In the garden in November

November is the transitional month in the garden from autumn into winter. Autumn ends when most plants stop growing because the daily temperature is too low (due to a combination of shorter days and a weaker sun) and they enter a period of dormancy. We often dismiss November as being grey, damp and windy. Yes, the days are very much shorter, temperatures lower and if we do get sunshine it is watery.

However, there are still some ‘jewels’ to be found in the garden. One of my favourites is Viburnum X bodnantense, producing beautiful pink flowers on bare stems and a wonderful sweet scent. Another is the winter flowering cherry, Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ or the pink variety, ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ and last but by no means least the berries borne on Pyracantha will add a splash of vibrant red, orange or yellow (depending on which variety you have) to any garden.

As a consequence of the weather, November is not the best gardening month, so in order to get any tasks done take advantage of any ‘good’ gardening days to...

• Continue to clear up leaves and compost if applicable. Don’t allow them to stay on the lawn as this will lead to bare patches and clear them from nooks and crannies, slugs and snails will overwinter in them especially if they are dry!!

• If you decide to have a bonfire please check before you light it that no four legged creatures have decided to make a home in it.

• Aerate (spike) the lawn, give it a light cut and apply an autumn feed. Autumn feed differs from the spring/summer feeds, containing a different ratio of nutrients which enhance root development. Don’t apply any feed if frost is forecast.

• Protect tender plants using horticultural fleece.

• Plant spring flowering bulbs - plant bulbs at 2 to 3 times their own depth.

• November is a good month to plant a hedge; bundles of bare root hedging plants will become available in nurseries and garden centres. It is also a good time to transplant any shrubs or trees that maybe not ‘quite where you want them’ in the garden.

• Continue to dig over bare soil in the vegetable garden when weather permits. Don’t trample on the soil if it is wet enough to stick to your boots as you will end up compacting it, which will do more harm than good.

• Clean or throw out any old pots and trays. Finally, you may want to think about what you would like ‘Santa’ to bring you - my list is started with a terracotta rhubarb forcer at the top of the list.

Happy gardening!

Jane Dale of ‘Designed Gardens’ Tel: 07983 392 411 22