November's Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!

We're halfway through November already so here are some jobs that you can be getting on with in the garden over the next few weeks ...

1. Tulips  - November is the ideal time to plant Tulips!
It's recommended that you plant them no earlier than this month due to the risk of the bulbs developing a particular disease called 'Tulip Fire'.
For those unaware this is a fungal disease which results in the plants developing twisted and distorted leaves with brown spots.

When planting Tulips first check that the ones you buy don't have any signs of mould / damage and aren't too small as this can affect flowering ability in the first year.
Plant them atleast twice the size of the bulb apart and two to three times it's own depth. If planting in pots the bulbs can be closer together but make sure that they aren't touching and are three times their own depth.
Also if there are any other Spring Bulbs that you haven't had the chance to plant yet then why not get them in the ground at the same time!

2. Buddleja - Over the Summer months Buddleja's can put on lots of growth and Autumn & Spring is the ideal time to give them a cut back. 

I like to reduce my plant by a third in November and then by another third in the Spring. It may seem drastic but by reducing it's height it helps keep it in control and you can remove any dead or diseased branches. Flowers also are only usually produced on the end of current seasons growth so if your plant is left to it's own devices all the flowers will be at the top! 

Pruning Buddleja's also reduces it's chances of self seeding for those of you that don't want any more plants popping in around the garden!

3. Dahlia's - By now most of us in the UK will have been hit by our first hard frost, ours was last week! If you still have Dahlia's in the ground a sure sign that they've been hit by a frost is that the foliage will have been blackened. If you live in an area of the UK with a slightly warmer climate and well - drained soil then you might be able to get away with leaving the tubers where they are with just a covering of mulch once cut down. 

However if you live further North like myself now is the time to get them lifted! 

If you are wanting to save some for next year cut the stems to 2inches from the base and trim away any thin roots. Lift the tubers from the soil using a fork being careful not to cause any damage. Remove soil from the tuber by hand and store them somewhere cool and dry upside down for a couple of weeks, this allows excess moisture to drain away. Once dry make sure you label your tubers with the variety names and store in a tray or wooden box covered with dry sand or compost leaving only the old flower stalks above the surface. keep them in a cool but frost free space until next year.

Dahlia 'Cafe Au Lait'

4. Plan - Plant companies are sending out their catalogues for next year which is the perfect oppertunity to start planning what you'd like to grow! It's also a good way of still being involved with the garden if you can't actually get outside to be in it due to the weather. It's always a good idea to make a list of what you'd like to grow such as old favourites and new varieties to try for the first time.

5. Leaf Mould - You can find a fuller description of Leaf Mould in the October Checklist but you can still carry on collecting leaves for it throughout this month. It really is worth doing!

6. Bare Root - Whilst the soil is still warm November is a great chance to get bare root plants in the ground and established over the winter. Bareroot plants are often cheaper to buy than containerised plants which is another advantage! Roses, Hedging, Fruit and Trees can all be bought in this form.

Rose 'Champagne Moment'

7.Hardwood Cuttings - This time of year is perfect for taking Hardwood Cuttings of plants such as Climbers, Fruit and Shrubs. You can take this particular form of cuttings between now and late winter aslong as it isn't during a severe frost. For a detailed explanation of how to take these cuttings simply click this link HERE to go to the RHS website.

8. Weeds - It's one of the least enjoyable jobs but it really is a good idea to get on top of weeds before they become established. 

9. Soil - Soil needs a little help at this time of year to keep your plants performing to their best. After you've done some weeding dig in some Leaf Mould or well rotted Garden Compost into your garden borders. You can also apply a 'Mulch' of the above or Composted Bark to the surface of the soil which is atleast 2 to 3 inches thick, be careful not to pile the mulch up against the stems of plants.

10. Displays - Finally why not brighten up a corner with a colourful planting display? 

Here I have made a quick and simple display using two different coloured Cyclamen which will sit next at my front door.

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Here's a few things that you can be getting on with in the garden over the coming week ...

1. Deep Clean  -It's not the most enjoyable of jobs but it really is one of the most worthwhile!
Give the outside of your Greenhouse a good clean to remove any green algae that has built up over the winter months, this will improve the light levels inside which is especially important for the growing season!
Along with this give all of your plant pots, seed trays and plug trays a clean. If left unclean any overwintering pests and diseases could transfer to new plants and seedlings, reducing their quality. Don't forget about the green growth  on the outside of Teracotta pots too!
All you need is some hot soapy water and a stiff brush! This is also a good chance to take stock of what you have / need and also get rid of any pots that you know will never get used!

2. Buddleja  - If you have a Buddleja davidii or B. lindleyana (I have a Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion') growing in your garden it's time to give it a prune! 

It's recommended that you first prune your Buddleja's down in Autumn by a third and then again at this time of year to low growing emerging shoots. Don't worry if you didn't do this is Autumn, you can still prune it down the low height now. The main aim of pruning is Autumn is to reduce the chances of wind rock damage. 

Cutting the shrub down to a low framework allows the shrub to put on a show of fast growing shoots bearing flowers in Summer! If you don't prune the shrub the shoots will soon become out of control with untidy and sub standard branches. 

Don't worry if you don't have time to do this now, you have until the end of April to get this job done but bear in mind the longer you leave it the longer you will have to wait for the flowers. However this tactic can work to your advantage if you have more than one plant, pruning them a few weeks apart will prolong the flowering season of your plants throughout the year.

NOTE - If your plant is from the Buddleja Globosa family DON'T prune it now. 

This particular plant flowers earlier than those mentioned above and on the previous year's wood, it is best to prune these after flowering.

3. February Sowings - There are a few seeds that can be sown over the coming month. I will be waiting another week or so before I start due to light levels but to make sure I can get them going as soon as I am ready I will be doing the following ...

Make a list of the seeds that you have & want that can be sown this month and record the temperatures / conditions that they will need. You will find that some have similar needs to others and will make it easier for you to decide when they should get going and can be started at the same time! 

For example Celery, Tomatoes, Aubergines and Peppers can be started this month but all need a certain amount of heat. Sweet Peas can also be started this month but they prefer cooler conditions to germinate.

4. Wind Rock - I mentioned this particular subject briefly in the Buddleja post but due to the recent windy weather over the past week I thought it best to cover it quickly again. 

If you have done any planting recently they could have been affected, all you need to do is go round and check your newly planted areas and firm them back in to the ground.

5. Soil Warming - If you are planning on sowing direct over the coming weeks it's a good idea to start warming the soil now for it to be ready. Certain crops such as Carrots prefer to be sown direct but they need the soil to be at a certain temperature to germinate. Cover the soil you are planning to use with Cloches or a sheet of black polythene (weighed down at the corners) to begin the process.

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX