It’s November time and the garden is coming to the end of shedding its summer coat ready for the winter giving us all plenty of jobs to do in the garden.
If you’ve received a tree gift from someone and want to know the best way to look after it this month then keep reading for advice on tips for November Gardening.
Check out the gardening jobs in November and keep the garden looking in tip-top shape.
Prepping your Garden in November
As autumn comes in full force and the leaves from the trees are littering the floor we start to see bare tree branches and the shorter days are upon us.
Clearing Leaves
If the leaves have fallen heavily in the garden, clear any thick covers to make sure grass and other smaller plants don’t become smothered. The cleared leaves can be added to the compost bin or turned into invaluable leafmould. The rotted leaves can then be used as mulch for plants throughout the year or added to the soil as a conditioner.
Check around rose bushes for any fallen leaves that could be infected with black spot. These should be cleared straight away to avoid the spread to other healthy roses and plants. The collected leaves can be burnt to dispose of them or added to the garden waste bin to be collected. This will ensure no other plants become infected with the fungus.
Planting in November
November is a fantastic time for planting. The soil is still slightly warm and it allows your trees and plants to become more established before both the frost of winter and the hot summer months. If it’s been a cold year with early frost and rain avoid planting in any ground that is frozen or waterlogged.
Whether they’re container-grown or bare root, November is a fantastic planting time for all. Early on in the month and the soil is still slightly warm with cold frosty snaps are still in the not too distant future.
Trees and shrubs are entering their dormancy period for the winter which is one of the reasons this is the best month to plant. While container-grown plants can be planted at almost any time throughout the year getting them in the ground now will ensure good health for the new year.
If you have received one of our tree saplings as a gift they may be looking a little bare, but worry not, as it’s a great time to plant them and in just a couple of months they will be ready to spring back to life. If you aren’t ready to plant your tree sapling just yet, then that's okay. As they are dormant they can be stored in a cool garage or outhouse until it is ready to be planted in the spring. The key things are to keep your dormant tree cold and dark and be sure to keep the roots/soil damp, but not waterlogged.
Getting your magnolia trees in the ground in November will ensure a beautiful display of blossom in the springtime. The same goes for spring-flowering bulbs, such as Bluebells and Daffodils. Plant trees and bulbs in November so they are ready to burst to life straight after winter.
Apple trees are especially good for planting from the month of November. Whether bare root or container-grown, planting between November to February allows the tree to become a little more established without any heat stress or drought.
Transplanting Trees in November
Just like November is a perfect time for planting it is also a great time for transplanting any trees that need to be moved to a new or better location.
Pruning Trees and Roses in November
Sharpen your secateurs and get to pruning! Like with planting, as trees enter their dormancy period it’s best to get any pruning done now especially on apple and pear trees.
Any dead, diseased or crossing branches should be removed as standard to keep the tree healthy and then prune for shape by removing any branches that are out of place. Look at our tree pruning diagram to find out where to make the cut for best results.
Hybrid Tea and Floribunda roses can be pruned back about a third at this time of year. Not only will it encourage a stronger more productive flowering period in the summer it helps to avoid any wind rock that may affect the strength of the rose bush.
If your holly trees have produced berries then you can snip sprigs from the trees to use as festive decoration over the holidays. Holly trees can withstand light pruning and this will also help them to produce healthy new growth in the Spring and Summer months.
Harvesting and foraging in November
If you’ve ever tried foraging you’ll know that November has some great treats for us. See if you have any of these trees in your garden and get picking for a bountiful, organic harvest.
Rowan berries are ready to be picked at this point in the year, if you have a rowan tree in your garden then you can pick some for yourself, but please make sure that you leave a few berries to attract and sustain your local wildlife. Rowan berries can be stored and used to make delicious rowan berry jelly.
If you love a bit of sloe gin now and then now is the time for harvesting your fruits - the sloe or blackthorn tree will be ripe and ready for picking at the start of November to be turned into a delicious jam or gin.
Some apple trees have fruit that ripens later into the season. Braeburn apples will usually be ripe in the second week of November. When picking the apple from the tree the whole stalk should come off with the apple. If it doesn’t then they are not ripe.
Any fruit that remains on the trees that you don’t plan on using should be removed to avoid attracting any pests or the formation of mould.
If you do find yourself with more apples that you can use, then please consider harvesting them and donating to a local food bank or searching on Google for a local community cider making project that you can donate to.
What’s Looking Good in November?
If you’re looking to breathe a bit of life back into the garden ready for winter then consider planting a few evergreen or winter flowering varieties of tree or shrub.
Varieties that look great over winter include holly trees and winter flowering cherry trees.
All evergreen trees can be planted at this time of year and will bring a new lease of life as soon as they are placed in the ground or pot.
Protecting trees and plants in November
With the cold moving in fast in the month of November, it’s important to keep any new, unestablished trees protected from wind or frost damage.
Potted trees, in particular, can be susceptible to root damage from cold weather. Add some protection by adding bubble wrap or horticultural fleece around the pot.
If you are growing a fruit tree in a pot on the patio then make sure to protect it from any windy weather. Large trees that are grown in pots are more easily knocked over resulting in damage.
Wildlife in November
Food becomes scarce towards the end of November so try and encourage more wildlife to the garden and plant trees with berries such as rowan trees and apple trees are great for attracting that wildlife. If you are wanting to feed garden birds, we suggest using wild bird seed mixes rather than bread.
Indoor Gardening in November
As the air temperature cools through mid-October and into November our radiators come on again to keep our homes warm. It’s an important time to keep your citrus trees happy and place them away from any form of central heating. Temperature fluctuations are one of the main stress causes to citrus plants. This will usually result in the tree dropping its leaves.
Don't be too alarmed if this happens, changing the location to improve conditions will have the tree back to normal in around 4-6 weeks.
Move houseplants to bright areas of the house so they can get enough light throughout the winter. Windowsills and bright hallways are the perfect locations.
Buying a gift for a November occasion?
If you’d like to see what trees and plants you should be sending this month then don’t forget to check out our November Monthly Gift Guide. Also, check out which tree we chose for the November Tree of the Month.
