November is in full swing and the weather is trying to make up its mind and that means there is a lot to do this month. Be aware that November 15 the average first frost date, so despite all the warm weather things can still change quickly.
On the Lawn
• Clear up fallen leaves regularly to allow light to the grass.
• A last mowing can be made this month before leaving your lawn for the winter.
In the Flowerbeds
- There’s still time to plant spring flowering bulbs for a magnificent start to next years display.
- Plant out spring bedding displays of pansies, violas and primulas.
- Now is the ideal time to plant a magnolia tree for a beautiful spring display.
- Gather up fallen leaves from around the base of rose bushes which suffered from black spot or rust this summer, to reduce the chance of infection next year.
- Cut back the yellowing foliage of herbaceous perennials, and lift and divide overcrowded clumps to maintain their vigor.
In the Vegetable Garden
- Now is a great time to prepare a perennial vegetable bed which can be planted up with asparagus crowns.
- Still time to sneak in some late garlic
- Now is an ideal time to invest in mushroom kits It’s surprisingly easy to grow your own mushrooms.
- Now is a good time to top dress empty beds with Mushroom or Poultry compost so that it can sit and soak into your beds over the winter months
- Build a raised bed to take the bending out of vegetable growing.
- Stake top-heavy brassicas and draw up some soil around the base of the stem to prevent wind rocking the plant and causing damage to the roots.
Other Assorted Chores:
- Wash, dry and store any used pots, seed trays and containers to remove overwintering pests and diseases that may infect your plants next year.
- Make sure gardening tools are cleaned of soil and debris.
- Clean out your seed stocks.
- Insulate taps and pipework with foam lagging to prevent damage caused by freezing weather conditions.
- Move container grown specimen plants to a sheltered spot in the garden to protect them from strong winds, heavy rain and frosts.
- Raise potted plants off the ground to prevent them becoming waterlogged.
- Build a new compost heap. Cover compost heaps with an old piece of carpet to keep the warmth in and maintain favorable decomposition conditions.
- Keep on top of weeds while they are still in active growth. Dig over the soil on a dry day when the ground is not too wet. Incorporate plenty of organic matter such as spent compost, manure or mushroom compost.
- Move deciduous trees and shrubs while they are dormant.
- Prune deciduous shrubs and trees.
- Plant evergreen shrubs and conifers.
- Take hardwood cuttings of deciduous shrubs and trees and place them in a sheltered spot outdoors or in the cold frame to take root.
- Take root cuttings from fleshy rooted herbaceous perennial plants to increase your stock. Place them in a cold frame or in a cold greenhouse to root.
- As the weather grows colder make sure bird feeders and bird tables are topped up with food.