Show #112 - November Feeding: The Secret to Stronger Roots, Healthier Trees, and Winter-Ready Gardens
November Feeding: Unlocking the Power of Root Growth Season
We’re officially in the zone — the most important feeding window of the entire gardening year!
Last week we covered October 22nd, the pivotal date that marks the start of the November feeding — also known as the “clean out the garage” feeding.
This feeding is 1½ times stronger than your spring fertilization and fuels up to 80% of your plant’s annual root growth through the cool months ahead.
Why the November Feeding Matters
- Trees may look dormant, but they’re growing roots at full speed.
- Just like every living thing, plants need an energy source — nitrogen fertilizer acts like antifreeze, keeping water flowing through their system (xylem) and preventing freeze damage.
- Feed especially those trees not planted in lawns, as they miss out on lawn fertilizer nutrients.
Neglecting trees leads to visible decline over the years — thinner canopies, smaller leaves, and reduced growth. Feeding them now restores energy and long-term health.
The Hidden Value of Trees
Before skipping another fall feeding, consider what trees give us:
- A 20” Caliba moves a ton of water per day, cooling your yard by up to 20°F.
- They provide habitat for wildlife, purify air, control erosion, and beautify landscapes.
- Trees range from dwarf red-leaf maples to towering oaks, offering endless color and structure.
They give us so much — all they ask for in return is food, water, and mulch.
Evergreen Trees Need Even More
Deciduous trees rest half the year. Evergreens don’t.
That means:
- They require 60% more fertilizer to maintain their year-round foliage.
- Their root systems are 60% larger, supporting continuous growth and energy needs.
- Evergreens like pine, cedar, spruce, arborvitae, cryptomeria, and holly provide shelter for birds and wildlife year-round — they deserve a full feeding too!
The Right Way to Feed Trees
Skip the old 10-10-10 formulas and overpriced spikes. Instead, use premium slow-release fertilizers with low salt content and high-quality nitrogen sources.
Best Tree Fertilizers:
- Plant Trust
- Anderson’s 18-6-12
- Fertilome Start-n-Grow 19-6-12
- Greenview Fall Special
- Turf Trust
- Betty’s Show Turf
These provide superior, long-lasting nutrition for a fraction of the cost — just $1.50 per pound of nitrogen compared to over $60 for spike fertilizers.
At Betty’s, quality fertilizers cost less and perform better, proving that superior fertilizer = superior performance.
Why Feeding Quality Matters
- High-salt, cheap fertilizers burn roots and harm soil microbes.
- Slow-release, balanced fertilizers nourish daily, supporting steady, natural growth.
- The result? Lush trees, vibrant flowers, and stronger plants that resist stress.
You don’t plant a dogwood just to have one — you plant it for the hundreds of white blooms and red berries for the birds.
Feed it right, and it will reward you in every season.
This Week’s To-Do List
- Decorate for fall holidays: Use mums, pansies, ornamental cabbage, and kale. Refresh mulch and apply Gallery to prevent weeds for 9 months.
- Apply Gallery now: Stop 150+ winter weeds before they sprout. Focus on mulch beds and lawn edges where 80% of weeds start.
Start the November Feeding: It’s the heaviest feeding of the year — 1½ times stronger than spring. For a bonus, apply iron for rich green lawn color. - Keep watering: Falling leaves mean plants are sealing their leaf stems — they need water to finish this transition.
- Trim thin-skinned trees: Now’s the perfect time to trim Maples, Cherries, Redbuds, Birches, and fruit trees. Fertilize, trim, mulch, and water before winter.
Final Thoughts
Every fall feeding is a chance to restore balance — to replace what the growing season took out of your soil and plants.
Feed your trees now, and they’ll reward you with decades of beauty, strength, and shade.
