November Gardening Guide: Prepare Your Southern California Garden for the Holidays

What’s Taking Root This Month

Your November priorities at a glance.

• Finish planting trees, shrubs, natives, perennials, and cool-season flowers while the soil remains warm.
• Plant leafy greens, winter vegetables, and fresh herbs for flavorful harvests throughout the holiday season.
• Refresh your garden, lawn, containers, and indoor spaces with seasonal color and living holiday plants.

What You’ll Find in This November Garden Guide

Finish Your Fall Planting

There's still plenty of time to plant. November remains one of the best months to establish:

• Trees
• Shrubs
• California native plants
• Camellias
• Roses
• Groundcovers
• Succulents
• Perennials

Warm soil encourages roots to grow throughout fall and winter, giving plants a strong start before spring.

For the best results, amend your soil with a high-quality planting mix and apply a root starter fertilizer according to label directions to encourage healthy establishment.

Add Beautiful Color That Lasts Through Winter

As summer flowers fade, cool-season blooms take center stage.

Refresh containers, entryways, and flower beds with colorful favorites like:

• Pansies
• Violas
• Cyclamen
• Snapdragons
• Stock
• Poppies

Mix flowering annuals with evergreen shrubs, ornamental grasses, decorative pottery, and seasonal décor to create a welcoming entrance from Thanksgiving through the holidays.

Camellias Are the Stars of the Season

Few shrubs make a bigger impact in late fall than camellias.

Camellia sasanqua varieties begin blooming in November with beautiful shades of white, pink, and red while providing glossy evergreen foliage year-round.

Plant them in areas with morning sun or filtered light, and use an acid-loving planting mix to help them thrive.

Companion plants like azaleas, ferns, and heuchera create beautiful layered landscapes with year-round interest.

Plant California Natives & Waterwise Gardens

November's cooler weather makes it an excellent time to plant California native species and other waterwise plants.

Benefits include:

• Lower water use once established
• Support for local pollinators
• Easier long-term maintenance
• Strong winter root development

Adding native plants now allows them to establish naturally during the rainy season while temperatures are cooler.

Grow a Delicious Cool-Season Vegetable Garden

Cool weather brings some of Southern California's best harvests.

Plant vegetables like:

• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Kale
• Chard
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Beets
• Radishes
• Turnips

Fresh herbs are also easy to grow this time of year and make holiday cooking even more flavorful.

Popular choices include:

• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme
• Parsley
• Oregano

Harvest the Best of Your Backyard

Many edible plants are reaching their peak in November.

Enjoy harvesting:

• Tangerines
• Avocados
• Citrus
• Fresh herbs
• Leafy greens

Remember that avocados ripen after picking, so harvest mature fruit and allow it to soften indoors before enjoying.

Prepare Your Garden for Winter

A little cleanup now keeps your landscape healthier throughout winter.

November garden tasks include:

• Remove spent flowers.
• Cut back finished perennials as appropriate.
• Clean up fallen rose leaves.
• Pull winter weeds before they spread.
• Refresh mulch around trees and shrubs.
• Continue feeding actively growing plants as needed.

Keeping your garden tidy also helps reduce hiding places for pests and can limit some fungal problems during the cooler months.

Bring the Holidays Home with Living Plants

November marks the beginning of holiday decorating season.

Favorite living holiday plants include:

• Poinsettias
• Cyclamen
• Rosemary trees
• Christmas cactus
• Amaryllis
• Paperwhites
• Living Christmas trees

Plant amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs early in the month for beautiful blooms throughout the holiday season.

These plants also make thoughtful gifts for family, friends, teachers, and holiday hosts.

Refresh Your Houseplants

As daylight hours become shorter, indoor plants often need a little extra attention.

This month:

• Move plants closer to bright windows when needed.
• Reduce watering as growth slows.
• Remove yellow or damaged foliage.
• Rotate containers for even growth.
• Continue feeding actively growing tropical plants as appropriate.

Healthy houseplants help bring warmth and greenery indoors throughout the cooler months.

Keep Your Lawn Healthy

Your lawn may continue growing during Southern California's mild fall weather.

November lawn care should include:

• Feed cool-season lawns when appropriate.
• Mow regularly at the proper height.
• Reduce irrigation as temperatures cool.
• Rake leaves regularly.
• Aerate compacted lawns if needed.
• Continue monitoring for winter weeds.

Healthy lawns now create a greener landscape throughout winter and spring.

Welcome Birds Into Your Winter Garden

As natural food sources become less abundant, your garden can become an important refuge for local birds.

Keep birdbaths clean and full, refill feeders regularly, and plant shrubs that provide berries, shelter, and protected resting areas during the cooler months.

Creating a wildlife-friendly garden adds beauty, movement, and year-round enjoyment.