Here are a few things to do during November for gardeners in the Canada, Northern US, England and European areas, basically anywhere where a winter season is right around the corner…
1. Plant the last of the spring-flowering bulbs:
You still have a few days left to squeeze this chore in before the long, heavy rains of the Pacific Northwest or the freezing temperatures across the Prairies and central Canada/US. Make it an annual event to add a few dozen new bulbs to your garden every year, and very soon you will have an absolutely spectacular spring display that makes this late autumn chore worthwhile.
2. Dig up the dahlias:
Once their leaves have been touched by the first hard frost, dig up the dahlia tubers carefully (try not to spear them with the fork or slice them up with the spade!). Shake of the dirt, there is no need to wash them, and let them dry indoors in a garage for a couple of days. Store them in between hay or crumpled newspaper in a cool, dry place over winter.
3. Plant new evergreen shrubs and hedging:
This is the ideal time to plant new specimen trees or a row of hedging – the cool weather ahead allows the plants to settle in and get established over the next few months with some root growth. Then, next season as the weather warms up, they are already to go ahead quickly with fresh new growth. Planting at this time of year also avoids having to regularly water the new additions to the garden during the first few critical months.
4. Take cuttings from currants, raspberries, blackberries, roses, dogwoods, willows, and many other shrubs:
November is the ideal time to take hardwood cuttings of your favourite shrubs, either to replace the older specimens or to increase your stock. Simply cut strong healthy shoots about 12-18 inches long from the plant, and stick them straight into the ground (bury at least one third of the cutting) in a nursery bed that is in a protected area of the garden, prefereably under a cold frame. Alternatively, they can be put into large gallon plastic pots and kept in a cool greenhouse or sheltered corner. After they have rooted (usually takes a couple of months), they can be moved to their permanent postitions in the garden, or left in the nursery bed to form larger, more mature shrubs before planting out.
5. Collect fallen leaves for the compost:
All those beautiful leaves falling into your garden should not be considered a nuisance but a treasure! Collect them into large piles and put them into large plastic bags to rot down into wonderful leaf mould over the winter. There are special “composting” bags designed for this purpose, but any strong, thick plastic bag will do, just make a few small holes (1/2 inch or so) around the bag for ventilation purposes. Alternatively, they can be thrown directly onto the compost heap, mixing with the last of the green lawn clippings. By running over the leaves with a lawnmower before composting them, you will speed up the process. Please, please don’t use one of those infernal leaf blowers to collect your leaves!! Use a rake – this is supposed to be one of the most wonderful jobs of the autumn season, so get the whole family out and enjoy!
6. Cover the crowns of potentially sensitive plants such as roses and hardy fuchsias:
Bury the crowns (the part of the plant where the main shoots leave the grafted rootstock, or just the central lower core of the plant) with a thick mulch of bark chips, straw or compost. For this to be effective, it needs to be at least 4 inches thick. The nice thing about using compost is in the spring, just spread it around a little more and leave in place. Other materials may need to be be actually removed if they haven’t compacted down enough during the winter. Extra protection can be had by not pruning the canes down to the ground in the fall, leave them in place until early spring, then prune. They will serve as extra protection for the tender crown from heavy frost and cold winds.
7. Clean and sharpen tools before storing away for the winter:
Remove all the encrusted dirt and grime from your hand pruners, shears, lawnmower blades, spade and fork tines. Use a wire brush for this job, then rinse in a bucket or under a hose to clean thoroughly. Sharpen edges for a quick start next season. Be sure to completely wipe all metal surfaces with an oily rag to protect them from rust during storage. Hardwood handles can be wiped clean and buffed with a wax polish to protect them from splitting and drying out. Remember to buy the best quality tools you can afford, they will last much longer and serve you better in the long run.
8. Protect your berry bearing branches:
If your garden only has a few shrubs with berries on them, and if you wish to save them for Christmas decorations, it might be a wise move to protect a few branches with some netting to keep the hungry birds and squirrels from stripping them clean! Migrating birds can quickly eat all the berries from a single area within a day, as they stock up for their long flights. Rodents also need food to tide them over the winter, so please make sure you only lock away as much as you need, and let the others provide food for wildlife.
9. Prune and shape your evergreens:
The final hedge trimmings and tree shaping duties should be completed early this month. If you can remember, keep some branches of pine trees, holly, laurel and ivy long and unpruned so you have a supply for Christmas decorations that won’t ruin the final shape of your plants.
10. Plant cuttings of herbs to grow on indoors:
All tender herbs should be either potted up and brought indoors or used for cuttings as they will not survive a North American winter. Mint, rosemary, parsley, sage, thyme, and many others, all grow well on small pots on a kitchen windowsill, where they add beauty and fragrance to the room while providing a handy source of fresh herbs throughout the winter months.