Better Homes And Gardens Editor Joan Mccloskey

A guide to what to do in the garden in November, including flower and plant preparation and planting, vegetable patch jobs and general maintenance.

Now's the season for woolly jumpers, cosy fires and comfort foods. Outside, the garden glows with autumnal colour. Dogwood sets borders alight with its fiery stems. Delicate cyclamen bloom beneath sleepy trees. Newly-potted containers hold the potential of winter colour, while spring bulbs are preparing for their moment in the sun. It's worth remembering that a little time spent in the garden now will pay dividends over the coming months.

Here's your to-do list of gardening jobs in November...

Flowers

1. Cutback and mulch perennial plants

Perennial plants will have seen better days, so cut stems to just above the ground and apply a mulch around the base of the plant, to protect the roots and suppress weeds. These plants can also be lifted, divided and replanted, increasing your flower stock for next year. You can also lift and store dahlias.

2. Plant spring bulbs and tulips

November's a good time to plant tulip bulbs, whether in the ground, pots or containers. Avoid any that show signs of decay or damage, and plant three times to the depth of the bulb. If the soil is heavy, add grit for drainage as bulbs don't like to sit in water.

If you're feeling creative, try 'lasagne' planting, by layering spring bulbs according to their flowering period. For example, at the bottom of your pot, plant tulip bulbs which are usually the last to flower. Cover them over with soil then plant a layer of bulbs which flower before tulips, such as daffodils. Cover over and continue the process finishing with an early blooming bulb, like snowdrops. It's a great way to get the most from one pot and gives you continuous colour throughout spring.

READ: 10 of the best bulb planters to buy in 2021

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Want to buy spring bulbs? Country Living has launched a range of spring bulbs at Homebase, making it easy and affordable to create your own country garden. Available online and in stores from 1st September 2021, the collection features expertly selected bulb mixes including a rainbow of colourful tulips, fragrant narcissi, crocuses and pretty muscari. The mixes have been designed to introduce colour, scent, and even encourage pollinators into your garden.

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3. Shop and plant winter flowering plants

But why wait until spring for colour, when you can have it throughout winter? Most garden nurseries will now be stocked with winter pansies, polyanthus and primroses. Consider planting these outside your windows, beside pathways, or just outside your door so you can easily appreciate your floral displays throughout the season. Hanging baskets, window boxes and patio pots are ideal for showcasing these winter blooms.

READ: 12 beautiful winter flowering plants for your garden

4. Shop and plant bare root roses, shrubs and trees (it's cheaper)

November to March is a dormant period for roses, shrubs and trees (including fruit trees such as pear and apple). They're often sold as bare roots which are easier on the pocket compared to their potted counterparts.

Before planting out, place your bare root plant into a bucket of water for half an hour to rehydrate. Ensure the growing area is free of weeds and large stones. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots. Break up the soil base with a fork before adding a spadeful of well-rotted organic matter mixed with soil. Place plant upright in the centre of the hole, backfill, firm-in well and water. Finally, add a layer of mulch around the base of the plant.

Winter flowering pansies

PaulMaguire Getty Images

Vegetables

5. Add well-rotted matter to empty vegetable beds

If your veg beds are lying empty over winter, cover them over with well-rotted organic matter. During the colder months it will breakdown, releasing valuable nutrients which will improve fertility and soil structure.

6. Lift crops carefully

A hard frost improves the flavour of parsnips, swede and Brussels sprouts, as it converts their starches into sugars. If you are lifting these on a cold day, make sure you do it with a hand fork, carefully prising them from the soil.

7. Cover brassicas with netting

Keep brassicas covered with netting, as hungry pigeons will see them as a food source.

8. Stake plants to prevent wind rock

Finally, stake purple sprouting broccoli and Brussels sprouts, as they can be top-heavy plants.

READ: 5 fruit and vegetables you should plant and grow in autumn

what to do in the garden in november cabbages under netting

Cover brassicas with netting

David Burton Getty Images

Fruit

9. Apply glue bands to fruit trees

It's a good idea to wrap glue bands around the base of fruit trees for protection. Pests, such as the winter moth caterpillar, will be looking for shelter, laying their eggs and eating fresh tree shoots.

10. Tend to your berries and currants

Autumn-fruiting raspberry canes can be cut down to just above the soil line, whilst strawberry beds can be tidied by cutting away old foliage and removing runners and weeds. Gooseberry, blackcurrant and red currant bushes can also be pruned. This will help with ventilation and prevent pests and diseases.

General Maintenance

11. Give your tools an MOT

Garden tools should be cleaned and sharpened after a season of use. Ensure all lawn mowers have been cleaned, checked, and drained of fuel.

12. Clean the greenhouse

Tidy greenhouses by disposing of old plants, and removing and cleaning pots. Clean the glass with warm soapy water. If you're leaving stone or terracotta pots outside over winter, make sure they're standing on clay feet or bricks to avoid frost damage and to help with drainage.

13. Get wildlife ready for winter

Finally, give garden wildlife a helping hand by filling bird feeders and leaving a fresh water supply. Try building insect hotels by drilling holes in old logs, or leave a corner of the garden wild, allowing creatures somewhere to rest over winter.

17 best gardening tools to buy now including spades, trowels and rakes

Multi tool — Best Gardening Tools

6-in-1 Wooden Garden Multi Tool

Give your garden plants some love this summer with this useful multi-tool. Finished in titanium with brass fixings, this tool features six different functions including secateurs, a root remover, knife, saw, bottle opener and an easy weeding utensil.

Kneeler and seat — Best Gardening Tools

Garden Kneeler and Seat

thompson & morgan thompson-morgan.com

£23.99

Protect your knees when gardening with this practical green kneeler and seat. It has been made with steel tubes and comfortable polypropylene foam so you can garden comfortably. There's also a small pouch on the side, making it easy to pop your tools in as you work.

Gardening gloves — Best Gardening Tools

NIWAKI Gardening gloves small

NIWAKI selfridges.com

£8.00

Protect your hands with these practical grey gardening gloves, made from a comfortable nylon and spandex liner. Best suited for potting and pruning, they have breathable lining and a nitrile grip coating.

Great gift idea — Best Gardening Tools

Spear and Jackson Kew Gardens Set

Spear & Jackson amazon.co.uk

£21.49

Developed alongside Kew Garden's horticultural team, this set features a weedfork, hand trowel and transplanting trowel. Ideal if you're on the hunt for a gift.

Must-have set — Best Gardening Tools

Garden Tools In Wood And Stainless Steel

notonthehighstreet.com

US$25.45

Crafted from wood and stainless steel, this lovely garden tool set is just what every gardener needs. The leather hooks make it easy to hang up in a shed, while the trowel has been marked in centimetres and inches to make planting easier than ever.

Wheelbarrow — Best Gardening Tools

Walsall 90L Polypropylene Multipurpose Wheelbarrow

Walsall argos.co.uk

£65.00

Every garden needs a wheelbarrow. In a classic green, this lightweight style from Argos is ideal for gardening, DIY work and equestrian uses.

Digging spade — Best Gardening Tools

RHS Burgon and Ball stainless digging spade

With a longer handle to ease back strain, this stainless digging spade has been created for all digging jobs. As well as this, the hardened steel blade is rust-resistant and will hold its edge without regular sharpening. Perfect for every avid gardener.

Watering can — Best Gardening Tools

HAY HAY watering can

HAY selfridges.com

£30.00

Keep your plants happy and healthy with this terracotta watering can. Designed by Shane Schneck, it boasts a no-spill lip and a shape that keeps water weight at its base.

Garden fork — Best Gardening Tools

Sophie Conran Fork

burgon & ball burgonandball.com

£18.99

Tried and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, this garden fork from Sophie Conran is a stylish addition to any outdoor space. Made of stainless steel with a waxed beechwood handle, it has sharpened tines which cut through hard and soft soil very easily.

Kneeler pillow — Best Gardening Tools

Sicilian lemon kneeler pillow

When life gives you lemons...buy a stylish kneeler pillow. With a generous size and soft foam filling, you can be sure to tackle those weeds comfortably without any pain.

Seeds — Best Gardening Tools

PICCOLO SEEDS Herbes De Provence seed collection

PICCOLO SEEDS selfridges.com

£1.00

Garden tool set — Best Gardening Tools

Jardineer Garden Tool Set

Jardineer amazon.co.uk

£25.99

You'll find eight handy tools in this set, including pruning shears, a hand trowel, transplanter, weeder, cultivator, hand rake, gardening gloves and a tote bag. At just £40, it's a real steal buy.

Topiary shears — Best Gardening Tools

66cm Topiary Hedge Shears by Kent & Stowe

Trim your hedge just as you like with these 66cm topiary shears. Ideal for trimming and shaping, they have narrow pointed blades, rubber shock absorbers and a long length ergonomic design.

READ MORE: How to get rid of moles in the garden

Grass Trimmer — Best Gardening Tools

Bosch EasyGrassCut 18-230 Grass Trimmer

Providing high performance cutting with a clean finish, this grass trimmer from Bosch has an easy edging function which enables quick changes from trimming to edging. Ideal for reaching those tricker spots with ease.

Rake — Best Gardening Tools

Wooden Rake

gardentrading.co.uk

£20.00

Sweep up leaves and fallen debris with this practical wooden rake from Garden Trading. Crafted from Beech, the strong wooden handle offers support, while the prongs allow for effective raking.

Trowel and Secateurs — Best Gardening Tools

Burgon & Ball Flora & Fauna Boxed Trowel & Secateurs

Presented in a beautiful box, this set includes a trowel and secateurs. Featuring artwork from the RHS Lindley Library, they're both a stylish and practical addition to any garden.

Electric lawnmower — Best Gardening Tools

Bosch Rotak 34 R Electric Lawnmower

This electric lawnmower helps you to cut through long grass with ease, thanks to its innovative inset grass combs and lightweight design.

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