This is the time of the year when many plants lose their leaves and shut down for the winter. The sap in evergreen plants also stops flowing unless winds dry their leaves out. As plants become dormant it is the best time to transplant them, so this is a good time to start planting raspberries and the majority of bare-root hedging plants such as beech, privet and quickthorn. This is a good time for planting fruit trees, roses and bulbs such as tulips and narcissi.
The vegetable garden should now be dug, putting in a good amount of farmyard manure. November is a good month for sowing broad beans and for planting garlic. Cabbages should be protected from attack by pigeons by covering with strong netting. Herbs, such as fennel, balm and lovage, should be cut back and a few plants of parsley, chives and tarragon can be lifted and potted and brought inside for use in the winter. Gardens should be tidied up once leaf fall is complete and most garden material can be composted. Special compost bins are available at the garden centre for as little as £7, thanks to Herts County Council! Always check heaps of leaves and the bonfire night ‘heap’ for the presence of hedgehogs.
The greenhouse should be cleaned up using Jeyes Fluid as a disinfectant. If completely empty, a sulphur candle will destroy all the over-wintering pests and diseases, but if you do use one, all plants must be removed from the glasshouse. Greenhouses should now be insulated using bubble plastic, and the heater should be checked over.
Now is the time to put in the pond heater and remove the fountain pump if it is likely to be damaged by frost.
Plants grown in pots and containers are much more susceptible to frost damage than those growing in the ground. This is more so with evergreen shrubs such as the Sweet Bay and shrubs like the Camellia. In severe weather it is best to take such plants inside (the garage would do for a short time) but if this cannot be done, pots can be lagged using straw or bubble plastic to keep roots from freezing. To prevent wind damage to tender garden plants, windbreaks can be installed or fleece can be used. Taps and outdoor water pipes will need to be lagged too.
Many shrubs can be trimmed now and late-flowering clematis, such as C. Jackmanii, should be pruned down now. Cordylines and the more tender phormiums can be protected from winter damage by tying their leaves together. Don’t forget to get the lawn mower serviced soon. Pansies and violas, polyanthus and primroses will flower better in winter months if grown in places where they can get the sun.
Finally, it is now time to clean out the bird houses and make sure the birds are kept well fed, especially in very severe weather.
Terry Simmonds