November Garden Guide

November can feel like a quiet month in the garden but there’s still plenty to do before winter truly sets in.  For we gardeners here in the south of England, this month is all about tidying, protecting and preparing your outdoor space, plus it’s a great opportunity for a creative DIY project. Here’s a guide to our top tips that will keep your garden healthy and ready for spring, as well as a few project ideas.

Protect

As the temperatures start to drop, it’s important to protect tender plants from frost. Bring anything delicate, such as pelargoniums, citrus and fuchsias, indoors or cover them with fleece or cloches to keep them safe.  Tender tubers like dahlias and cannas may survive the winter in the ground in a sheltered, dry spot.  If you’re concerned, lift them once their foliage has been blackened by frost, allow them to dry and store in a frost-free place.  

Tidy

Tidying borders by clearing dead foliage and applying a layer of compost or bark mulch will both help protect your perennials and improve the soil structure.   Fallen leaves can make lawns and paths slippery, so rake them up and add them to your compost heap or leaf mould pile (ready for use next year).

A bit of pruning is timely now, too.  Trimming evergreen hedges before frost helps maintain their shape, while checking plant supports and stakes ensures tall or newly planted plants are secure.  And a light pruning of roses helps prevent wind damage over winter.  Remove any diseased stems, cut back long branches and lightly shape the plants.

Plant

November is the ideal month to plant spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths, if you haven’t already.  You can also plant tulips now, as they prefer cooler soil to reduce the risk of disease.  You might also choose to sow sweet peas now in pots and overwinter them in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse.  (Anything planted now should give you an earlier display although we’ve had mixed results planting this early.  If it’s still mild, they may just grow away and become too leggy before you’re ready to plant out in the spring!)

In the vegetable garden, now is the perfect time to be planting broad beans. (If you think you don’t like broad beans, you’ve never tasted freshly picked ones!)  You can also get garlic and over-wintering varieties of onion and shallot in the ground now.

If you’re choosing bare-root plants, trees and shrubs (including fruit trees), roses and hedging plants are all good to be planted now, as long as the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged.  Consider planting structural evergreens now, like ornamental grasses or statement shrubs, to maintain plenty of visual interest and structure in the garden throughout the colder months.

Maintenance jobs

Patios and paths often become slippery with moss and algae in damp autumn weather. Give them a thorough clean with a stiff brush or pressure washer and treat surfaces to prevent regrowth. Gravel paths and bark areas can be refreshed by topping them up, helping to keep the garden looking neat while suppressing weeds

Check your greenhouse insulation, seal any gaps and ensure heaters and vents are working properly to maintain a stable environment for your plants.  Now’s also the perfect time to clean and oil your gardening tools. This prevents rust and ensures everything is ready for spring.

Get creative

November is a brilliant time to get creative with simple DIY projects in the garden. Building bird feeders or insect hotels from recycled timber, pinecones or plant pots is both fun and wildlife-friendly.  Outdoor Christmas decorations can also be made from evergreen cuttings, berries, and twigs, bringing sustainable festive cheer straight from your garden (see our other blogs this month for some ideas).

Old pallets can be repurposed into raised planters for herbs, vegetables or flowers, or even basic compost bins to recycle autumn leaves, prunings and kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost.

Old windows or transparent plastic can be repurposed into a simple cold frame to protect tender plants and extend the growing season.

Finally, upcycling old containers like buckets, crates, or tins into planters allows you to showcase bulbs or hardy winter flowers, adding colour and charm during the grey months.

Remember our wildlife

Robins are often a welcome winter visitor to our gardens.  They are with us all year, of course, but there is something so cheerful about spotting their red chests on the hunt for grubs that can make us smile.

Feeding garden birds is important at this time of year, as natural food sources become ever more scarce. Hanging feeders and topping up water dishes will keep them healthy through winter.  If you’d like more ideas on attracting wildlife into your garden, try these (link to blog).

Plan ahead

Finally, November is a great month to plan next year’s garden.  With all of summer’s exuberant foliage and flowers died down, you can really see the bones of your garden much better.  Take photos, sketch layouts, browse seed catalogues and set goals for spring planting.

A November Garden in Full Swing

Even though the days are shorter and the weather is getting colder, November is far from quiet in the garden.  From planting and tidying to landscaping and creative DIY projects, there’s plenty to keep you busy.  By tackling these tasks now, your garden will not only survive the winter but will be ready to burst into life come spring.  With a little planning, preparation and creativity, November can be one of the most productive months of your gardening year.