Christmas Countdown. It’s getting closer. Time to start dropping even bigger hints to all those who are struggling to think what to buy you and if you are in the same predicament you could start someone out on a new hobby with a garden related gift. Remember a bottle of whisky, even a single malt (my preference), or a box of chocolates, will not last very long.
I was reading somewhere that this month is the start of the gardeners new
year or was that the end of the old year? However you view it, there are plenty of jobs to do which leads us into lawnorobics, of which yet more later, and gardenorobics.
Gardenorobics. Rake up leaves regularly. You could make light work of leaf collection by investing in a vacuum for the garden. Those with an internal shredder will speed up the production of a friable leaf-mould. However remember “No Pain No Gain” and just think how much more deserving that cuppa will be after a couple of hours raking leaves. My preference is to……….clear gutters, ponds, drains and water-tanks of leaves.
Draining and insulating outdoor standpipes will reduce the risk of burst pipes which comes under the general heading of frost protection and despite global warming you still need to watch out for frost. Therefore keep an eye on the forecast and bring in tender or cover with fleece NOT polythene for some temporary protection. Dig over the garden before the frosts to allow them to do their work..
Before tidying up herbaceous plants and shrubs think about leaving some in situ to provide protection from wind and frost for other, more tender, plants. Their seeds and insects will provide food for birds amongst the dead stems. As well as countryside birds moving into gardens they also start arriving from the continent (winter migrants). Plants such as cotoneaster, pyracantha, berberis and holly will provide a good food source from their berries. All birds need access to a good supply of water and make sure it is kept free from ice.
I bet you thought I had forgot about lawn care didn’t you? Sorry here it is for November. If you have problem with moss, use a mosskiller which should take two weeks to kill out the moss and then rake vigorously to remove along with any old grass.
You can feed at this time of year but as it is now colder, grass will grow more slowly, if at all, depending on your location. Here in Jersey it grows all year round. The winter rains (been a dry autumn so far hasn’t it) will flush out fertiliser (leaching) so do not put too much on if it’s going to be brassic! In a mild autumn, you may well still need to mow, but do not cut close and choose a dry and remove the clippings. Once cut, aerate with a hollow-tine aerator or by spiking with a garden fork before brushing grit into the holes. Follow this up by spreading a thin layer of top dressing (sand/loam/compost) to improve growth.
It is still not too late to plant spring-flowering bulbs but think about their position in the garden and their size. Small varieties can easily be overwhelmed and like all bulbs are best planted in groups of a single colour. “Tulips“http://www.bloomingdirect.com/p/Tulips-Blooming-Direct-Mixed.html other than the early dwarf forms generally look best under-planted with plants such as forget-me-nots. Dwarf tulips and miniature narcissus (or daffodils if you prefer) look good in rockeries.
A final thought, clean and put away tools and machinery, a light smear of oil will help protect metal parts and keep secateurs, shears healthy.
With all the raking, digging, “pruning“http://www.bloomingdirect.com/products/Tools/Pocket-Pruner.html and mowing ahead of the short days and cold nights you will enter the long winter months fitter and healthier than you were at the start of the year. That’s gardening for you!