Garden Diary

November Garden Diary

Cold nights and shorter days tell us winter is approaching, but there is still plenty to do in the garden. November is a good month to tidy, improve the soil and take stock of how plants and lawns have responded to an exceptionally dry year. A little work now can make a significant difference when growth returns next spring.

Beds and Borders

Clear fallen leaves and remove dead or diseased growth, while leaving some seed heads and healthy stems to provide winter interest and shelter for wildlife.

Large clumps of established perennials can be divided and replanted, giving them an opportunity to establish before next year. Improving the planting area with compost or well-rotted organic matter will also help soil structure and moisture retention following the prolonged dry conditions.

Continue collecting leaves from borders where they are smothering smaller plants or creating hiding places for slugs and snails.

Patio Tubs and Baskets

Winter doesn't have to mean empty containers. Winter pansies, cyclamen, heathers, evergreen foliage and variegated ivy can provide colour and interest until spring bulbs begin to emerge.

Check pots are draining freely and raise containers slightly where necessary to prevent them sitting in water during prolonged wet weather. November is also a useful opportunity to clean patios, paths and other hard surfaces before winter algae and moss become established.

Lawn Care

This autumn has revealed just how differently lawns have responded to the drought.

Some are looking remarkably good, particularly where regular feeding, aeration, scarification and sensible mowing have helped maintain healthy grass and soil.

Others have regained their colour but remain thin and patchy, while some still have areas where grass has been lost completely.

We are also seeing fresh weed growth appearing in areas opened up by the drought. Bare soil provides an opportunity for weed seeds as well as grass seed to germinate, so simply waiting and hoping every patch will fill naturally may not give the result you want.

At Greener Gardens, we look at why a lawn has struggled before deciding what it needs. Thatch, compaction, poor soil, drought damage and grass density can all influence recovery.

And a tired lawn doesn't necessarily need replacing.

Renovating an existing lawn can often be a more practical and cost-effective solution than starting again. November is also the time to start thinking ahead. We are now taking enquiries for our spring lawn renovation programme, and securing a slot early means the work can be planned for the right growing conditions rather than waiting until the lawn becomes a problem next year.

If you're unsure whether your lawn will recover naturally, needs renovation or simply needs better ongoing care, contact Greener Gardens. We'll assess its condition and explain the most appropriate way forward.

Keep fallen leaves off lawns through winter and continue mowing on a higher setting whenever conditions allow and the grass is still growing.

Grow Your Own

Improve empty vegetable beds by adding well-rotted compost or organic matter. This helps replenish nutrients while improving soil structure and its ability to retain moisture for next season.

Garden Diary is written by John Draper of Greener Gardens, your local independent BASIS Lawn Assured specialist and past Chairman of the UK Lawn Care Association.