Print edition: 
Fertilize the lawn — Studies have shown that if you fertilize a cool-season lawn in November, the grass will green up nicer in the spring, extension agent Rebecca McMahon says. But it’s not necessary. If you do fertilize, make it a quick-release form of nitrogen. If crabgrass is a problem in the spring, you can use Barricade for your November fertilizer. The weed preventer should last through spring.
It’s too late to overseed the lawn, Rebecca says, but you should be able to sod safely.
Fall color — Trees that are mustering fall color are shining this week. Get your eyeballs full.
Dandelion killer —- Spray for broadleaf weeds such as dandelions, henbit and chickweed if they are a problem. Treat on a day that is at least 50 degrees unless using a combination product that contains carfentrazone. Rain or irrigation within 24 hours reduces effectiveness.
Mulching vegetables — Pick your tomatoes and peppers because they won’t be doing any more growing, Rebecca advises. Other, semi-hardy crops can take a light frost but are damaged by temperatures in the mid- to upper-20s, Ward Upham of K-State says. Examples are beets, Chinese cabbage, collards, Bibb lettuce, Irish potatoes, mustard, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard and leaf lettuce. Covering these plants when cold weather threatens can help extend the harvest season, Upham says.
Digging up bulbs — Dig up summer-flowering bulbs after the frost has killed the top foliage.
Garden exchange —There will be a garden exchange today — bring plants and garden-related supplies you don’t need, take what you do, all for free — from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the south lawn of Fairview Christian Church, 16th Street and Fairview.
Last market of the season — Today’s the last day for the regular-season Kansas Grown Farmers Market at 21st and Ridge Road. Visit in the morning hours.
Orchid show — The Kansas Orchid Society will have a fall show and sale on Nov. 12 and 13 at Botanica. Admission will be free. Three vendors will have plants and products for sale, and the society will be giving a People’s Choice Award for the crowd’s favorite orchid. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 12 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 13.
More big sweet potatoes — Helen Woydziak grew a 5.6-pound single sweet potato in a raised box garden outside Rose Hill, her son-in-law Mike James reports. “This was her first attempt at growing sweet potatoes but the size of the single potato and the amount of potatoes harvested from such a small area truly show the potential one can realize from the Kansas soil,” Mike says. That would be 34 pounds in a 12-by-2-foot bed.
Holiday decoration seminar — Master gardener Jodi Gieser will be at Botanica on Wednesday to show how to decorate the house for the holidays with evergreen swags and garlands. The lunchtime lecture is at 12:15 and is included in Botanica admission or membership. Lunch will be sold by Syl’s Catering from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $7.
Mums for sale — Botanica will sell its mums for $1 a plant from Friday through Nov. 18.
Prairie Window concert — Blues pianist and vocal stylist Eden Brent will perform at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston. Tickets can be reserved by calling 620-327-8127. Cost: $20 adults, $12 children.
