Landscaping Tips for November

With the recent time change along with a change in temperatures, landscaping practices for pests need some adjusting too. We're sharing a few recommended tasks to help prevent insect pests, diseases, and environmental disorders in landscapes. Looking for additional tips? You can subscribe to our Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist for monthly landscaping reminders delivered straight to your email inbox.

Frost Protection

Cold injury can occur when temperatures decline rapidly after warm weather, killing bark, buds, flowers and shoots. When possible, choose plant species that are adapted to the climate and temperatures of your area. When frost or freezing is predicted, protect sensitive plants from cold injury by covering them with cloth or similar material overnight to reduce heat loss. Read more about freezing and frost damage on the UC IPM website.

Irrigation

Adjusting water schedules is an important part of integrated pest management. Different plants have different watering needs and too much or too little water can damage or kill plants. Reduce irrigation frequency or turn off automated systems if rainfall is adequate or irrigate deeply if the weather is dry. Learn more about irrigating fruit and shade trees and shrubs on our website.

Prune

Deciduous trees and shrubs such as apple, crape myrtle, pear, and peach need to be pruned to maintain their structure and health. Proper pruning can also help manage and prevent certain pests. Our website has plant-specific pruning information for a number of fruit, nut, and landscape trees. Be sure to remove dead, diseased, and borer-infested wood.

Sanitation

Now is the time to clean up old fruit and nuts under trees to avoid harboring pests. Removing fallen leaves from beneath fruit trees and roses will also help reduce insect and disease problems. This practice of sanitation is a key component of integrated pest management to prevent and reduce pests. See our website for additional sanitation tips in your landscapes and gardens.

 

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