A drop in temperature is not an excuse to forget about the garden!
While many may use this time of year as an excuse to wrap themselves up and stay indoors by the fire, we avid gardeners do not need an excuse to head outdoors!
In fact, despite dropping temperatures and the increasing threat of winter chills, now is a great time to get stuck into that never-ending list of garden chores, to ensure it is in a tip-top condition and ready for the excitement of spring 2024.
Here is what we will be getting up to in our gardens in the coming weeks, to hopefully offer you a bit of inspiration!
Your Houseplants Need Some Love
Let’s start off with those planted beauties inside the home – our houseplants.
Despite seeming to be protected inside, away from potential sub-zero temperatures, houseplants still need some extra care when winter comes around.
With reduced light coming in through the windows, the plants will start to prepare for winter dormancy and will slow down any growth. Your plants will need to rest throughout these cold months, to allow them to burst to life with new growth next spring – and we cannot wait!
Try to maintain a consistent temperature above 10C, which most houseplants need, and keep them away from direct heat sources, such as a radiator, as well as draughts.
Reduce watering so the compost almost completely dries out, then water to prevent rot. Move plants to sunny windowsills during the day, then back into the room at night, while making sure to wipe dust away from the leaves.
Feed The Birds!
As a Christmas gift to nature this year, consider hanging up a very different type of decoration – a bird feeder.
This is the time of the year when birds need all the energy they can get to get through winter, so hang bird feeders and ensure water sources are kept topped up and clean.
Get Your Greenhouse Ready For Those Chilly Nights
Add a layer of insulation to your greenhouse to create a snug environment – use a roll of specialist greenhouse bubble wrap, cut to size. Hold this in place with plastic clips that fit into the grooves between the glazing bars.
Be sure to constantly review the plants growing in your greenhouse and remove dead, dying or diseased leaves as soon as you spot them.
Pay Attention To Your Beds and Borders
Stems of many perennials can be left untouched to add interest to the garden over winter. However. some will be past their best, so cut back phlox, Alchemilla and anemone to near ground level.
Keep an eye out for annual weeds. Winter may be approaching, but they will still grow if the weather is mild. Perk up any dry soil in the garden by digging in leaf mould to improve its ability to retain water.
Most seed heads can be left on perennials, but cut back those that have faded or collapsed due to wind and rain.
Now is the best time to plant tulips, in a sunny spot, at a depth between two and three times their size, with a layer of horticultural grit in the bottom of each hole to prevent rotting.
Moving Into The Kitchen Garden
With Christmas only just around the corner, make sure you can make the most of your efforts in the kitchen garden this year and harness your planted beauties.
Regularly check stored apples and pears, removing any that are starting to rot. Check stored potatoes for blight. Consign any that are soft, rotting or discoloured to the dustbin to prevent the fungal disease spreading to healthy spuds – you don’t want to spoil those all-important roasties after all!
Pigeons can make a mess of cabbages, sprouts, kale and other brassica crops. Protect them by covering with a sheet of plastic mesh held in place by bamboo canes.
Last, But Certainly Not Least
If you are planning on celebrating Bonfire Night in the coming days, check piles of wood for any hibernating hedgehogs, before lighting.
Wallflowers, daisies, myosotis, and other recently planted spring bedding plants may have loosened in strong winds. Ensure they are secure by firming them into the soil with your fingers.
Pot up rooted cuttings of fuchsias and other tender perennials taken in the summer.
Excessive moisture can rot alpines, so protect groups of plants by making a shelter from two columns of bricks with a sheet of clear rigid plastic or plastic stretched over the top.
Wash slippery surfaces. Algae, moss, and other grime can easily be removed by scrubbing with water and a few drops of specialist cleaner.
Cover the compost heap with a piece of old carpet or cardboard to maintain temperatures suitable for the rotting down material inside.
Clean up your mower before storing it away. Put it on its side and remove any trapped grass or remaining grass or mud debris, with a stiff brush. Be sure to wash off any stubborn bits with soap and water.
Have you got big November garden plans? Share your pics of your beautiful blooms here!
