As November settles in and the garden prepares for a long winter nap, there’s still plenty to keep gardeners busy! From planting late-bloomers to protecting pots and making use of fallen leaves, here’s your guide to making the most of these cooler days. Grab a warm drink and head outside for a little pre-winter prep!
Top Tips for November Gardening
Plant bare-root roses and hedges
Leave perennials with attractive seed heads
Insulate pots from frost
Start a leaf pile for free mulch
Layer bulbs in pots for spring color
Prep your pond before it freezes
1. Tidy Up, but Don’t Cut Back Too Soon
It’s tempting to chop everything down, but some plants, like Sedum and ornamental grasses (Miscanthus), look gorgeous frosted over. Leaving 15 cm of old growth on perennials helps protect plants from winter damage and provides shelter for garden wildlife.
*Leave seed heads of Phlomis and Echinacea for goldfinches.
2. Plant Bare-Root Roses
November is the prime time for bare-root roses. They’re affordable and adapt well, especially when planted before deep winter. Upon arrival, soak the roots in water for a few hours, then plant with the graft union at soil level.
*Top off with a good layer of mulch like compost or manure.
3. Make Use of Fallen Leaves
Raking leaves can feel endless, but those heaps have potential! Avoid burning; instead, collect non-evergreen leaves to decompose into leaf mould – a fabulous, nutrient-rich mulch for spring.
*Try a simple DIY chicken-wire frame to contain the pile.
4. Get Ready for Winter’s Snowy Blanket
Snow may look intimidating, but it insulates plants from harsher frosts. If snow gets heavy, clear only branches at risk of breaking. Appreciate the garden’s bare beauty – it’s a time to celebrate the structure of trees, shrubs, and formal hedges.
*Shrubby Cornus, or dogwood, is stunning in winter, with fiery stem colors from red to orange.
5. Protect Potted Plants
Outdoor pots need a bit of TLC in winter. Grouping pots together and wrapping them in bubble wrap or hessian helps insulate roots from the cold. Remember that not all terracotta pots are frost-proof, even if they claim to be frost-resistant.
*Place pots near walls for extra warmth and shield from cold winds.
6. Plant Tulips for Spring Splendor
November is the ideal time for tulips. Plant bulbs in well-drained soil or containers – they need depth (two to three times their size) and a sunny spot to thrive. For extended blooming, layer different types of bulbs in planters.
*Add coarse grit to improve drainage in clay-heavy soil.
7. Give Your Pond Some Attention
Before temperatures drop, scoop out any debris from the pond to prevent gas build-up under the ice, which can harm fish. If you haven’t already, cover it with netting to reduce fallen leaves.
*Float a small piece of polystyrene to keep a section of the pond ice-free.
8. Don’t Forget the Vegetable Patch
The veggie garden may look quiet, but it’s not over yet! Now’s the time to add a blanket of compost or manure mulch to protect from the inevitable rain.. You can also plant hardy broad beans and garlic to harvest in winter and early spring.
With these simple but essential November tasks, you’ll set your garden up beautifully for winter while ensuring a lively return come spring. So bundle up, get outside, and enjoy the last of autumn’s glow!
Happy gardening
Orlaith
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