Garden notes for November 2025.
All apple and pear trees should be pruned this month. Try to form the tree into a ‘wine glass’ shape to allow maximum light into the centre. Remember to long prune tip bearing varieties. Generally cut back ‘leaders’ by about one-third and prune back side growth.
November is a good month to repair lawns with turves if there is a need. It is also the best month to plant bare root fruiting trees and flowering trees in the garden, such as Japanese cherries, flowering crab apples and so on. If you are considering planting a new hedge, now is the time to do it.
Much is written about composting, whole books have been devoted to it. Usually they depend on time for the material to rot down satisfactorily, but in most modern gardens there is not enough space for this. Two things to consider. Compost depends on having a good mix of nitrogen (from grass cuttings etc) and carbon (from twigs, stems and ash from fires). Always make certain the heap gets a bit of both. Second, bacteria love granulated fertiliser, the cheapest and best is ‘Growmore’. Sprinkle a bit of this on every two or 3 inches of the heap and you will get a faster decomposition. Any animal manure that can be left for at least 2 months is also a very good accelerator.
Grass mowers should be kept under cover, and maintained so that they will be in good working order for the spring when the grass starts growing again. Tools, such as spades, forks, shears and so on, should be cleaned and oiled to prevent rusting. It is worth getting shears sharpened as they do become blunted with use during the spring and summer.
If you have a sheltered and well drained plot, now is the time to sow winter broad beans such as Aquadulce. Early broad beans often escape the blackfly attacks on the growth tips of the plant in spring.
Provided the weather is suitable keep digging the ground for good crops next year. Where possible double dig in farm yard manure, or well rotted compost from your own compost bin.
Roots of outdoor chrysthantemums should labelled, lifted and put in a cold frame for the winter. If a cold frame is not available they can be kept under the shelter of a wall and protected with garden fleece.
November is perfect for planting tulips, as cooler soil reduces the risk of tulip fire – a fungal disease caused by planting too early. Whether filling borders or pots, choose a sunny spot with free-draining soil to ensure a vibrant spring display.
Start garlic and overwintering onions, now’s the time to plant garlic, which needs cold weather to form strong cloves. Use well-drained soil in a sunny spot, avoiding soggy ground. Overwintering onions and shallots can also go in – especially in milder areas or under cloches – to establish before spring.
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Notes-20251207.pdf
