Jobs in the garden - November & December
Traditionally thought of as a quiet time in the garden, now is the time to be getting on with a range of jobs as days shorten and plants slow down for the winter.
As the days get darker, a planted container with cheerful colours will lift the spirits when placed near a door or in a position visible from a window. With this in mind, there is still time to plant up winter containers with pansies, winter-flowering heathers or cyclamen which will all flower over the coming months. You could even add a layer of bulbs beneath the compost for added interest in the spring. Bulbs can also still be planted both outside and indoors and, although they will not flower in time for Christmas, they will give a splash of colour in the New Year.
Now is also the ideal time to plant bare-root hedging, which is considerably cheaper than pot-grown. We often advise our customers that these plants, while looking small, very often establish themselves quickly and give a better hedge. Good choices for planting now include beech, hornbeam, hawthorn, blackthorn, privet, Berberis thunbergii and roses.
If there are deciduous plants or trees which you have been considering moving, now is the time to do it. Choose a period when there is not a hard frost and take as much of the root ball as possible. If moving a large tree, it is better to start preparation the year before in early autumn by undercutting the root ball.
Lawns should have stopped growing now so it is a good idea to get the lawnmower serviced if need be. Fallen leaves should be cleared from lawns and borders at regular intervals as they can harbour slugs and other pests as well as fungal diseases. Composting the leaves in bags will give a lovely rich leaf mulch for next year.
It might be worthwhile taking some hardwood cuttings from trees which root easily. Plants such as Salix (willow), Populus (poplar) and Cornus (dogwood) are good species to try. Cut lengths of young shoots approx 30cm (12 inches) long and insert the cuttings into a narrow v-shaped trench which you have made using a spade. Firm the soil around the cuttings and by next autumn the rooted cuttings can be transplanted and used for hedging, windbreaks or individual specimens.
Dahlia tubers and begonia corms can now be lifted once the foliage has been blackened by the first frost and stored away for next spring. Dry the tubers (treat tubers with fungicide) and corms to ensure they do not rot and then pack them in dry sawdust, vermiculite or newspaper. Then store in a dry, cool and frost-free place.
Some of the more tender perennials such as agapanthus and gunnera are best given a winter mulch of leaves to protect the crown (or even an old piece of carpet will do!).
Apple trees should be pruned during the winter months to stimulate new growth in the spring. Place grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to prevent crawling insects from climbing the trunks to lay eggs in tree branches. Apply a winter tree wash to kill off insect eggs in deciduous fruit trees and bushes.
Roses can also be cleaned up at this time of year – making sure that all leaves are cleared away, especially where blackspot and rusts are present, and discarded or burnt to prevent spores from overwintering.
Check stakes and belts in trees, especially in exposed areas.
As the temperature drops, fountains and water features which are not completely frost-proof should be drained, cleaned and wrapped up for the winter.
Lastly. once all the leaves have fallen from deciduous plants and perennials have died back, it is a good time to assess the garden and, perhaps, plan for areas needing some added interest at this time of year. It could mean planting a few more evergreens or structural plants, or thinking about winter-flowering plants such as Mahonia, Hellebores niger or witch hazel (Hamamellis). Plants with coloured stems are great for adding interest too and can be especially striking near water or in a sunny spot.
Overall, there is certainly plenty to do in the garden over the next couple of months!