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Read our latest round-up of news, top tips and ideas to make the most of your garden this November!
November is here and the air is really starting to get chilly! This month brings the promise of early morning frosts and earlier sunsets – but there is still plenty you can do in your garden!
• Protect semi-tender plants – Shrubs which are best kept outside but are also semi-tender, such as pomegranates, olive and bay, can be damaged by harsh weather and so should be wrapped in horticultural fleece. This will protect the plants against most winter frosts but will require a second layer or to be brought indoors when the temperature falls below 5ºC.
• Compost refresh – Don’t forget to turn your compost heap regularly to maintain efficient decomposition even when the temperature drops. View our variety of compost bins in-store.
• Remove damaged produce from harvests – Many fruit and vegetables can be stored right through to spring, however it is important to remove any that are going off to avoid ruining the rest of the crop.
• Provide support for trees – Add stakes and ties to young trees, positioning the stake so that the tree will be blown away from it, to avoid damaging the bark. Allow branches to move freely while the roots and stem are kept still by attaching the stake lower down.
• Remove leaves from lawns and ponds – Collect any fallen leaves and allow them to decompose into leaf mould. This is perfect to add to mulch or compost.
• Add insulation to your greenhouse – Keep your plants happy over autumn and winter by adding insulation to your greenhouse.
• Plant tulip bulbs in beds and borders – Tulips will grow best in well-drained soil, in a border or bed that gets full sun but is also protected from harsh winds. Plant the bulbs twice the bulb’s width apart and at a depth of three times the bulb’s height.
• Plant in pots – Irises, hyacinths, daffodils and muscari are all fantastic and vibrant options for creating a powerful spring-flowering display using pots. Simply fill one third of a pot with compost and horticultural grit in a ratio of 2:1, then lay your bulbs on top so that they almost touch. Finally, cover the bulbs with compost to twice their height, add a layer of grit, pat down and water.
Visit any of our centres to pick up essential gardening tools!
Applications are open for next year’s Gardeners World live – so if you’ve got a flair for creative designs and a passion for gardening, this is a fantastic opportunity!
Whether you’re an experienced gardener, a novice, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of nature, this event has something for everyone. Beautiful Borders is one of the show’s annual categories – and this year’s theme “share my space” is all about demonstrating how even the smallest of spaces can be transformed into a green oasis.
Find out more here.
• Sow broad beans – Loosen the soil before sowing to ensure the long roots of broad beans have somewhere to go. Plant 5cm deep and 20cm apart.
• Plant apple trees – Most species of apple are self-infertile, which means they need to be planted near a tree from the same pollination group in order to develop well. Ideally, this will be in a sunny but sheltered location that drains well. Dig a shallow hole up to three times the diameter of the young plant’s root system, then place the plant in the hole and carefully cover with soil to remove all air pockets. Gently step on the covering soil to firm it.
• Plant raspberries – Opt for either bare root or container plants. Clear the site for weeds prior to planting, dig in plenty of well-rotted manure and general fertiliser. Supports for the raspberry canes are best added at the time of planting. When planting, the first roots should be 5cm or less below the soil level, and then covered with a thick mulch. After planting, cut the canes down to 25cm tall.
• Grow onions – Plant young bulbs approximately 2cm deep, so that just the tip is visible, and spaced 5-10cm apart. Firm the surrounding soil and water well. If birds are a likely pest, cover the bulbs with fleece.
You may know that our Yorkshire centre at Midgley features the Little Acorn coffee stop and two woodland walks – but did you know that we now have two new woodland tracks for you to find?
Whether you’re a regular or a first timer, come visit us and discover our new walks – well behaved dogs are welcome!
The Little Acorn is now also serving kiddies hot chocolate, which is smaller than our regular indulgent hot chocolate, but equally as tasty!
Read our top tips on how to care for our feathered friends over the harsh winter months:
• Provide clean bird boxes – November is the perfect time to clean out and sterilise bird boxes in preparation for nesting throughout the springtime.
• Fill up your bird feeders and tables – Keep bird feeders and tables filled with a variety of seed and nuts placed throughout your garden, as birds sometimes struggle to find food during the autumn and winter months. Ideally, place these in a sheltered position close to bushes and trees – this will encourage birds to approach and land.
• Accessible water sources – As the temperature drops and water freezes, it is harder for birds to find sources of water. You can help by leaving out fresh water in your garden.
• Add berries to your garden – Plant bushes, trees and shrubs that produce berries throughout the winter months to provide an extra source of sustenance.
• Create a logpile – Some bird species enjoy foraging through piles of logs and leaves for insects to eat.
• Utilise tree trunks – Rubbing fat into the bark of a tree’s trunk can provide a much-needed boost of energy to species that forage around the trunk of trees, such as goldcrests and treecreepers.
• Save shedding dog hair – When grooming your dog, save the fur that comes away and place it into a nesting material dispenser. These can be made from old peanut feeders.
Our centres stock a range of timber bird tables, bird boxes, feeders and RSPB-approved feed.
This year, National Tree Week will take place from 25th November to 3rd December.
National Tree Week is not just a celebration of trees, but an opportunity to raise awareness about their importance. Trees are vital for a healthy and sustainable environment – they absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen and provide habitats for wildlife. They also play a crucial role in combating climate change.
Make a difference this year and plant a tree!
Find out more here.
• Harvest greenhouse-grown lettuce – Many salad leaves thrive in the conditions of late autumn, including ‘Little Gem’, ‘Tom Thumb’ and ‘Rouge d’Hiver’ – they provide fresh leaves throughout autumn and into winter.
• Harvest leeks – Leeks are very hardy, so only need to be harvested as and when needed. To lift from the ground, push a fork into the soil, a little distance away from the leek to avoid damaging the stem, and loosen the soil around the roots. Gently pull the leek from the ground, as the blanched white stem could be up to 15cm long. Brush the soil off the roots and stem, and use secateurs to trim the roots.
• Harvest Brussels sprouts – Let your sprouts enjoy a few frosts before harvesting to achieve a sweeter flavour.
• Harvest carrots – Baby carrots should be ready for harvesting 50-60 days from when they were planted, while mature carrots should be ready after about 75 days. As with leeks, only harvest when needed, as carrots can last for weeks extra in the ground during the winter months – but be sure to harvest everything before the ground freezes over.
The Gardening Book by Monty Don
A fresh approach to gardening by bestselling author and the nation’s favourite gardener Monty Don.
Available from Amazon here.
“That soft autumnal time, the woodland foliage now is gathered by the wild November blast.”
– John Howard Bryant
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