-
0 item(s) in your barrow at £0.00 Wheelbarrow
You have no items in your shopping cart.
- Pre-Order Basket (0)
JOHN'S GARDEN, 'ONE OF THE FINEST GARDENS IN THE UK', IS OPEN EVERY SATURDAY more
- Home
- Gardeners’ Corner
- Calendar
- November
- The Flower Garden
The Flower Garden
Have a good clear up around the garden, removing habitats such as weeds as these may harbour over-wintering pests and diseases. Make good use of the autumn leaf fall: the leaves can be simply incorporated into the soil or used to mulch borders. Alternatively make them into leaf mould or add them to compost (add a compost accelerator such as Garotta). Dispose or burn any diseased leaves. Moss and algae on drives, paths and paving can be cleared with Algon, an organic treatment that requires no scrubbing or rinsing and which is also safe to use around pets, wildlife and ponds.
Finish bulb planting as soon as possible. Tulips are normally the last bulbs to be planted (mid‑November at the latest) while spring bedding plants should be planted as soon as possible. Make the most of autumn colour; don’t cut back sedums, ornamental grasses and semi-evergreen herbaceous plants such as heucheras as they will provide some valuable structure in the border. Seed heads should be left to provide food for seed eating birds such as goldfinches. Begin any winter pruning of deciduous plants, remembering that this type of pruning rejuvenates and promotes vegetative growths. If needed shrubs and small dormant trees can be lifted and replanted.
Wet kills more plants in outdoor containers than any other reason, so it is advisable to raise all containers off the ground using pot feet, keeping less hardy subjects like cordylines and phormiums in sheltered places such as along house walls. During severe weather be prepared to fleece them or move them into temporary frost free places like the garage. Build cane wigwams in advance of covering with fleece to protect more tender plants growing in the garden.
Think about lifting dahlias, once blackened with frost, dry off, dust with sulphur powder and store in a frost-free place either dry or boxed up in compost. Remember to keep the plants securely labelled. Early flowering chrysanthemums can be lifted, cut back and the soil washed off. Carefully lift and box or pot up roots of cannas as well as lifting tender bulbs such as gladioli, tigridias and chincherinchees before placing in a well-lit frost free place.
Lift, divide and replant herbaceous plants where necessary. Montbretia and crocosmia always benefit from lifting and dividing and bear in mind not to over-enrich the soil for these as only leaves will be produced. Apply a mulch of open fibrous materials around tender perennials such as penstemons, salvias, nerines, agapanthus, alstroemeria and phygelius to protect root systems as well as the stems at ground level.
Cut out old stems of delphiniums, penstemons and phygelius and cover hollow shoots to prevent rain from gathering in them which will cause the new dormant shoots to rot. Remove dead flower spikes from kniphofia and fold foliage over the crowns, tying together if necessary.
Apply a slug control to control slug and snails on perennial foliage. Slugs can cause much damage at this time of the year and leaves form a good over wintering habitat. Plants such as hostas and delphiniums have emerging buds for next season and damage to these over winter cause devastating damage next spring.
November is a perfect month (as weather conditions permit) for planting new roses, hedging plants, trees, shrubs and conifers. Prepare the ground well, working in organic matter such as Carr’s Soil Improver and using Root Grow in contact with the roots: this is a selection of bacteria and fungi that aid better establishment of many plants. If planting is delayed, keep newly purchase plants in sheltered places out of doors. Carry out autumn pruning of roses to prevent wind damage. Reduce overall height of Hybrid Tea roses by one half and Floribunda roses by one third.
Pruning of climbing roses should be completed this month (rambling roses are pruned in late summer). First remove dead, diseased or dying branches using a good pair of secateurs. If it’s an older plant that needs thinning, cut out any some of the old branches from the base to promote new growth. Tie in any new shoots and prune any flowered side shoots back by two thirds of their length. Gather up any diseased leaves and burn.
Check and clear guttering and bring in hose pipes before they get frozen and damaged, drain down any pipes and insulate. Avoid storing chemicals in the greenhouse or garden shed as they will deteriorate if they are subject to frost or damp: bring them into better insulated places such as the garage.
In Our Shop
Don't miss out - Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest news and offers straight to your email
- © Copyright 2024 Ashwood Nurseries
- Kaweb Design