November gardening jobs to complete this weekend – 7 tasks to do now before persistent winter frosts
Completing these jobs while you still can ensures a plentiful garden next spring
As the weather gets colder and wetter, motivation to head out into the garden dwindles. However, there are still plenty of tasks to prepare our plants for the harsh winter ahead.
Sorting the garden out is probably the last thing you want to do this month, when temperatures have dropped and the wind has picked up. And yet, just because many plants have gone dormant doesn't mean there's no planting, mowing and tidying to be done.
With that in mind, we've spoken to our trusted team of gardening experts to find out exactly what needs doing before the long frosts arrive.
7 beneficial November gardening jobs
If you've completed all of your October gardening jobs, you might think your plot is ready for winter. But as the changeable weather finally cools down, there are still a few more things to tick off before you let your plants drift into a blissful seasonal slumber.
1. Planting tulip bulbs
Timing is everything when planting spring bulbs to ensure blooms when the sunny weather returns next year. Luckily, you have a little wiggle room with tulips this year because it's been warmer than expected for the time of year.
"Many spring-flowering bulbs are best planted in early autumn, but November is the perfect time to plant tulip bulbs. This is because the cool soil helps reduce the risk of fungal disease, and tulips tend to benefit from slightly colder temperatures, which helps prepare them for flowering," Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress.
"Planting now will give colourful blooms from March through to May and will bring the garden back to life after the winter," he continues.
2. Planting overwintering vegetables
If you haven't started your vegetable-growing journey yet, don't worry; there's still time in November.
"Planting crops such as garlic cloves and onions allows them to establish their roots during the winter and get a head start on their spring growth. This will allow you to harvest earlier next year," says Chris.
These are great crops if you're limited to small garden ideas; you can grow them in pots so they won't take up precious lawn or flower bed space.
3. Giving the lawn one final cut
Don't make a common winter garden mistake by leaving your last cut of the season too late. This can seriously damage your lawn and stunt its growth for next year.
"The final cut usually happens in November; keep an eye on when the grass has noticeably slowed its growth and cut it before persistent cold, wet or frosty conditions hit," explains Chris.
Then all you need to do is be patient and wait for the right time to cut your grass again after winter.
Chris is the founder of the online garden centre GardeningExpress and has been in the horticulture industry for over 20 years. Whilst he was young he combined his passion for the outdoors with the internet to deliver quality plants across the UK and Europe.
4. Clearing fallen leaves from the lawn
"Make sure you're clearing the leaves off your lawn," says Orpheus Alexander, our resident gardener. "It'll keep the lawn nice and happy and healthy, giving it really nice growth."
Rather than disposing of them, consider the many ways you can reuse fallen leaves in your garden this November. For instance, mulching your plants.
"Use the leaves as mulch around fruit trees. Fruit trees need carbon, and these leaves are a great source of that; they'll mulch down and feed the roots whilst suppressing grass growing around the tree," Orpheus explains.
There are some benefits to keeping the leaves on the lawn, though, so if you don't want to go through the effort, that's okay too.
Orpheus is a gardener, designer and lifelong plant enthusiast with a hands-on approach to creating natural, welcoming spaces. He shares practical tips and behind-the-scenes glimpses of his projects on Instagram, @womanandhome, where you’ll often find him discussing plants, design ideas, and the joys (and challenges) of real-life gardening.
5. Clearing gutters and drains
It's easy to forget to clean your gutters, but it makes all the difference in not only avoiding water damage but also helping to harvest rainwater.
"After the autumn shedding of leaves, your gutters and drains are likely full of debris, so be sure to remove this before heavy rainfall to prevent blockages and leaks," says Emily Green, a garden maintenance expert at Howarth Timber.
She also suggests it’s a good idea to continue checking your gutters throughout the season, as leaves can build up quickly.
Make quick work of blocked gutter with this extendable gutter cleaning brush kit, no ladder needed.
6. Getting on top of weeds
Unfortunately, getting rid of weeds is a year-round problem. But luckily, the wet weather can actually make removing them a little easier.
"Remove any weeds before winter and apply mulch to flower beds to prevent weeds from growing by blocking the sunlight," says Emily. "Damp soil makes it easier to pull the roots out intact, so it’s a good idea to remove weeds directly after rainfall, but make sure the soil is not sticky mud."
Just don't forget to leave certain weeds as a food source for wildlife to give them a helping hand through the tougher seasons.
7. Protecting tender plants from frost
When it comes to protecting your garden from frost, it's always best to act sooner rather than later. You'll be glad you did when your plants are able to survive the worst of the winter weather.
"Plan ahead," says Chris. "Start thinking about how you’ll protect plants once the frost hits. You can move pots into a greenhouse, conservatory or a sheltered area in the garden and cover other plants with horticultural fleece."
"If using horticultural fleece, remember to wrap plants lightly so they still receive airflow, and on sunnier or milder days, remove the fleece to allow for light to reach the plant," he adds.
The same goes for protecting your outdoor space from heavy rain too; doing it as soon as possible will prevent any flooding.
After a year of such drought, you might want to rainscape your garden before winter arrives; that way, you'll have a supply of natural rainwater when the hot weather comes back around.
