Blue Diamond

November Hints & Tips

As autumn comes to an end, the last of the leaves are falling from the trees and the days are becoming wetter and noticeably colder. It’s a quieter time of year in the garden, and a great opportunity to reflect on what has and has not worked well in the garden, and to start planning for the next year. It’s also a great time to take a look at your indoor plants and make sure they’re ready for the winter. 
November is a time of year when many of us step inside and have perhaps a little more time to enjoy our homegrown efforts. Think warming soups, roasted root vegetable cobblers, and apple crumbles, all made with ingredients from the garden. But there is still some work to do. If you want to know what to plant in November and any jobs you should be doing, discover more in our helpful hints and tips below.
T1

Things to do this month

  • Install permanent edging around lawns to make it easier to cut to a neat edge.
  • Check guttering is properly attached to all structures in the garden. A badly functioning gutter can overflow particular areas of the garden, causing water logging, damaging plants.
  • However, rainwater collected properly and used purposefully in the garden is great for the environment and for most plants, which generally prefer untreated water.
  • Spread compost from the heap on beds. This will protect soil and plants from difficult weather and make the earth easier to work with in the spring.
  • Remove dead leaves from flower beds and lawns and add to the compost heap or a leaf mould bin.
  • Make a wish list of new equipment you need for the garden. Perhaps it’s time for a new fork or pair of secateurs?
  • Create a bog garden. Attract frogs, newts, toads and beneficial insects to your garden. Moisture-loving plants can be placed around the edge to provide shelter.
  • Start planning for next year. Order seeds and new fruit trees, and start sketching out your plans for the garden.
t2

What vegetables to plant in November

The following vegetables will gladly stand a cold spell - in fact, they will emerge from winter with strongly established root systems, raring to go in the spring:

  • Broad Beans
  • Garlic
  • Onion sets
  • Peas

Many of the vegetables sown in the spring have finished cropping now.  Brassicas, such as kale and swede, really come into their own and provide an important source of nutrients during the colder months:

  • Beetroot
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery 
  • Chard
  • Jerusalem artichokes
  • Kale
  • Leeks
  • Lettuce
  • Parsnips
  • Swede
  • Turnips
t3

Looking after your lawn

  • Aerate your lawn now before winter sets in. Either use a lawn aerator or simply insert a garden fork at regular intervals and lean it back slightly to let air in.
  • Continue to clear fallen leaves off the lawn to keep it healthy using a light rake.
  • Set your lawn mower to a higher cut-height for winter.
  • Edge your lawn. This is easy to do in the winter months once beds are clear. Lawn edging creates a neat and tidy appearance and makes maintenance easier throughout the year.