What to do during November in your garden and greenhouse.

Your monthly gardening checklists

Flowers

  • Plant tulip bulbs in pots and borders, covering them with at least twice their depth of soil or compost
  • Lift dahlia tubers after the first frost, clean them off and store in dry compost in a cool, frost-proof place
  • Send off for seed catalogues and start planning what to grow next year
  • Plant bare-root hedging, roses, trees and shrubs, before the weather turns really cold.
  • Clear faded sweet peas, morning glory, thunbergia and other annual climbers from their supports
  • Cut down faded perennials that are looking tatty, then mulch the surrounding soil with garden compost
  • Plant a Japanese maple in a pot and place in a sheltered spot in semi-shade
  • Gather up and bin the fallen leaves of roses affected by black spot, so they don't carry the disease over to next year
  • Move containers of alpine plants under cover to shelter them from winter rain
  • Replenish gravel mulch around alpines to keep the foliage clear of damp soil, which can cause rotting
  • Protect plants that are borderline hardy, such as agapanthus, with a thick mulch of straw or garden compost
  • Put stem protection guards around young trees and shrubs, if rabbits are a problem
  • Sow seeds from berry-laden trees and shrubs

Protect agapanthus from frost

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Fruit and veg

More winter veg growing advice.

Protect onions, garlic and shallots with fleece

Greenhouse

  • Insulate the greenhouse walls and roof with bubble polythene
  • Make sure all tender plants are safely under cover and kept frost free
  • Propagate perennials, including phlox, oriental poppies and verbascums, by taking root cuttings
  • Sow leafy crops such as rocket into small seed trays on a warm sunny windowsill, for winter pickings
  • Check greenhouse plants regularly for overwintering pests
  • Scrub down greenhouse staging, glazing and the framework with disinfectant
  • Water indoor pots of spring bulbs frequently so they never dry out
  • Wash out all empty pots and trays and store neatly under greenhouse staging, ready for use in spring
  • Bring potted herbs, such as parsley and chives, indoors to continue cropping into winter
  • Monitor greenhouse temperatures with a max-min thermometer and turn on heating if needed
  • Avoid splashing foliage when watering, as it will dry slowly in cool weather and fungal diseases may set in
  • Clear out faded tomato and cucumber plants from the greenhouse and add to the compost heap

Bubble wrap makes excellent insulation for greehouses

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House plants

Give bird feeders a good clean

Offers

Thyme Walk, The Carpet Garden, Highgrove‘s shop
Travel and events

Join Alan at Highrove

BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine is thrilled to invite you to an exclusive event with GW favourite Alan Titchmarsh at Highgrove Gardens on Tuesday 14 October from 3.15pm

Gardening offers
Thompson & Morgan logo

30 winter-flowering pansies

This collection of pretty pansies will provide a welcome splash of winter colour in borders and containers, whatever the weather. These three top-selling varieties will flower in winter while most other plants are dormant.
££24.95

*Just pay £5.95 postage. Supplied as 30 x plug plants, approx. 3-6cm high.

Travel and events
BBC Gardeners' World Magazine logo

BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair 29-31 August, Audley End, Essex

Enjoy the perfect seasonal day out with talks hosted by the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team, experts, garden inspiration, shopping, entertainment, and more. Extend the gardening season in style.
From£19.13

Early Bird 15% offers are valid on adult/over 65s standard entry tickets only. Not valid on 1:30pm tickets, added extras, English Heritage member tickets or with any other offer. Offer ends 23:59 on 14 July. £3.95 transaction fee per e-ticket order. From £19.13 refers to 15% off a standard 10am entry adult ticket on a Sunday. £3.95 transaction fee per e-ticket order

use code: GWC1

Garden maintenance

  • Check bonfires carefully before lighting to make sure no hedgehogs or other wildlife are sheltering inside
  • Continue to mow the lawn in mild spells if the grass is still growing, but raise the height of the blades
  • Collect fallen leaves and place in bin bags, then leave to decompose into leaf mould
  • Look after garden wildlife as winter approaches, by providing additional food and shelter
  • Move wormeries under cover for the winter
  • Chop up any faded bedding plants, annuals and old crops, and add to the compost bin
  • Start pruning free-standing apple and pear trees once dormant, to control their size and encourage fruiting
  • Repair fences and trellis now they're becoming free of foliage
  • Remove pond pumps and fountains to prevent ice damage when temperatures fall below freezing
  • Wrap bubble polythene or hessian around pots to protect from frost damage and to insulate vulnerable plant roots
  • Put waterproof covers over any garden furniture that you can't take indoors over winter
  • Wrap insulating foam around outdoor taps and pipes
  • Clean out and scrub bird feeders regularly to maintain hygiene