November garden jobs

The mild weather that we had through November means that many plants in the garden are still growing and flowering, but we now need to be thinking about autumn jobs and making sure that the garden is prepared for the winter months.

Autumn leaves are falling fast now and need to be collected from lawns to prevent them from creating a thick layer and smothering the grass. Once collected mix them into other garden waste in the compost heap.

Now is the ideal time to plant trees and shrubs in the garden while the soil is still warm and moist. Planting now encourages a healthy, strong root system to develop and come next spring the plants will grow away much faster.

Apples that were harvested and put into store last month need checking to make sure they are still in good condition. Any showing signs of bruising should be used straight away. Cooking apples such as ‘Bramley’s’ and ‘Lord Derby should keep well in cool conditions.

Enjoy late autumn flowering perennials such as Schizostylis coccinea ‘Pink Princess while they are is in flower and keep the plants tidy by removing any dead or yellow foliage.

Lift the last of the main-crop potatoes, dry the tubers and store for the winter in paper or hessian bags.