So let’s have a look at our garden tasks for this November:

Lawns

Continue to mow if its mild and the grass still growing.

There is still time for lawn aeration. It can be quite arduous spiking with a garden fork, so concentrate on any areas which lay damp to improve the drainage and do the remainder a little at a time.

Rake up fallen leaves and put them on the compost heap.

Flowers

Lift and clear any faded annual plants, but make sure you dig up begonia and dahlia tubers and gladioli corms to save them for replanting next spring. Clean them up, dry and store in sharp sand or dry peat-like composts in the garage.

Forgotten to sow next years sweet peas? There is still time if you sow in pots and keep them in the greenhouse, conservatory or garden frame.

Now’s the time you can take root cuttings from your favourite perennials like phlox, verbascum or oriental poppy. Cut down the faded foliage of other perennials to encourage new growth in the spring.

Plant out spring bedding such as pansies and wallflowers in borders and containers.

As for bulbs, it’s time to be planting tulips but make sure you plant them deep enough.

Shrubs & Roses

It’s a good time to plant ‘bare-root’ plants when the soil is still warm and the plants will establish well in cool, moist conditions.

Use protection guards around young newly planted shrubs and trees, to keep those hungry ‘bunnies or bambies’ from chewing the bark.

Wrap tender plants grown in containers with bubble wrap to keep the plants insulated through the cold winter months.

Part prune roses by shortening stems by half. This will prevent ‘wind rock’ disturbing the plants roots.

Vegetables

November is the time to sow autumn Broad Beans. Try the variety Aquadulce Claudia for taste, yield and good weather resistance. Early peas like Kelvedon Wonder too can be sown at this time.

Sow salad leaves in a greenhouse or garden frame.

Net your brassicas to protect from pigeons during the winter.

Plant asparagus and rhubarb crowns and lift some parsnips after the first frosts. Its true! They are sweeter!

Fruit

Dormancy approaches and your fruit trees and bushes will be taking a well-earned rest. No such luck for you though!

Should you have apples or pear trees you can commence pruning. Alternatively if you are thinking of adding some trees it’s a great time for planting, but take your time choosing varieties that are right for you. It’s a ‘long-term’ choice!

You will have been harvesting apples and pears for a while now and will have them stored in a shed or garage no doubt. Make sure you routinely check for any signs of disease or decay and remove infected fruit immediately.

Time too for raspberry planting to get the plants well established prior to cropping next year.                                                                                                                                        

Strawberry plants will have worked hard this year, so now’s the time to clean up the patch for the winter. Remove old, faded leaves which may harbour disease and thin out congested runners in the plot. Weeds too should be removed.