Hello, my gardening friend. How does your garden grow?
Mid-November Garden Checklist
As the chill settles into North Texas, mid-November is the perfect time to start transitioning your garden into winter mode. Here are a few tasks to help you stay on track:
Plant Cool-Season Greens: Our soil is still warm enough to direct sow spinach and kale. These hardy plants thrive in the cooler temperatures, and you’ll be able to enjoy fresh greens throughout the winter. Prepare the soil by adding compost, and make sure the planting area gets plenty of sun.
Mulch Your Beds: Adding a layer of mulch now helps protect perennials, insulates roots from the cold, and keeps moisture levels even during our unpredictable winter weather. It’s like tucking your plants in for a cozy winter nap.
Prepare for Bulb Planting: The spring bulb planting window for tulips is between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Daffodils can actually be planted now through January since they are less temperature sensitive, but it's generally easier to plant everything at once during the holiday "sandwich". Amend beds with compost before planting.
Protect Sensitive Plants: The average first frost date for North Texas is November 21. Keep an eye on the weather forecast for any sudden freezes. Cover sensitive plants with frost cloth or old blankets to help them make it through the cold spells. Better safe than sorry.
Persimmons are the easiest fruit to grow in North Texas.
Check out these gorgeous persimmons I just harvested. Our persimmon tree is completely neglected, but we still get a basketful of persimmons every year!
Late winter/early spring is a good time to plant fruit trees. Call nurseries near you to see if they will be carrying persimmons. Look for Eureka or Fuyu varieties.
Pre-Order the 2025 Garden Planner
The planner has been majorly updated with you in mind! Hardcover for durability and portability, 52 two-page weekly spreads with lots of extra room for writing notes, quadruple the educational content, and a ribbon page marker to save your place.
There is so much gardening instruction in this version–it's like taking an intensive workshop with me!
Note: This is a precise digital rendering. Actual product may vary slightly, but we promise it'll be even better in person.
Note: This is a precise digital rendering. Actual product may vary slightly, but we promise it'll be even better in person.
FAQs
Will the hardcover book lay flat?
Yes!! Our design of the new planner was incredibly detail-oriented. We thought of your needs every step of the way. The planner binding is Smyth-sewn which allows the planner to lay completely flat.
What makes the 2025 Garden Planner different from last year?
This year, the planner comes with a durable hardcover, a ribbon page marker, and quadruple the educational content - it's 184 pages and last year's was only 45 pages. We also have 52 two-page weekly spreads, offering plenty of room for notes and planning.
When will the planner ship?
Pre-orders will begin shipping in early December, just in time to help you plan for a productive gardening year ahead. But don't wait! We will ship planners to our pre-order customers first.
Can I use the planner if I live outside of North Texas?
Absolutely! While some specific recommendations are tailored for North Texas, the planting schedule applies to the greater areas of Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.
Is there a digital version available?
At this time, we only offer the physical hardcover planner. The tactile experience of using the planner is part of what makes it so useful and enjoyable.
By teaching you how to connect deeply with nature, The Dallas Garden School helps you unlock your full potential. Callie is the foremost gardening expert and educator in North Texas and a gardening columnist for D Magazine. Based in Dallas, Texas.