Anyway back to the job in hand.

Jobs for November.

Prepare your Sweet Pea Trenches.
What? Who on earth prepares trenches for sweet peas you may ask. Well the book was from 1956 and it was a vital job (for sweet pea growers).

Plant Tulips
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 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.

Plant large Shrubs
Your choice of shrubs, nuff said!

Double digging
Well you at least need to dig over the garden before the frosts to allow them to do their work. Double digging ensures that the ground is deeply and thoroughly cultivated and should certainly be carried out in the gardens of new houses, which were probably covered in a pile of builders’ rubble and have set like concrete. This may, well avoid many problems later. Oh, and incorporate some compost, FYM etc while you are doing so.

Train cordon fruit trees
Ensure pruning tools are sharpened and used correctly

Prune
Raspberries, Gooseberries, Red and Black Currants, Apples and Vines

Protect Plants
Despite global warming you still need to watch out for frost. Therefore keep an eye on the forecast and bring in tender perennials or cover with fleece NOT polythene for some temporary protection.

Lawns
Have you noticed something missing from the all important list from yesteryear, yes they didn’t bother with lawns, probably too cold by November in 1956 for any growth to occur and therefore no need to do anything. Yippee for the olden days! In a mild autumn, you may well still need to mow, but do not cut close and choose a dry day 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.

Til next time.