November may seem like a questionable time of year as far as landscaping and plant upkeep. With the chill in the air and the approaching winter months, it’s difficult to know what steps to take to prepare and protect your garden. We spoke with Jennifer Gibson and the team of horticulturists and landscape designers at Good Earth Garden Center in Little Rock to learn a few of their tips.

Winterizing your lawn before the weather gets cold is crucial. “Winterizing should be done by early November at the latest,” says Gibson. Leaf removal is also important because leaf build-up could lead to bald spots on the lawn next spring, and trimming evergreens, planting new trees and shrubs, and transplanting perennials should all be done as fall proceeds. “In November, as plants go dormant, it’s a good time to look around your yard with a critical eye and see if you need more evergreen material or fall blooming plants like the Lenten Rose and camellia shrubs,” Gibson says. “November is actually a great time to work in the yard thanks to lower temperatures and fewer bugs, allowing for a more enjoyable time.”

A good idea to consider is to create container gardens to last through the winter months. “Container gardens can be a stylish way to add punches of color and interesting focal points anywhere in your landscaping—not just on patios and balconies,” says Gibson. “Whenever I’m designing someone’s landscape, I always try to include container gardens in strategic spots,” A grouping of three well-coordinated pots can be as beautiful as a traditional garden.”

The key to creating a good container garden is simple. Gibson suggests using plants with different colors and textures that complement and contrast one another. It’s also a good idea to begin with the largest plant and fill in from there, like the blend of Hicks Yew, mustard and Aztec grass in the blue and green cone-shaped planter. “The needle-like leaves of the yew are a sharp contrast to the broad, lush leaves of the mustard plant,” Gibson says. “The Aztec grass lightens everything up and adds color and visual interest to the overall look of the container.”

One of the best aspects of container gardening is that they can be much easier to maintain than a traditional garden. “Replacing and maintaining plants is at a much more manageable level. This makes it much easier as the seasons change,” says Gibson.

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