The clocks have gone back which means less time in the garden in the evening but more light in the morning. November is a great month for clearing the garden and preparing it for Winter.
Here's my top 5 jobs for this month.
Plant tulips bulbs
November is the best time to plant tulips bulbs as there is less risk of tulip fire with cooler temperatures. Make sure you plants tulip at least twice their depth and with the pointed end up. They like free draining soils so it can help to add some horticultural grit into the planting hole.
2. Collect fallen leaves for leaf mould
Collect leaves from lawns, paths and ponds (as they can affect the water quality) and create leaf mould, a fantastic mulch for future use in your beds and borders. Don't worry about removing leaves from your borders, except from the crowns of herbaceous plants where they can cause rot. Just let them break down into the beds to help with soil structure and provide nutrients.
3. Remove Hellebore leaves
Now is a good time to remove any old leaves from your Hellebores to allow room for the flower buds to mature. Hellebores can be prones to black spot so removing any affected leaves can improve the health of the plant.
4. Plant trees
Autumn is the perfect time for planting a tree as the soil is still warm and there is enough rain around to help with the establishment of the tree. Dig a square hole at least 15cm wider than the root ball and the same depth and loosen the soil around the sides and base of the hole. Tease out the roots and add some bonemeal to the planting hole. Back fill with existing soil with some added compost or manure and firm down around the trunk with your foot. Either double stake with a long tree tie or with one stake at an angle against the prevailing wind. Make sure that the stakes are at least 60cm into the ground. Water in well and for the next year during any dry periods.
5. Prune Apple & Pear trees
Start with the 3ds when pruning your apple or pear trees - dead, diseased and damaged, then move on to any crossing branches or branches growing inwards. The aim is to produce an open goblet shape or as close to that as you can get. This is a mature Apple tree in my N12 Dog Friendly garden in North Finchley, which is very productive and an important focal point in the garden design. I look forward to pruning this later this month.