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What to do in the Garden in November

November 30, 2020 By Jill Anderson 2 Comments

The fiery-coloured autumn leaves have dropped now and the scene outside my window is monochrome, wintery and calm.

My garden is changing into a more restful state, there are fewer things to do and the pace is nice and slow.

Plant Trees and Shrubs

 

I was out in my garden yesterday, moving plants around. The low, clipped box hedge around this particular border had succumbed to Box Tree Blight, leaving a big gap at the front, but giving me the opportunity to re-design the planting.

It felt a bit like a chore at first, but was soon transformed into a relaxing time. With the company of a robin, I quietly got on with changes that have needed doing for a while. Clearing everything away afterwards, I felt a happy satisfaction of a completed task and I’m looking forward to more time in the garden later in the week.

I tell you all this, because it is a perfect time to be moving plants that are in the wrong place or planting new trees and shrubs. It’s cold, but the soil is still relatively warm, and plants are becoming dormant. It’s a good time to be gardening because we haven’t reached that bone-chilling January cold yet, and even when we do it’s good to be outside.

 

What to do in the Garden in November - garden bench in front of raised border with low Buxus hedge and roses

The Box Hedge before the dreaded Box moth laid it’s eggs.

Make Leaf Mould

This particular task needs a re-branding, Leaf mould is a grim name, for what is a wonderful material and not at all mouldy. When it’s decomposed, it’s chocolate-brown, crumbly and full of goodness that improves soil no end.

Simply gather up leaves and store them in left-over plastic bags. Punch holes in the bottom with a garden fork and store them out of the way.

It takes a couple of years to turn into crumbly leaf mould, I know that does seem like a long time, but they need no attention and your patience will be rewarded with this amazing stuff.

Another bonus, is that it completes a neat circle of life, no waste, no buying in and zero transportation.

Plant Tulips

This is the time to start planting tulips, and any other bulbs that you haven’t got round to planting. Ideally they say that other spring flowering bulbs should have been planted in September/October, but I always have a few bulbs waiting still waiting to go in the soil. Late planting doesn’t seem to make too much difference, they’re just later to flower.

In other words, don’t feel bad about it, that’s the antithesis of restful, gardening.

Feed the Birds

I’m putting a range of different types of bird food in my garden, we’re after diversity here.

  • Put water out in containers on the ground and keep it topped up. Place stones in containers as an escape route for small creatures.
  • Keep bird feeders topped up with a variety of seed.
  • Make bird food with a mix of fat, seeds and raisins, form into shapes, placed in metal frames, to hang in trees.

There’s the advantage of seeing birds in your garden, knowing that you’ve helped them through times when there’s not so much natural food around. They’ll repay you in the spring by eating pests.

What to do in the Garden in November-metal bird feeder with hook for apples

This image was sent to me ages ago, I think it was from a company called A Short Walk.

Similar bird feeder from A Short Walk here. They design and make lots of interesting garden related products.

More about Box Tree Moth from the R.H.S. here.

Lastly, I’m sorry for the late posting of this, but you know how things are at the moment. Thank you for your patience, because I really appreciate you reading this.

Keep well and enjoy your garden.

Jill

All photos: Jill Anderson.

except the apple bird feeder!

Related posts:

Feed garden birds with style What To Do In The Garden In November What to do in the garden in March Ideas to borrow from The Chelsea Flower Show.

Related posts:

Feed garden birds with style What To Do In The Garden In November What to do in the garden in March Ideas to borrow from The Chelsea Flower Show.
Filed Under: Blog, Gardening, Recycling & Sustainability Tagged With: bird feeders, Box Tree Caterpillar, what to do in the garden in November

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Comments

  1. Libby says

    December 1, 2020 at 1:03 am

    Our weather has been just superb the last month or two with tomorrow being the first really cold day! So I planted 150 tulips in the last week, moved shrubs, and totally downsized one garden!! I must say, the garden has helped to keep me sane these last few months…

    Reply
    • Jill Anderson says

      December 3, 2020 at 6:16 pm

      My you have been busy! I’m sure your tulips will look amazing, and how satisfying to have made so much progress.
      Lots of rain here in the past few days, so gardening has come to a halt for now.

      Reply

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Hello, I’m Jill Anderson.
This is where you’ll find good, solid information about gardening, growing fruit & vegetables and how to keep it all looking good.
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The healing, calming power of nature in one photo. The healing, calming power of nature in one photo.
These wonderful autumn colours won’t be around for much longer. But that’s ok, because now is what matters, & their fleeting beauty makes them even more precious.
It’s easy to see how being among trees & nature is so beneficial for our health & wellbeing. 
Have a great Sunday.
Savouring all the autumn colour, & doesn’t it lo Savouring all the autumn colour, & doesn’t it look spectacular with this bold front door.
Today has been hard work, after a lovely time last week in Norfolk. The north coast there is spectacular. Realising these last few months, that there are so many beautiful places here. 
Have a nice evening.
Charming glasshouse at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. Vis Charming glasshouse at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. Visiting to see the Anish Kapoor sculptures, which are amazing, but unprepared for the beauty of the grounds & garden. 
Such a treat, worth coming to Norfolk for this alone!
Hope you’re keeping well, & managing to smile some of the time. x
P.S. more of Houghton Hall & Anish Kapoor on my stories
We stopped off on the way home to pick blackberrie We stopped off on the way home to pick blackberries, after coffee & cake, sitting in the churchyard - the cafe was full, & the churchyard is a quiet, peaceful spot..... as you’d expect.
-
One little advantage of lockdown is walking so much more, rather than using the car. Though it shouldn’t have taken something as momentous as this, for me to change bad habits 🙁
Hope you’re weekend is going well.
My hazel arch, a bit lopsided 🙄 using wood from My hazel arch, a bit lopsided 🙄 using wood from a random clump of hazel on the garden. Now looking much better covered in winter squash plants, so you can’t see just how ramshackle it is. I like to think it has a certain home-spun charm .

Great for small space gardening, imagine how much room you need to grow these without vertical supports.

I’ve got 2 Uchiki kuri, lovely nutty flavour.
1 Turks turban, for its flamboyant shape & colours, though it also tastes good.
One unknown, grown by my grandsons in their homeschooled science lesson.
Close-ups of the squash over on my stories.
Stay cool my friends x
I wanted to show you this lovely lily ( Lilium reg I wanted to show you this lovely lily ( Lilium regale) which is flowering right outside our bedroom window. 
It gets sun for about 4 hours only, you can order the bulbs now for planting in September. It’ll reappear every year & waft delicious scent around your garden, or through your windows.
Have a very happy Monday x
It’s British Flower Week, there’s a lot to be It’s British Flower Week, there’s a lot to be said for fabulous seasonal flowers that haven’t travelled thousands of miles ...... & are wonderful for biodiversity
A bit of rain, nice long days (it’s almost mid-s A bit of rain, nice long days (it’s almost mid-summer!) & it’s, mostly, all growing nicely.

Spinach, courgettes & garlic in shot here. 
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday x
Hope is a decision I’ve thought long & hard abou Hope is a decision
I’ve thought long & hard about how to view the tumult in the world we’re living in now. 
The only thing that works for me, is to choose hope.

It’s a tall order, but avoiding mainstream news & speculation helps avoid the anxiety, that’s often waiting in the wings.

One day soon there’ll be grandchildren clambering over this again.
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