Mzz B’s Garden in November

This has been a stunning autumn, with trees turning the most vivid shades of red and yellow. But it is still dry and we do need more rain.  The garden is also shifing to the next season- there are signs of growth- little tips of snowdrops showing , catkins on hazels, and lots of seedlings peppering the borders. The clue is to know which ones you want to keep and which ones to get rid of. Certainly there is a forest of forgetmenot seedlings which if they were let to grow on might actually swamp the borders. But there are others which will be much more welcome.

Jobs to do in November

• Plant tulips now- if in pots protect from the predations of mice who seem to love them!
• After the first frost dig up your dahlias and store in a frost free place. If you have well drained soil and a sheltered site then you could try leaving some in and covering them with a thick mulch.
• Cut back stems of perennials that are likely to rot on top of other plants, but leave those with seed heads for the insects and birds. If you leave  15cm of stems  after cutting them this will also provide  habitats for overwintering insects. You can make piles of cut stems and leave them at the back of the border-  or tucked away somewhere for the insects that may have hibernated or laid eggs on the stems.
• If you haven’t already done so ensure that all tender perennials are tucked away somewhere frost free, a window sill, greenhouse, conservatory, porch.
• There is still time  to split perennials and make  new plants. I have been digging up perennials that have outgrown their space and potted some up to use elsewhere – maybe the Garden Society plant sale next May!
• Mulch your borders with compost or leaf mould. Now with the leaves coming down rake them and either make leaf mould – use  wire mesh or put into large plastic bags – make holes in the sides , and keep a little moist, and next year you will have wonderful mulch for the garden. This is a free alternative to buying garden compost, and you cannot buy it! It doesn’t have as many nutrients as compost but used as a mulch it acts as an insulation layer- protecting both from cold and from extreme heat. It also holds on to moisture soaking up 500% of its weight in water. It takes a year or so to rot down before you can use it, unless you add a little grass mowings or run your mower over the leaves, this speeds up the process. ( Check out www. gardenorganic.org.uk for more information)
• Clear the fallen leaves of roses from the base if possible to prevent black spot from appearing next year.

WeLoveTattenhall

Hardy fuschia and salviaAcer palmatum and Rosa rugosagingko biloba-Tiny shoots of snowdrops just emerging