chance of disease.
Leave the foliage on your perennials to help insulate them from the harsh winter conditions.
Store any remaining garden seeds in airtight containers and keep them in the refrigerator or freezer until the next planting season.
Complete fertilization of established roses this month.
