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Despite the cold, your garden needs your attention in November
As temperatures begin to drop, many gardeners may be tempted to give up their routine horticultural chores. However, November calls for several essential tasks to prepare your garden for winter. If these tasks are neglected, your garden may not survive the cold of winter and may not even bounce back in spring.
Winter clean-up and preparation
Start November with a good garden clean-up. Collect and compost fallen leaves, taking care to remove those attacked by disease or insects. Prune trees and shrubs at this time.
Be sure to clean your gardening tools thoroughly before putting them away for the winter. Then cover your most fragile plants with doormat or winter sailsto help them survive the frost.
Protecting sensitive plants
Temperatures close to zero can be fatal for some plants. So, in November, it’s important to plant spring bulbs such as tulips and narcissi, and to put non-hardy plants under cover, in a greenhouse for example. Note that mulching can also be an effective way of protecting your plants’ roots from the cold in November.
Sow and plant at the right time
November is also the ideal time to sow certain cold-hardy vegetables, such as spinach, carrots and peas. It’s also a good time to plant berry bushes, rose bushes and bare-root fruit trees, so you can fully enjoy their fruit next year.
Water management
Freezing temperatures can damage irrigation systems, so it’s a good idea to bleed your irrigation systems and protect them with insulating jackets. And be sure to completely empty your flower pots and planters to prevent them from cracking when frozen.
Soil preparation for spring crops
For those planning to grow vegetables in the spring, November is the time to plough crop beds to aerate the soil and promote decomposition of crop residues.
By adding compost Now you’re improving the quality of your soil for the next growing season. Don’t underestimate the importance of these gardening tasks in November. Taking the time now to properly prepare your garden for winter can guarantee beautiful results in spring.
