The leaves that are still clinging to the trees will be falling this month leaving the skeleton of the garden on display. The days are shortening and the temperature is dropping. But just think of those bright cold sunny days when the air is so fresh and the light is like no other time of the year…. see…not all bad. You won’t be chasing your gardening tail this month but there are still plenty of things to be doing and if planting is on your list this could be a very busy month indeed!
- Now is a great time to take root cuttings and it’s a perfect way to increase numbers of oriental poppies.
- Finish planting tulip bulbs.
- Give the birds a helping hand, feed them and why not try making some nesting pockets.
- Prune rambling roses if you haven’t already done so.
- Now is the perfect time for planting trees and shrubs or transplanting plants that are in the wrong place.
- Clear away sweet peas and think of the varieties you might like to grow next year.
- Plant up pots to provide a colourful winter display. I always like to have a pot by the door to cheer things up even on the dullest day.
- Carry on raking up leaves, don’t worry about the ones in borders just remove those on lawns and those that have fallen on evergreen plants.
- It’s up to you as to how much of a tidy up you have before winter, some people like to go on a tidying frenzy chopping down perennials and clearing everything away. I take a more laid back approach, leaving the perennials that still have a clear structure to stand proud in their skeletal form over winter. Not only do they look stunning with a heavy frost on them but they also provide shelter for wildlife.
- Where there is bare soil it is always worth while applying a thick layer of mulch before the ground gets very cold.
