Just because it’s fall doesn’t mean you can’t plan for spring | The Compleat Home Gardener
Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, November 12, 2025
The second week of November is a good time to clear fallen leaves and debris from walkways and your lawn before severe winter weather.
You can leave dry leaves on your lawn if you get in a last mowing that will chop the fall foliage into tiny pieces. The cut up leaves will act as a natural lawn food.
November is still a good month to plant spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and crocus so empty your summer weary annuals from your patio pots and consider filling them with spring bulbs instead.
Once you have moved all houseplants indoors, make this the time of year you repot and check the foliage of houseplants for insects. The shorter day length will slow down growth of houseplants so they will need less water and feeding during the winter months.
Q. What is the maple tree with the beautiful orange bark? I am working on adding more winter color to my landscape. W.L., Bellevue
A. Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ known by the common name of Coral Bark Maple is the small tree with the outstanding orange or peach bark. You can find this specimen tree at local nurseries now or order one for spring delivery if your nursery has sold out of these winter beauties. Keep in mind the shape of this Japanese maple is more casual or irregular than traditional trees with just one trunk. The coral bark maples does respond well to pruning and shaping as it matures so you can control the shape if you want a more compact growth form.
Tip: Like all trees with a label that tells you the mature size, you should add more than a few extra feet to that size estimate. In our mild Western Washington climate trees and shrubs grow much larger than the plant label or artificial intelligence will try to tell you. Don’t plant trees too close to the house or under power lines.
Q. I have a Magnolia stellata or Star magnolia that has grown too large for its spot near the house. I would like to prune it into a more compact shape. I do see buds forming at the tips of the branches so I am wondering if fall is the right time to prune this flowering tree. S.L., Enumclaw
A. No need to get snippy now as winter weather means a haircut in fall will sacrifice flowers in spring. When it comes to the star magnolia, pruning after blooming is the general rule of green thumb. This usually means late April. I have also had luck pruning branches from my star magnolia in late winter and watching the fat gray buds open indoors as a delightful way of fooling Mother Nature into an early spring.
Q. I have seen potted amaryllis bulbs for sale at local box stores. I want some of the big red blooms in full flower for a New Year’s Eve party. My question is when should I buy and water these bulbs to have them in bloom for the holiday? P.G., Tacoma
A. I suggest you purchase your amaryllis bulbs now as they take six to eight weeks from fall planting to winter blooming. This huge tropical bulb really does give a lot of bang for the bulb. Just be sure and purchase the more traditional amaryllis with the solid red or pale peach blooms for dependable bloom time. The so called “exotic” amaryllis with smaller, flayed petals are independent-minded bloomers and seem to flower whenever they feel like it – sometimes in winter, but often waiting until spring or even summer to flower.
Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of “Easy Answers for Great Gardens” and several other books. For answers to gardening questions, visit plantersplace.com and click “As The Expert”. Copyright for this column owned by Marianne Binetti. For more gardening information, she can be reached at her website, www.binettigarden.com.
