As the days grow shorter and colder, we’re well on our way to winter. It’s the perfect time to wrap up your garden for the season while making preparations to ensure a healthy and vibrant space come spring. While much of the garden may be winding down, there are still essential tasks to keep it flourishing through the colder months. Here are the key tasks to focus on in your garden in November.
As the last of the leaves fall from trees, it’s tempting to leave them for a natural mulch. However, a thick blanket of wet leaves can smother your grass and perennials, promoting rot and fungal diseases.
Practical Tip: Rake or mow leaves regularly to prevent them from accumulating. If you have a lot, you can shred them to create leaf mold—an excellent soil conditioner that can be added to your compost or used as mulch around plants next spring.
Frost can arrive any time now, so it’s essential to protect your tender plants, including plants in pots, tropicals and any half hardy perennials.
Practical Tip: Cover plants with frost fleece or horticultural fabric to provide extra warmth. For pots, either bring them indoors or group them together in a sheltered corner of the garden. Wrap the pots with bubble wrap or hessian sacks to keep the roots from freezing.
For larger plants, consider constructing a makeshift cloche using clear plastic or old garden hoops with plastic sheeting. Make sure to leave ventilation gaps to prevent condensation buildup, which can encourage mould growth.
November is the prime time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, including daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and hyacinths. Planting these bulbs now ensures you’ll have a vibrant spring display once the weather warms up. But hurry, we don’t have many left in stock.
Practical Tip: Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil for best results. Dig a hole that’s about three times as deep as the bulb, and space them out to allow for good air circulation. If you’re planting tulips, which prefer drier conditions, ensure that the drainage is particularly good. Adding grit or sand to the soil can help improve drainage if necessary.
If you’re planting in containers, make sure to choose large, deep pots and use a bag of bulb fibre (available from our garden centre). Bulbs need room to grow, and they’ll thrive better when they’re not overcrowded.
November is the time to tidy up your plants, especially those that have finished blooming or have dead and damaged growth. This helps reduce the risk of pests and disease over the winter months.
Practical Tip: Cut back dead stems and foliage on perennials, but leave those that provide structure or interest through the winter. For deciduous shrubs and trees, remove any damaged or diseased wood. Avoid heavy pruning of healthy plants now, as this can encourage new growth that might be damaged by frost.
Be sure to clean your pruning tools after each use to avoid spreading disease between plants. A simple wipe with rubbing alcohol or a solution of bleach and water will help keep your tools in good condition.
Preparing your soil for the colder months not only helps protect it from erosion but also ensures it’s nutrient-rich for next spring’s planting season.
Practical Tip: Add a layer of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure, compost, or leaf mould, to improve the soil structure. This helps maintain moisture levels and provides valuable nutrients for next year’s plants. In particular, apply compost or manure to vegetable plots and areas where you plan to plant flowers or shrubs next season.
It’s essential to maintain your garden tools during the off-season to prolong their lifespan and ensure they’re ready for use come spring.
Practical Tip: Clean tools thoroughly to remove any soil, plant sap, and rust. Use a wire brush to remove dirt, then soak the metal parts in a solution of water and vinegar or a commercial rust remover. After drying, oil the metal surfaces with vegetable oil or a specialised tool oil to prevent further rusting.
Sharpen blades on secateurs, shears, and spade. Store tools in a dry, frost-free shed or garage to prevent damage.
If you have containers with hardy plants, it’s a good idea to move them to more sheltered spots to protect them from the elements. In windy or exposed gardens, containers are more vulnerable to frost damage.
Practical Tip: Group your pots together in a corner near a wall or fence, ideally out of direct line of strong winds. You can also raise pots off the ground with pot feet to prevent frost from damaging the roots. Adding a layer of mulch to the top of the soil in containers can also help insulate the roots.
If you’ve planted late crops, such as Kale, Brussels sprouts, or Leeks; November is a great time to harvest them before the really cold weather sets in.
Practical Tip: Be sure to harvest leafy greens like kale and spinach before they’re damaged by frost. For crops like leeks and carrots, you can leave them in the ground but harvest them when needed, as they tend to taste better after a light frost.
Consider protecting remaining crops with fleece or cloches to extend the harvest season.
If you have a greenhouse or cold frames, make sure they are in good condition and ready for the winter. These structures can extend the growing season and provide protection for sensitive plants.
Practical Tip: Clean the glass or plastic panels to allow maximum sunlight during the darker months. Check for any cracks or gaps and repair them to avoid drafts. You can insulate greenhouses by using bubble wrap or horticultural fleece on the inside of the glass. Keep the space well-ventilated, as condensation can lead to mould and mildew.
While the garden may appear quiet in November, there are plenty of essential tasks to complete before winter settles in. By preparing your plants, soil, and tools now, you’re setting yourself up for a successful spring. We have all the tools you need for the above tasks in our garden centre.
Clyst St. Mary
Sidmouth Road, Clyst St. Mary,
Exeter, Devon, EX5 1AE.
Telephone: 01392 876281
Email: gardening@stbridgetnurseries.co.uk
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm*
Sundays 10.00am to 4.00pm*
Bank Holidays 9.00am to 5.00pm Closed (25/26 Dec)
*Cafe open until 4.30pm each day and until 3.30pm on Sundays.
