November gardening guide
November sees the last bursts of colour in gardens, parks and woodlands before winter draws in. It's time for evergreens to take the mantle, providing protection for wildlife and festive foliage for our Christmas displays. Bird tables and feeders become more crowded as different species jostle for a place with ground feeding Chaffinch and Dunnocks cleaning up below. November's gardens need insulation and support against the hard weather to come, those remaining dry days are full of gardening jobs to do.
Checklist
- Move half-hardy plants growing in containers to a greenhouse for the winter.
- Ensure evergreens in containers do not go short of water, especially if the containers freeze up
- Dig up Dahlias as soon as the leaves are blackened by frost. The tubers can be dried off, labelled and stored in a frost-free place until next spring
- Visit your local Notcutts centre and choose from the range of winter flowering shrubs to extend interest in your garden
- Winter dig vacant ground and leave the earth in ‘clods’ for the frost to work down
- Insulate outdoor containers from frost with bubblewrap
- Check stakes and ties to make sure that they are secure for the winter
- Apply mulch around the crowns of perennials to improve the soil and give extra protection against hard weather
- Prune Dog Woods, Willows and Elderberries to a basic frame work and use the prunings to make hard wood cuttings
- Line your nest boxes with wool or hay for small birds that may use them as roosts through the colder months
Planting
Finish planting Tulips and Daffodils in borders and pots as soon as possible this month.
Plant trees, shrubs, fruit and roses into well prepared ground, remembering to stake tall plants and trees until they are established.
Continue to take hard wood cuttings.
Sow a variety of Broad bean such as Aquadulce that will stand the winter and give an earlier crop next year.
Maintenance
Clear up fallen leaves, especially from lawns, ponds and beds.
Check fences and trellis, repairing any loose panels or uprights.
Remove moss and algae from paving and patio areas using moss killer.
Keep off the lawn if the ground is frozen to avoid bruising the grass.
Clean out your garden shed, ensuring fertilizers are stored in plastic containers.
Hoe between crops when the weather is suitable to keep on top of germinating weed seeds.
Top tips
Dispose of excess debris that is unfit for the compost heap on a seasonal bonfire – where permitted!
Wildlife and pests
Leave dead heads on perennials and ornamental grasses until the birds have eaten the seed.
Allow an area of your garden to go untouched until the spring for wildlife to use as cover and hibernation.
Supplement bird food with leftover cake crumbs, cheese and uncooked fruit.
Make sure fresh water is always available for the birds for drinking and bathing, especially when the ground is frozen.
Be mindful of disturbing hedgehog houses as they may be in use now.
Harvesting
Harvest the first Sprouts, Leeks and Cabbages.
Lift Parsnips from the ground and use as required.
