Jobs to do in the garden in November – 5 ways to get your garden in shape before winter arrives

We're fast approaching the end of autumn, and there are still plenty of jobs to do in the garden in November if you've found yourself twiddling your green thumbs this month.

If you're wondering how to get your garden ready for winter, now is the perfect time to get cracking, whether you're overwintering your tender perennials or sowing seeds for early spring harvests.

It's also a good time to learn how to clean a greenhouse, oil your tools and throw away anything equipment that's beyond repair.

What about the other key jobs to do in the garden in November? We've rounded up the most important tasks to add to your list this month.

1. Plant fruit and vegetables

Believe it or not, there's a long list of fruit and veg you can plant and sow this month, and if you go for the best fruit and vegetables to plant in November, you'll enjoy early spring harvests and even winter pickings. It's easily one of the most rewarding November gardening tasks.

November is a popular month for planting fruit bushes like blueberries and gooseberries, so get those in the ground before it freezes over. You can also plant fruit trees this month, so it's a great time to finally learn how to plant bare root trees.

As for vegetables that grow in the winter, broad beans, peas and winter lettuce are all fantastic options if you pick suitable varieties. As always, check the instructions on the seed packet before buying. Pea 'Meteor' seeds, available at Thompson & Morgan, are a popular option for autumn sowing that'll bag you early spring harvests.

2. Prune the right plants

There are also a lot of plants to prune in November thanks to the cooler temperatures and some plants entering their dormancy period this month. In fact, pruning is one of the most popular jobs to do in the garden in November.

Apple and pear trees, herbaceous perennials and acers are just some of the plants you can prune this month to tidy them up and encourage healthy growth in the spring.

There are certain plants you should avoid pruning in November, though. 'For evergreen plants, hold off on pruning until March or April when the risk of frost has passed,' advises Morris Hankinson, managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries. 'Evergreens need their foliage for protection and are best left undisturbed through winter.'

Nevertheless, November is a great time to learn how to sharpen secateurs and start cleaning your garden tools ready for next year.

In need of some new secateurs? Try these:

3. Prepare your lawn for winter

If you're wondering when to stop cutting grass for winter or whether you should cut grass in November, make sure you schedule in your final mow of the year before temperatures drop and the first frosts arrive. If you're wondering when the first frost in your area is, it's a good idea to check in with your weather apps and plan ahead.

It's also a good idea to follow other game-changing lawn care tips like learning how to aerate a lawn to reduce waterlogging over the winter.

'Aeration is key,' says Tom Clamp, head of technical at premium garden care product manufacturers Doff. 'Making small holes in compacted areas allows air, water and nutrients to penetrate the soil more effectively.'

Tom also recommends giving your lawn a winter feed to strengthen it ahead of the colder weather. 'Winter-specific fertilisers contain less nitrogen, reducing the risk of soft growth that’s vulnerable to winter conditions,' he says.

'These fertilisers focus on building strong roots with phosphorus and enhancing cold resistance with potassium. Some also include trace elements like iron, which keeps your lawn looking green even in colder weather.'

4. Protect tender plants

Overwintering prep is one of the most crucial jobs to do in the garden in November, and with the first frosts on the horizon, you should be putting protection measures in place sooner rather than later.

Leaving it too late is one of the most common overwintering mistakes, so if you want to save your plants from frostbite, bring tender varieties inside now. You could also learn how to protect plants with mulch, like Strulch from Amazon, or invest in one of the best plant covers on the market to help your plants survive the winter months.

5. Refresh your borders

November is a great time to revamp your garden border ideas by digging out perennials and rearranging them.

Ensuring you don't let the roots dry, lift out the perennials and place them on some newspaper on the lawn. Then rearrange the plants, mimicking how they'll be positioned in the border, and take care that taller plants stay towards the back.

Weed the border as you go and lift any self-sown seedlings, replanting them if you wish. Finally, add a layer of mulch like bark or well-rotted organic matter to feed the soil and suppress weeds.

On the subject of mulching, adding a layer of organic matter or sowing green manures in vegetable beds and borders is a great way to prepare your soil for winter, because it enriches the earth with fresh nutrients, ready for next spring.

FAQs

Can you sow a lawn in November?

If you're wondering when to overseed a lawn, you might have missed the window. Temperatures begin to decline this month, meaning germination rates are lower than than would have been earlier in the season. That means it's better to wait until next year to learn how to overseed a lawn.

Can I cut my hedge in November

With so much advice out there, working out the best time to cut hedges can be a challenge. Generally, it's safe to prune hedges in November, because we've passed the nesting season. But, as always, double check the guidance for the particular hedge you're growing, as trimming the plants you should never prune in November can damage their health and even stunt future growth.

Which November gardening tasks will you be adding to your to-do-list?