As the colder days and longer nights set in, November marks a crucial period for garden maintenance. Preparing your garden now can make all the difference for a healthy landscape come spring. From caring for trees and shrubs to protecting perennials, tackling lawn care, and creating winter havens for wildlife, there’s plenty to focus on. This guide provides essential tips on how to prepare your garden throughout November, ensuring it stays strong and beautiful through the winter months.
Caring for Trees and Shrubs
November is an excellent time to take stock of your trees and shrubs. With many plants entering dormancy, this month is ideal for light pruning to shape trees and remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches that could break under the weight of snow or ice.
While deciduous trees have mostly lost their leaves by now, evergreen trees and shrubs will benefit from a protective layer of mulch around the base to insulate their roots against the cold.
Consider also planting bare-root trees and shrubs, as this month’s cooler weather allows their roots to establish before the harshness of winter.
Adding a layer of organic mulch can help retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature, ensuring a stable environment for new plants.
Tip: If you have fruit trees, make sure to clear away any fallen fruit to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering.
Protecting Perennials and Beds
November is a critical time to prepare perennials for winter. Begin by cutting back any spent foliage and flowers, as leaving dead growth can harbor pests and diseases.
While some perennials will naturally die back, they’ll benefit from a layer of mulch or compost over the soil surface, which will insulate their roots during frosty nights.
For tender perennials that won’t survive a hard freeze, consider digging them up and moving them to a frost-free area, such as a greenhouse or a protected spot indoors.
Alternatively, provide frost covers for added protection. If you have any empty vegetable beds, apply a thick layer of compost or well-rotted manure, which will enrich the soil over winter, preparing it for spring planting.
Tip: Leaving some perennials like sedum or echinacea untrimmed through winter not only adds structure but also provides a food source for wildlife.
Lawn Care in November
Lawns also require attention this month to keep them healthy and vibrant. Rake up any remaining leaves, as a layer of decaying leaves can block light and air from reaching your grass, encouraging mold and moss growth.
November is also a good time to aerate the lawn if the soil is compacted. Aeration allows water, air, and nutrients to penetrate the soil, promoting root growth and a healthier lawn come spring.
Avoid mowing as the grass growth slows down, but ensure the final cut of the season is a little higher than usual to protect the roots from frost. For additional care, apply an autumn lawn feed to provide nutrients and improve root resilience over winter.
Tip: If you’re noticing patches of moss or disease in the lawn, take steps now to treat it, so it doesn’t spread further over the winter.
Garden Tidy-Up for Winter
A good November garden tidy-up can make all the difference in preventing pests and diseases from taking hold during the winter. Clear out any old annuals, dead plants, and leftover vegetables, as these can harbor unwanted pests.
Empty and clean your plant pots and containers, storing them in a frost-free space to protect them from cracking in the cold.
Your garden furniture and tools will also benefit from winter storage or weatherproof coverings. Clean and oil your tools before storing them away to prevent rust. Don’t forget to cover outdoor taps and drain hoses to protect them from freezing temperatures.
Tip: Use any fallen leaves to create leaf mold by placing them in a pile or bag and letting them decompose over the winter. Leaf mold is a fantastic soil conditioner and can be used in the garden next year.
Creating a Winter Refuge for Wildlife
November is a tough time for garden wildlife, but with a few simple steps, you can make your garden a welcoming sanctuary.
Set up bird feeders stocked with high-energy foods like seeds, nuts, and suet, which will help sustain local birds through the colder months. Clean birdbaths and keep them filled with fresh water, ensuring they don’t freeze over in frosty weather.
Leaving a small area of your garden untouched—such as a pile of logs, leaves, or rocks—can provide essential shelter for insects and small mammals. Hedgehogs, for example, will appreciate a cozy spot for hibernation, while many insects find winter refuge in piles of leaves.
Tip: If you have a pond, place a tennis ball on the water’s surface to prevent it from freezing entirely, providing a lifeline for wildlife throughout the winter.
Maintaining Your Vegetable Garden
Even though the growing season has ended, November is still an active time for the vegetable garden. Harvest any remaining crops, such as carrots, leeks, or cabbages, before the first frost, and clear away old plants and debris. Composting this organic material will add nutrients back into your soil over time.
Now is also the time to plant garlic, onions, and shallots. These hardy crops can be sown in late autumn to establish their roots over winter, ready for an early harvest next summer.
After planting, cover your vegetable beds with a thick layer of mulch or compost to protect the soil structure from winter weather and prevent weed growth.
Tip: Use fleece or cloches to protect young plants or winter greens from frost.
Planning for Spring
While November is all about preparing your garden for winter, it’s also a fantastic time to plan for spring. Think about what you’d like to see blooming next year and consider planting spring bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, and crocuses. Bulbs planted now will have enough time to develop roots and burst into color as soon as the warmer weather arrives.
If you’re considering garden design changes, winter is an ideal time to think about layout, plant selection, and landscaping ideas. For larger projects, consider getting advice from a professional gardening service, like All Seasons Garden Maintenance, who can help you turn your vision into reality.
Tip: For a beautifully coordinated spring garden, plant bulbs in layers to create continuous flowering displays over several weeks.
Partner with All Seasons Garden Maintenance
Caring for your garden in November is about setting the stage for winter while giving your plants, lawn, and local wildlife the best possible chance to thrive through the colder months.
If you need help with garden care, pruning, lawn care, or planning for spring, All Seasons Garden Maintenance offers comprehensive, year-round services to keep your outdoor space healthy and beautiful.
Based in Epsom and covering a 25-mile radius, including areas like Ewell, Ashtead, and Leatherhead, our team has the expertise to handle all aspects of garden maintenance and care, customized to meet the needs of your unique space. Contact us today to find out more about how we can support you and your garden throughout the year!
