I always associate November in the garden with the faint smell of wood smoke, but often with clear sunny days. In the garden there’s still plenty to do. Clear fallen leaves of grass areas or the turf underneath will soon show signs of damage. Tidy up borders and remove any weeds so that come the spring your garden will stay clean. Perennial weeds can be treated with Roundup to ensure that the roots are killed as well.
Give a final prune to any hedges around your garden. To make the clear up job easier after you have finished pruning lay a plastic sheet as close underneath the hedge so the clippings fall on it. Then all you have to do is gather up the sheet!
As the days get colder don’t forget to look after the birds in your garden. The range of different feeds available for birds has increased enormously over the last few year, your local garden centre will be able to give advise on what’s best.
November is an excellent time to plant shrubs and trees as the soil will be warm and moist which aids good root growth so the plants become well established before the spring. If however the ground is frosty (or even snowy as it was last year) then its best to wait till the frosts have gone.
If you haven’t already done so there’s still time to plant up your tubs and containers to give lots of colour to your patio through the winter. Winter flowering heathers mixed with pansies make an ideal combination, or why not try planting a Skimmia rubella with its dark red plume of flower in the centre of the container and surround it with trailing ivies. In order to prevent containers becoming water logged during the winter always stand on decorative feet.
There is still time to plant a wide range of bulbs to fill your garden with colour next spring. In fact almost every bulb planted now will give a reasonable display although traditional planting times are always best for long-term well-being of the plants.
After last winter when so many plants were lost to frost now’s the time to protect tender plants from wind and frost with fleece or if in a container move into a glasshouse or conservatory. If that’s not possible wrap the container in bubble plastic. If they are in a more prominent place then disguise the plastic with an outer layer of decorative hessian. Tie the leaves of cordylines up vertically. This will prevent water accumulating at the point where the leaves join the stem and then freezing which will result in the stem rotting off in the winter.
Here are some more things to do in November:
· Apply grease bands to fruit trees to protect them from winter moths.
· Clear and prepare the ground to make new fruit or veg patch.
· Clear the crops that are over and dig in organic Farmyard Manure.
· Sow windowsill crops including herbs and salad leaves.
· Grow sprouting seeds for the kitchen.
· Start a mushroom kit
