What to do in the garden in November

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As November arrives, the gardening season shifts with shorter days, cooler temperatures, and frosty mornings across most of the country. It’s the month of bonfires, shorter days and wrapping up warm to complete essential garden jobs in November. The obvious changes in the garden and decrease in daylight hours mean every moment in the garden becomes even more precious. This time of year can be very beautiful outside, even with the rain. From enjoying the interesting seed heads of thistles to faded hydrangea and observing the structure of deciduous trees to enjoying the evergreen foliage keeping the garden looking alive. Remember to spend some time reflecting on your growing year and think about how you have grown along with your garden.

Gardening tips for winter: tidying and maintenance

Clearing up leaves

Fallen leaves are abundant in November, and clearing up leaves is a must to keep your garden tidy and safe. Although leaves will continue to fall (and some left on the lawn will be fine), a heavy layer may cause a hazard on pathways and steps, it’s best to rake them up for the compost pile or bag them up to make leaf mulch.

Winter Maintenance jobs 

Checking and clearing out gutters and downpipes is an important part of November garden maintenance to prevent blockages over the rainy months. If you haven’t already, why not attach a water butt and collect rainwater for next year? There are many kits that can easily be fitted to a shed, greenhouse or other structure to ensure the water gets collected. All you have to do is keep the gutter clear. 

Cleaning tools

Now is a good time to give your tools and other gardening equipment a good clean before they are mostly stored over winter. Start by brushing off all soil and debris before cleaning them with warm soapy water. Sharpen tools such as secateurs, sheers and pruners and check over wooden handles that might need replacing or sanding and re-sealing. My shed is not particularly well organised! But if ever there is a time to organise a shed – winter is it!

Protection

Tender plants will need protection so if you haven’t already, apply a mulch or fleece to cover any tender plants including those growing in pots and containers.

Trees, Hedges and Shrubs

Planting 

It’s bare-root planting time! So get your order in before they sell out. Prepare the ground ahead of time, by clearing the ground, removing weeds and digging a trench so you can easily plant up as soon as they arrive. Bare-root plants take longer to grow since they are young when planted but they are an ideal option if you are on a budget and if you are in need of a lot of hedging plants. They will fill out and generally establish well over a few years at a growth rate dependent on the species. Faster-growing hedges include Hornbeam, Leylandii, Quickthorn, Pyracantha and Thuja. There are so many choices, you really can take your pick based on your own garden but some of my all-time favourites include Silver Birch, Elder and Maple.

Protecting trees 

It can be helpful to wrap grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to stop female moths from crawling up the trunk and later reducing foliage and fruit. Often they cause very little damage but over time they can impact the tree. 

Festive foliage 

If you have evergreen trees and shrubs, you have foliage to create with all year round! Especially in November and the winter months – when Holly will be full of berries and can be paired with stems or seed heads of dried flowers from the garden. Cut a few stems and make a table centrepiece or a homemade wreath for the perfect homely festive display. 

Apple and Pear trees 

November is a great time for pruning fruit trees. With sharp loppers or a pruning saw, give your apple and pear trees a winter prune, ensuring the cut is angled away from the tree. Aim for an open shape and remove all dead, crossing diseased and damaged material.

November Lawn Care

If you must mow your lawn, keep it on a longer blade height and limit mowing through winter. Keeping a longer grass length is healthy for the garden and so you can safely put that mower away! A thin layer of leaves can be mowed over and left on the lawn to help replenish the soil but rake up a heavier layer. Aeration is super helpful for winter drainage which can easily be done by using a garden fork to spike holes in the lawn or use an aeration tool. If needed, lightly rake over the lawn with a soil conditioner or leaf mould (or leave lowed over leaves on the lawn). If you have newly sown seed, provide some water on dry days. 

Don’t forget to give your mower a clean before storing it over winter.

November jobs in the garden to prevent Pests and Diseases

Spider mites

Many pests and diseases are far less active over the cooler months but some may well be hiding out, especially spider mites in a greenhouse or cold frame. Keep a look out for anything that appears, especially on plants being overwintered undercover and try to keep the inside glass and shelving clean. 

Slugs and snails 

Some do still appear on milder days, so if you are growing winter vegetables or salads, they will make a beeline for them! I simply pick them off and re-home them somewhere like under a hedgerow. 

Blackspot

This is very common on Rose Hedging and can usually be kept under control by simply removing infected leaves as soon as they are seen. However, if the diseased foliage does fall into the soil below, this can spread spores so it’s best to remove fallen leaves as soon as possible. 

Find out more information on plant pests and diseases on our knowledge base.

Flowers, Seeds and Bulbs

Tulip time 

November is the perfect time of year to get your Tulip bulbs in the ground. Plant them about 3 times as deep as the bulb, giving them plenty of room to grow, making sure the pointed end is facing upwards. You could create your own mini Keukenhof at home by planting lots of varieties both in the ground or in containers for a colourful spring to look forward to. 

Remove yellowing foliage 

Even though leaving stems and seedheads on plants overwinter is recommended, if you do notice any yellowing or diseased materials, do go ahead and remove that to help stop the spread of diseases and of course to keep your garden looking great over winter. 

Seedlings 

If you have sown seeds such as sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) and have them undercover, keep an eye on them to make sure they are getting enough light and warmth to make it through the winter. Also, keep a check for any pests and diseases so you can limit the spread and ensure your seedlings survive. 

Bright colours

If your garden needs an uplift in winter why not plant out some stunning Dogwoods for the brightly coloured stems? As the weather gets colder and the garden less green, Dogwood stems bring some real pizazz to the duller November days. Some of my favourites are ‘Midwinter Fire’ for the strongly coloured red, yellow and orange stems and the ‘Red Stemmed’ Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’).  These can all be bought as bare-root plants to be planted over winter. 

Other November gardening jobs

Ordering 

I’ve mentioned it already but now is the time to order your bare root hedging plants and trees before they sell out for this winter. Not only is it the perfect time for planting them, but a great excuse to get outside and do some gardening!

Building 

If you need new raised beds, a waterbutt installed, a new shed roof or any other DIY jobs around the garden that you didn’t manage to get to during the summer, it’s time to get them done before the worst of the winter weather comes. 

Wildlife 

If bird baths or ponds freeze over, break the ice so pond life can get in and out. Fresh water is needed even in winter and keeping on top of cleaning bird feeders and topping them up is good practice. Encouraging birds into your garden will also help with natural pest control and keep a biodiverse garden thriving. 

If you are building a bonfire, keep it away from trees and anywhere there could be wildlife. Don’t forget to have a really good inspection to ensure hedgehogs or any other mammal is hiding under-neath the pile of wood and leaves. 

Fruit and Vegetables 

If you are growing Parsnips, wait until the first frosts before harvesting because the flavour will be sweeter and they will be absolutely perfect for roasting. Add some salt, oil and a little maple syrup – you won’t be disappointed! 

Asparagus foliage will need cutting back when it has yellowed and died back. This can all go on the compost heap. 

If you’re looking for other things to do in the garden in November and haven’t mulched yet, wait for a dry day and add a good layer of well-rotted organic matter on your beds to feed the soil. 

I have a bed full of winter vegetables and it’s such a joy harvesting them for Christmas dinner but at this time of year, they can get a little bit messy. Some are a bit top-heavy, the Sprouts often tip over and let’s not mention having to pick off the snails frequently! Staking can help, as can forking some soil around the base of the stems. Both help to prevent windy conditions from damaging roots. Securely net them as well or Pigeons will be eating your Christmas dinner! With this being said, do keep a close watch on the weather because snow and wind can damage netting and frames. 

Happy planting this November!