Gardening Tasks to do in November

Summer has faded and Autumn has established itself, creating a busy time for gardeners, with all the clearing up of leaves and tidying up of flowerbeds. We will also feel the colder air temperatures this month and it is likely we will have the first Winter frosts.

Planting

Plant any bare-root trees and herbaceous shrubs throughout this month and plant your tulip bulbs in the ground or in pots. You can also create some spectacular Winter colour by planting up tubs and baskets with winter pansies and polyanthus, evergreen perennials and ornamental grasses.

Protecting from winds and frost

Young trees over 1m high will need staking for support, especially in exposed locations.
November is often a rainy and windy month, so protect larger roses from wind-rock by pruning them down by a third and protect any container plants in non-frost proof pots with bubblewrap around them or moving them into a greenhouse or shed.

Garden furniture will also need protecting at this time of year, so cover any wooden tables, chairs or benches or move them undercover.

Lawns

November is the last chance to lay turf. If you are planning to lay a new lawn, try to undertake this task over a few frost-free days or when the soil isn’t too wet. If the weather is dry and mild you may be able to cut established lawns for the last time this month.

Digging

Provided the ground isn’t waterlogged, now is a perfect time for digging over the vegetable patch or allotment. If you leave the soil in large clumps, the Winter frosts will break the soil down into a crumbly finish for you.

Tidying up

Continue clearing fallen leaves off your lawn, paths and driveways and putting them into a compost bin, leaf store or black bin liners to rot down into leaf mulch to use next year.

Hyacinths

Now is the perfect time for planting up 3 or 5 hyacinths bulbs in bowls in bulb fibre, topped with moss. Keep them in a cool greenhouse for a few weeks and then bring them indoors to encourage them to flower, filling any room with beautiful scent, just in time for Christmas.