Leaves can be beneficial to overwintering insects if left in piles instead of raking them away. Photos courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife.

By Susan Himes
AgriLife

TEXAS — Think twice before cleaning up your leaf litter this fall, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert advises. Whether you shred or rake them, leaving some leaf piles will help pollinators and beneficial insects.

“Remember, leaf litter makes great overwintering sites for insects,” said Larry Stein, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist and professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Horticultural Sciences, Uvalde.

While some bees and wasps live in hives, they are often ground nesters. These pollinators will need leaf litter and some loose soil to get through the winter.

Keeping your garden insect-friendly through the winter months also means that when overwintering eggs, nymphs or larvae, and pupae hatch in the spring, you will have an already-flourishing insect population to get to work as pollinators and protection from “bad bugs.”

Leaf drop may have come a little earlier than normal, this year. While October is typically a wetter time of the year, 2024 has proven to be different for much of Texas.

“We would prefer leaf drop to be normal as opposed to being caused by drought, but many parts of the state didn’t get the precipitation levels they are used to seeing, and we are also seeing higher heat than usual as we head into November,” Stein said.

However, once leaves do drop, whether early or “on time,” he said to think twice before disposing of them.

Plant of the month: possum haw holly

Stein’s plant of the month is a deciduous holly, better known as possum haw holly. It has the widest range of all Texas hollies and does well in various soil conditions. It can be grown in shade, but it fruits best in partial shade to full sun.

Possum haw holly also attracts songbirds. Due to its heat and drought tolerance, it does well in many parts of Texas. Female plants will need a male pollinator for a good fruit set.

“This is a truly outstanding small native tree that is very low maintenance,” he said. “The tree drops its leaves in fall to reveal showy red or orange berries on female plants that remain throughout the winter.”

Other November Gardening Guide tips

What to plant, what to wait on

Container trees and shrubs can be planted; wait until January to plant bare root stock.

It is also the ideal time to select and plant cool-season annuals like pansies, violas and ornamental cabbages and kale. However, establishment will be a bit more challenging if the higher temperatures continue, so more frequent watering would be needed.

Be patient to prune

Don’t get in a hurry to prune woody plants. Late December through February is usually the best time to prune them.

Know when to pick persimmons, citrus

As the temperatures cool, the full color of persimmons and citrus will highlight your landscape. However, just because astringent persimmons turn orange does not mean they are ripe; a light frost seems to expedite this process. Citrus does not need to be totally orange to be ready to eat.

Keep an eye out for fungus

Monitor your lawn for late-season fungus issues, which can be exacerbated by too much moisture.

Grow a winter salad

As temperatures cool, your cool-season crops will continue to develop. You can also do bi-weekly planting of salad greens, such as leaf lettuce, kale, chard and spinach.

Prepare garden equipment for winter

Drain gasoline from power tools and run the engine until fuel in the carburetor is used up, unless you have made the switch to ethanol-free gas. Even with ethanol-free gas, it is a good idea to run the gas out of the carburetor. Drain and store garden hoses and watering equipment in a readily accessible location.

Revisit your cold protection plan

As the temperatures begin to cool, make sure you have a cold protection plan in place. Think about the mulch, mounding around trunks, covers and other measures to protect plants. Bring in late-blooming plants such as decorative kalanchoes or Christmas cacti so they can finish flowering in the warmth of the house.

Think variety

Place orders for seeds this month to have them available when you are ready to plant in the spring. In addition to ordering seeds you are already familiar with, try a few new kinds each year to broaden your garden contents.

Change the way you fertilize indoor plants

Reduce the fertilization of indoor plants through mid-March. An exception would be plants in an atrium or a well-lighted window location.