November Garden Checklist by Region: What to Finish Before the Ground Freezes

What you should finish in November depends on how soon the soil freezes where you live. In cold climates, the job is to get everything protected and put away before the ground turns solid. In mild climates, November is a planting and tidying month. In warm climates, it is one of the best times to plant and to keep up with watering. The sections below break the work down by climate, with a shared list of jobs that apply almost everywhere.

Find your climate group first

Use your USDA hardiness zone and your average first hard freeze (about 28°F, or -2°C) to decide which list fits you. Local extension services publish frost dates for most areas, and they are more reliable than a general rule.

Cold climates (roughly zones 3-6, and the colder parts of the UK and Canada): the ground may freeze in November or soon after.
Mild climates (roughly zones 7-8): frosts arrive, but the soil often stays workable into December.
Warm climates (roughly zones 9-11): frost is rare or light, and fall is the main growing season for many crops.

Cold climates: finish before the ground freezes

Work from the most time-sensitive jobs to the least. Once the soil is frozen, planting and digging stop.

Plant spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils while you can still dig. They need cool soil to root, so plant them as long as a trowel goes in.
Harvest the last crops. Pull root vegetables, cabbage and Brussels sprouts before the soil freezes hard. Carrots and parsnips can stay in the ground under a thick layer of straw or leaves if you want to dig them through winter.
Water new trees and shrubs deeply once more before the freeze. Dry soil going into winter can stress evergreens in particular.
Lift tender bulbs and tubers such as dahlias and gladioli after frost blackens the foliage. Let them dry, then store them in a cool, frost-free place in dry peat moss or sawdust.
Mulch perennials and strawberries after the ground has cooled, using 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) of straw or shredded leaves. Mulch is for keeping the soil evenly frozen, not for keeping plants warm.
Protect roses. Our guide on how to winterize roses by USDA zone covers mounding and cover methods for cold areas.

Mild climates: plant, protect and tidy

In zones 7-8, November is a transition month. You can still do real gardening, but frost can arrive without much warning.

Plant garlic, spring bulbs and bare-root trees and shrubs. Cool soil helps roots establish while the tops are dormant.
Sow or transplant cool-season crops such as kale, spinach, lettuce and onion sets if you have a cold frame, row cover or a mild forecast.
Cover tender plants with frost cloth or an old sheet on nights when the forecast is near freezing. Remove the covering in the morning.
Keep watering. Fall can be dry. The same checks in our article on how often to water a vegetable garden apply: check the soil rather than following a fixed schedule.
Lift or protect tender perennials if you are close to the colder edge of your zone.

Warm climates: November is a planting month

In zones 9-11, summer heat has usually broken, and the garden can get busy again.

Plant cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, peas and leafy greens.
Plant trees, shrubs and perennials. The mild weather and less intense sun let roots settle before next summer.
Overseed or fertilize the lawn only as the label for your grass type directs. Warm-season grasses go dormant as nights cool, so avoid pushing growth late in the season.
Watch for a surprise frost. Keep frost cloth handy for citrus, tomatoes still producing and tropical plants.
Keep an eye on pests. Aphids, whiteflies and caterpillars stay active in mild weather. Start with a strong spray of water or hand picking, and follow the label on any product you use.

Jobs for every climate

Clear diseased plant material. Remove tomato, squash and other crop debris showing disease and bin it rather than composting it, since many diseases survive in the soil and leaf litter.
Rake and use leaves. Shred leaves with a mower and use them as mulch or add them to the compost pile. Do not leave a thick, wet mat on the lawn, because it can smother the grass.
Add compost or other organic matter to empty beds and cover them with mulch or a cover crop so the soil is not left bare.
Drain and store hoses, turn off outdoor taps and empty irrigation lines in areas that freeze. If you use drip lines, check the details in our comparison of soaker hose and drip irrigation before deciding what to drain.
Clean and sharpen tools, then oil metal parts lightly. Our guide on how to sharpen garden tools takes you through pruners, shovels and hoes.
Service power equipment before storage. See the checklist for winterizing a lawn mower.

Common mistakes to avoid

Pruning too early. Heavy pruning of most shrubs in fall can trigger new growth that frost then damages. Remove only dead, damaged or diseased branches now.
Mulching too soon or too thick. Mulch applied before the ground cools can shelter voles and keep the soil warm. Pull it back from trunks and stems so it does not touch them.
Feeding late in the season. Nitrogen fertilizer in late fall encourages tender growth. Wait until spring unless a soil test shows a need.
Storing wet tubers or tools. Moisture leads to rot and rust, so dry everything first.
Leaving fall watering until it is too late. Water evergreens and new plantings while the soil is still workable.

Quick answers

Is it too late to plant garlic in November?

Not in most places. Garlic is usually planted in fall, a few weeks before the ground freezes, so that the cloves can root. In cold areas, plant as soon as you can and mulch afterward.

Should I cut back all my perennials?

You do not have to. Cut back plants that are diseased or mushy. Many gardeners leave healthy stems and seed heads until spring, because they protect crowns and give some wildlife cover.

Can I still plant trees in November?

Yes, in most mild and warm climates and in cold climates while the soil is not frozen. Water the tree well after planting and keep the root zone mulched.

What about my tomatoes?

Once frost is forecast, pick green fruit and ripen it indoors. If you want to know why fruit stalls, our article on tomatoes that are not turning red explains the causes.