15 Essential November Homesteading Tasks

We can’t believe November is almost here! Before the holiday festivities and snowstorms hit, we have a ton of homestead chores to perform. Our November homesteading tasks guide will walk you through the essential duties to prepare your homestead for the winter months ahead and ensure a bountiful spring.

Lovely autumn garden with a fancy wooden archway and rustic design.

Sound good?

Then let’s begin!

The freezing winter weather and holiday season will be here before we know it. Let’s tackle these tasks now so we have plenty of free time to enjoy the upcoming season!

1. Deep Till And Add Organic Matter

Woman digging and tilling in the cold autumn garden.

Deep tilling and incorporating organic matter into your soil during November creates the foundation for next year’s abundant harvest. Working the soil now helps improve soil structure, enhance drainage, and build a thriving ecosystem for beneficial microorganisms.

Use a broad fork or mechanical tiller when the garden soil feels slightly damp (but not soaked!)
Layer diverse organic materials like leaves, compost, and aged manure before tilling to create a rich soil composition.
Till your garden’s soil to a depth of eight to twelve inches. Make multiple passes if needed for thorough incorporation.

Few garden discoveries bring more satisfaction than earth w orms multiplying exponentially in your well-tilled, organic-rich soil as the years pass. It’s like nature’s seal of approval for your fall preparation efforts.

2. Prepare Your Firewood Supply

Stacking chopped firewood logs neatly to split later.

Preparing firewood in November ensures you have adequately seasoned wood for efficient burning next year. It also provides an invigorating workout that warms you twice! Once while splitting and again while burning.

Use a splitting axe for large logs. Use a smaller hatchet for tinier pieces.
Create a proper woodpile foundation using pallets or landscape timbers to keep wood off the ground.
Sort wood by size and species. Keep smaller pieces accessible for kindling and off-peak season burning.

Take your time when splitting logs! You might hurt or strain yourself otherwise. Besides, the sweet, satisfying scent of wild cherry wood splitting on a crisp autumn morning is worth setting aside an entire weekend for this essential task.

3. Plant Autumn Bulbs

Planting lovely autumn bulbs like tulips and hyacinths.

November bulb planting is an act of faith and optimism. You’re burying treasure that will surprise and delight you with early spring color when you need it most. These hardy little packages of joy require minimal effort for maximum impact, so planting them is one of the most rewarding fall gardening tasks.

Plant bulbs at a depth of roughly three times their height and space according to package directions.
Add bone meal, rotted manure, or bulb fertilizer to the planting hole for solid spring growth.
Mark planting locations with permanent stakes or even mulch to avoid accidentally digging up bulbs during future gardening activities.

Here are some of our favorite bulbs for November planting. Daffodils (zones 3 to 9), Tulips (zones 3 to 7), Hyacinths (zones 4 to 8), Crocus (zones 3 to 8), Alliums (zones 3 to 9), and Snowdrops (zones 3 to 7) are all superb candidates for November sowing.

4. Remove Annual Plants

Dry and dying plants growing in wall containers.

Clearing spent annual plants from your garden isn’t just about aesthetics. It helps prevent disease and pest problems in next year’s garden and provides fresh organic material for your backyard compost heap.

Separate diseased plants for disposal and healthy plants for composting.
Pull plants by the root system to prevent pests from overwintering in the soil.
Document plant locations before removal to aid in crop rotation planning.

A garden cleanup ritual I’ve developed involves thinking thankful thoughts as I clear the summer and late-fall clutter. You might think I’m slowly going crazy (lol), but gratitude transforms a mundane task into a meaningful celebration of the season’s abundance.

5. Plan Next Year’s Garden

Lovely English garden with lush shrubs flowers and greenery.

Garden planning during the quiet months of fall and winter is like brainstorming on a blank canvas. It allows you to dream big while learning from the successes and challenges of the previous growing season.

Create garden maps, including planting schedules.
Review your garden journal notes from the current year to help with next year’s plans.
Calculate seed and supply needs well before the spring ordering rush.

There’s something magical about flipping through years of garden maps – each page telling the story of seasons past and dreams yet to bloom.

6. Prepare Your Pipes For Frosty Weather

Frozen water faucet in the icy winter season.

Protecting your plumbing system from freezing is one of the most crucial November maintenance tasks. Burst winter pipes can cost thousands of dollars in repair fees and leave you without water during the coldest months.

Identify and insulate all exposed pipes, especially in unheated areas.
Install foam covers on outdoor spigots and drain garden irrigation systems completely.
Locate your plumbing’s water shutoff valve and ensure everyone in the household knows its location.

The sound of a dripping faucet might be annoying. But it’s nothing compared to the horrifying crack of a frozen pipe bursting on a freezing winter night!

7. Hang Your Holiday Lighting

Lovely Christmas decorations and lights with reindeer Santa and sleigh.

Installing holiday lighting during moderate November weather makes this festive task more enjoyable and safer than waiting until winter’s deep freezes set in. The early installation also allows you to enjoy the warm glow of lights throughout the extended dark autumn and winter evenings.

Test all light strings before installation and replace any damaged sets.
Use appropriately rated outdoor extension cords and timers for safety and convenience.
Create a layout plan on paper to ensure even coverage and calculate electrical load requirements.

There’s a special kind of magic in being the first house in the neighborhood to showcase festive holiday lights. It creates a beacon of warmth that beckons family and neighbors home.

8. Prepare Garden Tools For Winter

Hanging garden tools in the storage shed over winter.

Proper tool maintenance in the fall ensures your essential gardening implements will be ready for action when spring arrives. It also extends their lifespan and preserves your investment.

Clean tools thoroughly, removing all soil and plant debris.
Sharpen edges, oil moving parts, and sand and oil wooden handles.
Store tools hanging or upright in a dry location to prevent rust and handle warping.

My grandfather’s hand-forged garden hoe, lovingly maintained for over 75 years, still turns soil better than modern-made tools! (The wooden handle still breaks now and then, which I replace. But the wrought iron edge lives on generations later.)

9. Winterize Beehives

Snow covered beehives in a wintertime aviary.

Preparing your beehives for winter is essential for colony survival. Proper winterization helps bees maintain crucial temperature regulation while conserving their energy stores.

Ensure adequate honey stores (usually around 60 pounds for northern climates, depending on beehive size).
Install entrance reducers and mouse guards while maintaining proper ventilation.
Wrap hives with insulation material in severe climates. Be careful not to block ventilation! (Ventilation prevents mold buildup.)

You only understand the meaning of cooperation once you’ve watched a colony of bees prepare their home for winter. Each bee knows what the colony needs without uttering a word!

10. Consider A Programmable Thermostat

Smart thermostat for automated temperature control.

Installing a programmable thermostat is a straightforward yet powerful way to reduce energy consumption and maintain consistent comfort levels throughout your home. This one-time installation can significantly save on winter heating costs, which keep skyrocketing!

Choose a thermostat with a user-friendly interface and appropriate programming options.
Install in a location away from drafts and direct sunlight for accurate readings.
Program temperature adjustments to align with your daily routine.

The satisfaction of watching your heating bills decrease while your comfort increases makes you wonder why you didn’t make this simple change years ago.

11. Create Homemade Holiday Decorations

Standing at the holiday workshop and using fir tree twigs to make a wreath.

Crafting holiday decorations from natural backyard materials saves money and creates unique, meaningful additions to your festive celebrations. It’s also a fun family activity that connects you more deeply to your homestead’s natural abundance.

Collect materials throughout the fall season, storing them properly to maintain freshness.
Create a dedicated crafting space where projects can remain in progress.
Start small with manageable projects and increase complexity as your skills develop.

Some of my most treasured holiday memories involve gathering natural garden and tree litter! Look for evergreen branches, festive-colored berries, dried flowers, fruits, acorns, and pinecones.

12. Review Seed Collection

Storing heirloom tomato bean and corn seeds in glass jars.

Evaluating and organizing your seed collection in November allows you to take inventory, test germination rates, and brainstorm the crops you want to grow next year. This tranquil task connects you to past and future gardens while preparing you for spring planting.

Test germination rates of older seeds before relying on them for the next season.
Organize seeds by planting date and cultivar to streamline spring planting.
Store dry seeds in airtight containers in a chilly, dark location with a consistent temperature.

An old paper envelope of carefully saved heirloom seeds represents the wisdom of generations of gardeners who selected and preserved the best specimens for you to continue!

13. Prune Trees After All Leaves Fall

Pruning deciduous trees in the chilly autumn weather.

Many deciduous trees are dormant in November, making it the perfect time to begin pruning them. This essential maintenance task shapes the future development of your trees while preventing potential winter damage.

Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches first.
Make clean cuts at proper angles just outside the branch collar.
Step back frequently to assess overall tree shape and balance.

Have fun with your late fall tree pruning. On still winter mornings, the graceful silhouette of a well-pruned tree against the dawn sky reminds us why this meticulous task is more art than a chore!

14. Seal Home Cracks And Gaps

Using silicone sealant caulk to repair drafty window frames.

Identifying and sealing cracks around your home is one of the best ways to improve winter heating efficiency and reduce energy costs throughout winter! This often-overlooked November task keeps your living space warmer and prevents moisture issues.

Conduct a thorough inspection on a windy day with a lit incense stick to detect drafts around windows, doors, electrical outlets, and pipe penetrations.
Use silicone caulk for tiny cracks, expandable foam for larger holes, and weather stripping for movable components like doors and windows.
Pay special attention to rim joists in basements and crawl spaces. These are often tremendous heat loss sources that are easy to overlook.

Sealing tiny cracks can also help prevent mice, bats, and other pests from entering your home. You’d be shocked to learn that mice can quickly enter your home through a hole as small as a dime! So, no hole is too small to seal.

15. Protect Sensitive Shrubs, Trees, Or Transplants

Covering small plants with nonwoven fabric to protect from winter frost.

Winter protection is crucial for vulnerable plants, especially newly transplanted, young, or marginally hardy specimens. This protective care can mean the difference between thriving plants and costly replacements in spring.

Create windbreaks using burlap screens or natural materials.
Apply additional mulch around root zones after the ground begins to freeze.
Install physical protection against snow load and animal damage.

The extra time spent protecting plants in the fall is like filling a bank account that pays interest in healthy, vigorous shrubbery growth.

Conclusion

As the autumn days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, completing these tasks brings a deep sense of satisfaction and preparedness. Take your time with each task, savor the seasonal transition, and rest assured that your efforts now will pay dividends when spring returns once again.

What about you?

Are you ready for the winter and chilly weather?
Are you going to decorate with colorful holiday lights this year?
What’s your favorite part of November homesteading?

Thanks for reading.

Have a great day!

15 Essential November Homesteading Tasks – Firewood Supplies, Autumn Bulbs, And Frozen Pipes!