It’s that time again! A new month means another list of things to do in the garden! The temperatures are finally falling, it’s getting darker earlier and Christmas is drawing terrifyingly close, but unfortunately it is still important to keep on top of the gardening, otherwise you will regret it come Spring! Here are just a few things to do in November to help get your garden through the winter months.
Raise Your Pots
As the inevitable British winter rain begins to fall, it is important that you keep your plant pots and containers protected. Leaving them on the ground could mean they can’t drain effectively, meaning the soil will become waterlogged, which could damage the plants. Simply place them on wooden blocks or bricks to create space between the bottom of the plant pot and the ground will make all the difference.
Insulate!
Where possible, you should ideally move any plants into a greenhouse to protect them from the cold winter weather and the morning frosts. However, if this isn’t possible, you should insulate the pots and containers that they are planted in. Bubble wrap is a great, inexpensive way to do this and will protect the sensitive roots of plants.
Plant your Tulip Bulbs
Planting bulbs when it’s so cold may seem like a strange idea, but to ensure that your tulips arrive in time for Spring, you should plant them as soon as possible. You may find that some of your tulips persist from year to year, but others will need replanting.
Continue to Mulch
The wet weather at this time of year can be bad for soils, and mean that they are unworkable for months. Mulching will help alleviate this problem as it well help to maintain and improve soil structures, preventing soil from becoming too waterlogged. It will also help to prevent the soil from freezing over, protecting the roots of any plants in the area.
Dig Your Soil
You should only do this if the soil is dry enough to work- working soil that is too damp can actually be counter productive. Digging and turning the soil will expose any pest eggs or larvae so that they are eaten by birds or killed in the frost, which will prevent them from potentially harming your plants. Digging and turning the soil will also help to aerate it, and ensure that nutrients are equally spread throughout it. However, you should be careful that your soil isn’t left uncovered for too long, it can lead to soil erosion and a loss of nutrients. Mulch or use a polythene sheeting to prevent this.
Clean and Dry your Lawnmower
It will probably be too damp to mow your lawn for a couple of months now, which means that your lawn mower will be temporarily out of use. Prevent it rusting over the winter by cleaning and drying it thoroughly. You should also drain it of any fuel as petrol won’t keep well over winter and could create problems when it comes to restarting it in the summer.
Providing that you keep on track with these garden tasks, you will have a much easier time once the weather begins to improve.
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