The first whisper of winter’s cold is on the breeze, but not to worry: November is a month of cosy indulgences from bonfires and flame-coloured trees to the rich flavours of the autumn harvest. And you can always warm yourself up with a few jobs to be done this month in the garden!
General tasks:
- Create shelter for wildlife as hedgehogs, frogs and toads rely on finding hideyholes to overwinter. A stack of logs will do, or you can invest in a bespoke wildlife hotel for five-star accommodation.
- Bring tender plants in undercover before frosts start to bite; pot up tender perennials like Mexican salvias and pelargoniums and bring them into a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory.
Ornamental gardens
- Plant ornamental crabapple trees for a gorgeous display in spring and summer as well as pretty fruit. They make delightful small trees for more compact gardens, reaching just 3-4m tall
- Plant tulips in generous swathes for brilliant colour next spring. Throw your tulip bulbs on the ground randomly to give a more natural effect, and plant where they fall 8-10cm deep.
- Prune dead wood from trees and shrubs as well as any diseased or damaged wood to tidy them up before winter sets in.
Kitchen garden:
- Plant garlic as it needs a spell of frost to break bulbs into fat, aromatic cloves. Choose your favourite varieties from the garden centre, then break your seed garlic into cloves and plant 15cm apart.
- Plant rhubarb crowns in soil that’s been generously improved with organic matter such as well-rotted manure or garden compost, making sure the central bud is above soil level to prevent rotting.
- Check stored fruit and vegetables every few weeks to make sure none are starting to rot; if you find any, remove them straight away to eat immediately.
