What Landscape Work Should I Be Doing in November?
By November, the important work is mostly inspection, moisture management, storm readiness, and knowing what to leave alone.
November yard care in Colorado Springs is usually quiet but not finished. The main jobs are watching moisture, protecting recently planted material, finishing leaf management, checking storm hazards, and preparing equipment for snow and winter.
A warm, dry November can demand more plant attention than a snowy one. Conditions—not dormancy alone—should guide the work.
Watch the weather and the soil
During prolonged dry periods, CSU recommends watering trees, shrubs, lawns, and perennials when air and soil temperatures are above 40°F, the ground is unfrozen, and there is no snow cover. Water early enough for moisture to soak in before nighttime freezing.
Focus first on new plantings, evergreens, shallow-rooted species, and windy south- or west-facing sites. Check soil before watering; a cold surface can conceal moist soil below.
Finish practical preparations
- Drain and store hoses after use; a winter-watering hose is only helpful if it is not frozen solid.
- Clear leaves that block drains, downspouts, walkways, or dense patches of turf.
- Inspect young-tree stakes and ties; they should stabilize the root ball without strangling the trunk.
- Move snow tools and ice melt where they are accessible before the first hurried morning.
- Identify large dead limbs over driveways, roofs, or gathering areas for professional evaluation.
Leave most cutting alone
Standing ornamental grasses and healthy perennial stems can provide winter texture and habitat. Late fall to mid-winter is generally not the preferred time for routine tree pruning. Remove an immediate hazard only when it can be done safely; plan ordinary structural work for an appropriate season.
Avoid fall fertilizer applications to trees and shrubs simply because the calendar says 'fall feeding.' Need should be based on growth, site conditions, and preferably soil or tissue evidence.
Sources & further reading
These Field Notes translate Colorado horticultural guidance into practical homeowner language. For the underlying recommendations, start with the original CSU Extension resources: