Your November garden
24 October 2024
A mixed October weather-wise looks like continuing into November. The grass is still growing, mowers still buzzing. For those of you brave enough to want to sit out at night, we have a few heaters, firepits and chimneas in stock here
Refresh your planters and hanging baskets with things like cyclamen, pansies & violas paired with trailing ivies, solanum or small evergreens to brighten up your patio for autumn and winter. Hellebores are my personal favourite for the colder months.
It's time to think about planting spring bulbs in pots and borders, although personally I'd hold off on the tulips until the weather turns cooler. Buy them when you see them however, they always sell fast.
After the lush growth of this year’s wet summer, many shrubs and climbers will be vulnerable to winter winds. Tie in or prune accordingly. The showy summer shrubs, such as Buddleja, Lavatera and shrub roses should be cut back now by around one-third, to prevent wind rock. Have fleece at the ready for the first frosts. Cover your furniture.
Many shrubs, trees and perennials can be successfully planted now. Bare root hedging will be available shortly. If you need to move established plants, lift now with a generous root ball and transplant immediately. Generally, evergreens, conifers and more tender plants prefer to be moved in the spring.
Keep on top of the fallen leaves where possible, ideally for composting. They can be damaging to some plants (alpines are especially vulnerable)
If you grow fruit and veg - lift and divide rhubarb if you want new plants or if the rhubarb patch has become too congested. Mix in some well-rotted manure when replanting. Check apple and pear trees for canker. If you can’t prune out affected branches, remove the distorted areas of bark with a knife.
Sow winter varieties of broadbean. Sow peas in the greenhouse. Continue to enjoy the flavour and texture of homegrown spuds and other root crops.
Lawncare - Keep raking up leaves, especially the larger ones, and continue to mow lightly as long as the ground isn’t too wet. It's a good time to apply an autumn lawn treatment for feeding and getting ahead of the moss.
Birdcare - Keep birds fed and watered as winter approaches. We have bags of Westland's 2kg seed range with 25% EXTRA FREE.