Gardening Tips for November
With winter on the horizon, November is the perfect month to prepare your garden for the colder days ahead. Here are some essential tasks to keep everything in tip-top shape for spring.
- Plant Roses, Trees, and Shrubs: There’s still time to get roses, trees, and shrubs in the ground before winter sets in—these will root well over the coming months.
- Collect Fallen Leaves for Leaf Mould: Rake up leaves to create nutrient-rich leaf mould, a valuable addition to beds and borders next year.
- Lift Pots with Pot Feet: Raise containers off the ground to prevent waterlogging and frozen compost—essential for healthy roots through winter.
- Store Dahlia Tubers: After the first frost, dig up dahlia tubers and store them in a cool, dark spot until spring.
- Protect Tree Ferns from Frost: On dry days, pack the crown of tree ferns with dry straw and wrap with fleece for extra protection.
- Insulate Containers: Wrap pots in fleece or bubble wrap to shield them from frost damage, preserving delicate roots.
- Sow Hardy Vegetable Seeds: If you’d like winter produce, try sowing hardy varieties of broad beans or first early peas for spring harvests.
- Lift and Divide Herbaceous Perennials: Now is a great time to lift and divide overcrowded perennials, helping them thrive and bring even more colour next season.
- Check Bonfire Sites for Wildlife: Before lighting any bonfires, remember to check for hedgehogs or other wildlife that may have taken shelter.
With these November gardening tasks, you’ll set your garden up for a beautiful, healthy year ahead!
November Plants of the Month
Plant of the month
Photinia
Brightening up any garden with its vibrant foliage, Photinia is an evergreen favourite, offering something for every gardener. Known for the popular ‘Red Robin’ variety, which bursts with bold, red new growth throughout the season, Photinias are a diverse group of shrubs. They range from compact cultivars to large screening shrubs, suiting hedges, borders, or standalone displays.
Come summer, many Photinia varieties delight with clusters of small, white flowers followed by attractive berries. For the best leaf colour, plant Photinia in a sunny spot that’s sheltered from harsh winds. Photinia can also be pruned hard in spring, encouraging fresh, vivid growth for a striking year-round feature.
Explore the Range:
- Photinia ‘Red Robin’: The classic choice, perfect for creating larger hedges and screens, reaching up to 8m high and 4m wide.
- Photinia ‘Little Red Robin’: A charming dwarf cultivar, ideal for smaller spaces, growing up to 1.5m (5ft).
- Photinia ‘Pink Marble’: Striking with its pink and white variegation, this variety thrives in acidic soil, reaching up to 4m.
- Photinia ‘Devil’s Dream’: A compact option for a low hedge, maturing at around 1m – the perfect choice for tidy borders.
- Photinia ‘Carre Rouge’: For the deepest red hues, this robust cultivar offers superior resistance to black spot, making it a gardener’s go-to for vivid foliage.
Discover the beauty of Photinia this month and add a splash of colour to your garden that lasts all year!
Houseplant of the month
Indoor Cyclamen
Jenny’s Pick
Indoor Cyclamen is a favourite for adding a pop of colour during the colder months. I love how its bright, showy blooms can last up to six weeks with just a little TLC. Cyclamen’s delicate petals and intricate foliage make it a beautiful choice for any room.
Here are my top tips for keeping them happy:
- Light & Temperature: Place in a bright, indirect spot and keep cool (10-15°C). Cyclamen can be a bit fussy if it gets too warm, as it’ll go dormant and stop flowering.
- Watering: Cyclamen thrive with just the right amount of moisture. Water when the soil is dry but avoid overwatering; it’s best to sit them in a tray of water and let the soil soak it up.
- Re-flowering: These beauties go dormant naturally in spring. Let them rest, keeping the soil slightly dry and cool. By September, your Cyclamen will reward you with another burst of vibrant blooms.
One thing to note: Cyclamen are not pet-friendly, so keep them out of reach of furry friends!