Top 3 Must-Do Jobs during November 

November marks the definitive transition from autumn’s golden glow to the stark structure of winter. While the pace in the garden slows down, there are crucial tasks to complete now that will set the stage for a glorious spring and keep your plants protected from the worst of the coming cold.

Here are the top three essential jobs to tackle in your garden this November.

1. Get Those Spring Bulbs Planted!

November is arguably the most important month for planting spring-flowering bulbs, especially Tulips.

• Plant Tulips (Now is the perfect time): Delaying tulip planting until November (or even early December) helps protect the bulbs from a fungal disease called tulip fire. Plant them deep—about three times the bulb’s height—in well-drained soil or compost. For a stunning display, try ‘lasagne planting’ in pots, layering different bulbs (like daffodils first, then tulips, then crocuses) according to their flowering time.

• Finish off Daffodils and Others: If you still have Daffodils, Crocuses, Hyacinths, or Alliums that haven’t made it into the ground, plant them as soon as possible. The soil is still relatively warm, allowing them to establish a good root system before the deep freeze sets in.

2. Protect and Prepare for Frost

With the threat of the first hard frosts, it’s vital to secure and insulate your vulnerable plants and garden features.

• Move or Protect Tender Plants: Any plants that can’t tolerate freezing temperatures (tender perennials like Dahlias, Begonias, and some container-grown herbs) should be moved indoors to a greenhouse, shed, or conservatory. If they’re too big to move, wrap their pots with bubble wrap or hessian to insulate the roots.

• Raise Pots Off the Ground: To prevent containers from becoming waterlogged and freezing solid (which can crack terracotta and damage roots), raise them slightly using pot feet or bricks. This allows water to drain away freely.

• Prune Roses to Prevent “Wind Rock”: Taller hybrid tea and floribunda roses are vulnerable to strong November winds, which can loosen the roots, a phenomenon known as “wind rock.” Give them a light prune now, cutting the stems back by about a third, to make them more secure. Save the proper, harder pruning for late winter/early spring.

3. Clear Leaves and Make Leaf Mould

Fallen leaves are an abundant resource, but if left lying around, they can smother your lawn and harbor slugs and disease.

• Rake Leaves Off Lawns and Ponds: Leaves left on the grass will block light, causing the grass underneath to die. Gently rake them up. Similarly, clear leaves from ponds to prevent them from sinking, decomposing, and polluting the water, which can harm wildlife.

• Start Making Leaf Mould: Don’t just bag up your leaves and throw them away! Leaf mould is a gardener’s “black gold”—a fantastic, free soil conditioner. Simply bag the leaves in black bin bags (pierce a few drainage holes) or pile them into a chicken wire cage and let them rot down for 6-12 months. This is one of the easiest, most beneficial things you can do for your soil.

By focusing on these three key areas—planting, protection, and tidying—you’ll be making the most of a quieter time in the garden, ensuring everything is snug and ready for the spectacular arrival of spring colour.