Show #114 - Refrigerator Season Gardening: Dig, Divide, Fertilize & Fight Weeds All Winter Long

Refrigerator Season: Why Gardening Is Just Beginning in November

To the casual homeowner, gardening looks “over” once fall sets in. But to true gardeners who follow nature’s rhythm, this is actually the start of the most productive season of the year.

Welcome to Refrigerator Season — six months of ideal root-growth weather, starting right after October 22nd, when nearly all plant energy shifts underground.

This is the time to dig, divide, feed, fix, move, plant, and protect.

Dividing & Replanting Perennials in Cold Weather

Cold soil + low foliage = perfect dividing conditions.

How to divide and reset perennials:

• Make sure plants were watered deeply 3–4 days prior to digging.
• Cut off remaining foliage to reduce stress.
• Look for bottleneck root sections to identify ideal cut points.
• Use a root-cutting saw (Corona makes the best) or a sharp spade.
• Amend soil with:
  • Betty’s Clay Cutter
  • Fox Farms Salamander Coir Soil
• Add a big handful of lime — soft-tissue plants need lime annually.
• Add one small portion of Super Phosphate directly under the roots — lasts 15 years.
• Apply fertilizer directly over the roots:
  • Plant Trust
  • Garden Trust
  • Fertilome Start-n-Grow
• Plant perennials 3 inches higher than ground level to account for settling.
  Mulch heavily with:
  • Shredded hardwood bark
  • Cedar bark
  • Cypress mulch

By spring, split plants will be as strong and beautiful as the originals.

Refrigerator Season Is Also Tree-Moving Season

Winter is the safest, least stressful time to move or plant a tree. Roots grow all winter long.

Perfect time to:

• Relocate shrubs, small trees, or large perennials.
• Plant new trees at peak discount pricing.
• Fertilize root systems without risking heat stress.

Betty’s Fall Tree Sale

• 30% off the discount price on ALL container deciduous trees.
• 30% off all Dogwoods, Redbuds, Crepe Myrtles, Fruit Trees, Shade Maples, and Japanese Maples.
• Visit: bettysazalearanch.com for full sale details.

Trim Thin-Skinned Trees Now (Not in Spring!)

Thin-skinned trees bleed heavily when pruned during spring sap-rise.

Trim these now:

• Redbud
• Birch
• Maple
• Fruit trees

Trimming during refrigerator season allows:

• Faster healing
• Better branching
• Stronger root development
• No “sap bleeding” as with Spring trimming
  

Refrigerator Season = Weed Season (150+ Winter Weeds Germinate!)

Winter weeds are aggressive, strong, and have two reproduction systems — root + seed. They grow underground all winter while your lawn is resting.

Common winter weeds:

• Clover
• Black medic
• Knotweed
• Henbit
• Chickweed
• Wild violet
• Spurge
• Ground ivy
• Pennywort
• Plantain
• Smartweed
• …and 100+ more

Winter doesn’t kill them — it supercharges them.

Weed Control Has 3 Major Solutions

Kill existing weeds

• Use Fertilome Weed Free Zone
  
• Mix:
  • 1.5 oz weed killer
  • In 1 gallon very warm water
  • Add 1 oz Wilt-Pruf to laminate the solution
• Works in cold temps and does NOT harm lawns.

Prevent future weeds

• Use Gallery Broadleaf Preventer
• Prevents 150 types of broadleaf weeds
• Lasts 9 months
• Non-staining, non-toxic

Apply Gallery over the top of dry plant foliage and mulch beds, especially along lawn edges where 80% of weeds appear.

Change the soil environment

• Lime your lawn every year
• PH shift (6.5 to 7) = 200 points of change
• Lime = cheapest, most important work homeowners skip

Lime essentials:

• 40 lbs per 1,000 sq ft
• Spreader setting: wide open
• Remove agitator pin
• 5,000 sq ft lawn = 200 lbs lime
• Lime annual beds, perennials, veggie gardens too

If you haven’t limed in 2 years, you’re losing 71% of your fertilizer before opening the bag.

Leaf Removal Keeps Shady Lawns Alive

Shady lawns suffocate under leaf layers.

Leaf removal tips:

• Remove leaves 1–2 times per week
• Use mower, blower, or sweeper
• Try the Catchy Can — giant dustpan + trash can hybrid
  • Great for leaves and garage cleanup
  • $54.44 at Betty’s
  • Available in 20- and 30-gallon sizes

Refrigerator Season Is Bird Feeding Season!

Cold months = a survival challenge for birds — help them thrive.

Best bird food choices at Betty’s:

• Lyric Fine Tunes (no waste, no fillers)
  • 15 lbs for $39.88
• Black Oil Sunflower Seed:
  • 20 lbs: $19.88
  • 50 lbs: $35.88
    
• Pinetree Farms Suet:
  • $1.57–1.88 (premium suet)
  • Giant cakes: $9–$14

Don’t forget water!

• Add a bird bath heater
• Birds need food, water, shelter daily