November Gardens

November gardens can be a chilly place!

In early November you’ll still find some autumn coloured leaves on trees waiting to be blown off in a gust of wind. Late flowers like Chrysanthemums and Nerines and the odd Rose or Hesperantha still provide us with a little colour, and winter berries are hanging on until the birds eat them all! Later on the onset of winter will become more apparent in your November garden with low clouds bringing rain and fog and all round dampness. It may not be that cold but winds can make it feel colder and, of course, we’ll start to see more frequent evening frosts.

Tidying up is still high on the agenda in your November garden. With leaves still falling you can gather them up to make leaf mould for next year. Your lawn and most plants will suffer if leaves are not collected as they need all the sunlight they can get to stay healthy – if they’re not moved lying leaves can block out the light and in some cases covered plants will suffer from dieback. Also, clear away old stems and dead foliage to make everywhere look tidier; this also prevents slugs and snails settling it to a new home.

You’ll need to bring your non-frost-proof pots and tender plants inside if you don’t have a greenhouse or cold frame to insulate them. If they are too heavy to move wrap pots with hessian or bubble wrap and any plant pots you can move do so – huddle them all together near a house wall preferably south facing which will retain the sun’s warmth. Don’t forget to remove any saucers if you’ve not already done so and lift any pots off the ground by using decorative feet or similar; this provides better drainage and stops the plants getting waterlogged.

November is a great month to plant new trees, shrubs and roses and if you’ve been thinking about wanting to move any around your garden – now is the time. Remember any you do move will need to have as much soil kept on the roots as is possible and make sure they have a really good watering in and lots of organic mulch on the top. If they are large plants make sure you stake them and keep them well watered.

For something different consider converting part of your flower or pleasure garden into a productive area – if care is taken with the design and choice of vegetables they can look really lovely. It might seem like quite a big project but by doing it this month you will be ready for spring. Make sure you can get around all sides of your vegetable beds and that they’re no wider than 1.2m so you can reach everywhere without treading on the soil!

November Garden Jobs

In terms of houseplants:

October Gardens

October gardens tend to see a drop in temperatures, night frosts and an increase of winds blowing the rich autumn-coloured leaves from trees. This month the growing season comes to a close but there are still plenty of jobs to be done in and around your October garden which frankly, is a busy place! There are still often flowers to give attention to, garden hygiene to get under control, crops to harvest and planning and planting for next year all to fit into your garden schedule.

Don’t worry about clearing every seed head or dying herb stems before winter sets in unless you want your garden to be super tidy, seed heads with frost or moisture from a misty start to the day can be very aesthetically pleasing as well as providing beneficial insects such as ladybirds and lacewings shelter to hibernate. Leaving spent seed heads and stems also gives some plants an added layer of protection through the cold and frosty months.

If you have established perennials that have been untouched for a number of years it’s a good idea to divide them now as they head into dormancy; it will give them new vigour and they’ll put on a better show for you next year. Geraniums and Japanese anemones are ideal to divide now, dig them up carefully and use two forks back to back to lever apart, do this a few times and then replant all the smaller plants not forgetting well-rotted compost or manure to help them along.

Sedums (Hylotelephium) are great for dividing now – simply cut all the growth off, dig them up and then using your spade divide the root into sections and replant. Remember to give them a good watering too! Destroy all leaves off your Hosta plants as they very quickly turn mushy and diseased, if you don’t destroy them the spores will over-winter in your garden. Don’t put them in your compost either; destroy them it’s the best way!

Very soon leaves will be everywhere so make the most of them, rake them up and store them either in a chicken wire container held in place using four stakes in the ground or in black bin bags. If you opt for bin bags make sure that the leaves are damp and that you punch your garden fork into the bag a few times to create air holes. Store them in a hidden corner in your garden and after a year the leaves will make a fantastic soil conditioner or mulch and after two years they make potting compost or top dressing for lawns after being sieved – all for free!

October garden jobs

Changing daylight hours will mean that you're up against it in terms of timings before the winter really hits us but this is often a beautiful time of year too with soft autumnal lighting and spectacular leaf colour to fill your senses.

Jobs for this month include:

September Gardens

lawn with water rill and pond reflecting clouds

During September you start to notice the nights beginning to draw in which always means less time to spend working, entertaining or just relaxing outdoors! That said though it’s still a good time to be doing jobs outside. It can also be a time for gales, so be prepared: ensure your plants, shrubs and trees are staked properly to avoid them getting damaged.

This is a great time to take cuttings from tender plants like fuchsias, harvest your fruit and veg, and go on, sprinkle a little TLC on your lawn!!

September is often considered ‘lawn care month’, a time when we reinvigorate them for next year by removing thatch, aerating and applying a top dressing. So, for those of you doing this for the first time here’s a quick guide how to do just that and have a fabulous lawn next year!

Removing Thatch

Thatch is basically moss and dead grass and by removing it, it increases air movement and drainage around your lawn which in turn helps to discourage the re-growth of moss. You can remove it either by using a rake or a powered scarifier. If you use a rake, beware it is hard work and pretty tough on your back. Be warned though, your lawn will look pretty awful after doing this but it won’t take long to recover!

Aerate

Your lawn needs to breathe and the more we walk on our lawns the more compacted it will become. All you need to do is push your garden fork into the ground about 6-7 inches deep and about 9 inches apart. This isn’t too bad a job (albeit a bit boring!) but if you have a big lawn you may want to consider hiring a machine to do this for you.

Top Dress

This job needs to be done as soon as you have aerated the lawn i.e. while the holes are still open. A tried and tested recipe is: three parts of sieved garden soil mixed with two parts of sharp sand and one part of garden compost.

Now sprinkle half - to a full inch of the mix onto the lawn and using a stiff brush or a broom spread it all over. This is to renew the upper soil layer. Again beware; your lawn will look really awful for a few weeks but the grass does grow though the soil again and will thank you for the TLC! Trust us!!

September Garden Jobs

As the nights start to draw in September usually sees gardeners working quick time to make the most of this super-busy month.

While there are still flowers to deadhead and plenty to harvest in the vegetable plot it is also a time of preparation. There are bulbs to plant to ensure a gorgeous display next spring. There are repairs to furniture and structures to do before the worst of the winter weather hits us. It's one of the busiest months in the gardeners' diary, and apart from looking after your lawn here are some other jobs to keep you going!

August Gardens

yellow rudbeckias typical august flowers

The top priority for your August garden is usually to just sit back, relax and enjoy your garden and who are we to say anything otherwise? Go on, get out there and enjoy it before the weather changes for good!

Traditionally, this is the holiday month so if you are managing to be away this year remember to arrange for a neighbour/friends/family to pop round to keep an eye on plants for you. You’ll need to ask them to pick the fruit and veg that has ripened on any edible plants or it will spoil what is left still growing.

Containers and hanging baskets will need watering so consider drip feed irrigation systems if family and friends can't step in for you while you're away.

Indoor plants do need to be watered this time of year so if you can’t leave your key with anyone sink the pots in the soil in a shady area where they won’t dry out so quickly.

August can also bring with it lots of thunderstorms and heavy downpours which is great for cleaning the leaves of trees, shrubs and hostas and bringing the lawn back to it’s lush green colour. Make sure that your water butts are at the ready and delicate plants are supported to prevent possible damage.

August Garden Jobs

There have been some major growth spurts going on in our gardens this year and one of the biggest problems for gardeners is to make sure things don't get too much out of hand. As ever deadheading is the order of the day for August along with watering. Don't forget to try to water late afternoon or evening if possible, avoiding the heat of the day (although roses do prefer a morning drink!). Some summer pruning is also on the cards to help keep things under control along with the usual August jobs:

July Gardens

orange heleniums typical July flowers in the garden

There are always some things in the garden that you'd do differently, and your July garden is often a good time to spot those difficult patches. Make a note of the changes that you'd like to make and take photos to help your memory so that when you do come to make changes later in the season it'll be an easier job.

Pests are usually rampant this month with aphids, particularly greenfly and blackfly multiplying fast. It's time to get the ladybirds into your garden for a sumptuous feast and if you haven't built a ladybird home yet it's a great thing to do with children. All you need is some lengths of hollow bamboo bundled together with either string or bunched inside a plant pot or something like a catering size coffee tin. Putting them inside something ensures the canes don't become a wind tunnel and if you've tied them up without putting them inside something do make sure one end of the canes are blocked up with something. Another way of providing insect homes is to drill some holes into one end of a log. Ladybirds and other insects will thank you for providing them with safe harbour to either lay eggs or to hibernate.

Managing pests and diseases is especially important in your fruit garden to help keep fruits healthy and with the hoped for sunshine also comes a plethora of weeds. Keep them under control in order to give your flowers, fruit and vegetable plants room to grow without too much competition.

July Garden Jobs

With summer well underway here is the job list for July, which includes…

June Gardens

blue geraniums typical June flowers in the garden

This is the time we usually get to relax and enjoy our gardens with the first vegetables ready to harvest, flowers in full bloom and long summer nights to appreciate our hard work! We have hurtled into June already enjoying lovely balmy evenings but this month the scent that June is reknowned for should really start taking over.

Make sure that plants in greenhouses, conservatories and windowsills get some good ventilation and shading protection too to make sure they’re not scorched.

It's still not too late to do the 'Chelsea chop' on parts of some of your late flowering perennials - doing this will help stagger and prolong their flowering period. Early flowering perennials like geraniums can also benefit from the Chelsea chop they'll reward you with a second flush of flowers later in the summer.

Try to keep up good garden hygiene by deadheading when you can. And slugs, snails, aphids, greenfly and blackfly, to name but a few, are really active at this time of year so keep your eyes open and deal with them at the first signs of activity which normally works in most cases.

Although it would be lovely to say you have nothing to do now, it’s not true; there are still lots of routine jobs that need doing to keep your garden looking vibrant.

June Garden Jobs

June is a prolific time in our gardens and while it's usually a great time to break out that well deserved drink to help us savour the warm, scented evenings there are also lots and lots of jobs to be getting on with this month.

Just in case you're not sure where to begin, here's a list to get you started:

May Gardens

Hints of summer should be on its way this month with warmer and longer days. With the wet winter we've had everything seems to have exploded - not only the plants but also pests are out with a vengeance. Our May gardens are starting to inject more colour and vibrancy into our outdoor spaces with flowers coming into bloom thick and fast.

Tulips are already up and gracing us with their presence, remember though that there is still a chance of an occasional frost so be ready to cover tender plants. New shoots found on plants like hostas are tender too and will need protection from cold winds and late frosts – have newspapers or fleeces ready and hold them down with large stones over night if the forecast is for cold.

Lawns usually need to be mown twice a week in May and don't forget to cut on a high setting, especially if your grass is damp. Going too short too early will damage your lawn. Take care not to cut the grass where bulbs are flowering too if possible. As soon as the leaves begin to turn yellow and die back that is a sign for you to cut your grass over bulbs. Leaves are a very important source of energy for next year’s bulb displays!

Shelter your hanging baskets in a corner during the day inside or on top of a big pot and put them inside overnight until the threat of frost has gone. Spring flowering containers will usually be starting to fade towards the end of May but some might last into June this year. When they have gone over throw out those annuals and replace them with new plants you have sown yourself or bought elsewhere.

May Garden Jobs

Every month brings with it a list of jobs that need doing in the garden and May is no exception! This is a busy time of year generally. Your garden will benefit from TLC this month to give it the best chance of performing well for you during the summer months. Some May garden jobs for that list of yours…

April Gardens

April usually brings with it an injection of colour in our gardens, the spring bulbs are usually out in force, other plant leaves are unfurling and trees are often awash with blossom at this time of year making it feel as though life is most definitely stirring! The birds are usually singing, insects are usually starting to show themselves and often the bees are out making the most of the early nectar from the spring flowers.

Keep your eyes open for any pests like slugs and snails and the dreaded vine weevil.

Chances are you've been reticent about getting tender plants or seedlings outside but if you have ventured out take care still as frosts can still damage them so have some horticultural fleece or even an old newspaper at the ready to cover them during those colder nights. If you don't have either and can bring them indoors remember to take them back out the next day.

Spring is a great time for scent in the garden and if you don't have anything now is the perfect time to go out and buy yourself something that will add another dimension to your garden at this time of the year. Some to consider are, for example, Viburnum, Philadelphus, Wisteria and Magnolias but be sure to double check before you buy because not every variety of these plants has a scent.

If you have a vegetable garden you'll be a busy bee making sure the ground is prepared and heated sufficiently enough to plant those tender seedlings that will hopefully produce an abundance of tasty treats for you later in the year! Remember though the trick is to sow seeds every few weeks or so to make sure you get an ongoing supply of produce that you can cope with rather than being inundated with things like courgettes…yes, we've all done it with courgettes!!

April Garden Jobs

Some of the jobs that can be done in your garden this month are:

March Gardens

This month we should start to notice the sun warming up, the grass starting to grow and of course the early spring bulbs will be gracing us with their presence brightening up our borders and generally making us smile! The weather though this month can be changeable so don’t be tempted to remove any protective fleeces on your planted out tender plants. And for any you've stored under cover over winter, we can still have some sharp frosts so you may need to keep them safe until the threat of frosts has passed.

With the sun’s warmth getting stronger though the germination of weeds will begin in earnest now so it is really important to hoe them out. Any perennial weeds will need to be dug out now before they really start to take hold. Applying mulch to the soil this time of year is good because it will keep all the moisture in and cut down on the amount of weeds germinating.

Roses will need some attention this month too, if you didn’t prune in the autumn now is the time to do it before new growth is well developed. Also willows and dogwoods will need some attention so they are looking their best for the autumn and winter displays we like so much.

This month pests and diseases in the garden really start to get going so it is vital to keep on top of them. If you are normally a chemical user then consider giving biological controls a try this year, slugs and snails can be greatly reduced by watering a particular nematode into the borders two or three times a year. In the greenhouse keep your eyes open for aphids, red spider mite and whiteflies as the temperatures begin to rise and biological controls can all work for them too.

March Garden Jobs

February Gardens

February is usually a cold month and can often be colder than January, but it looks to be another year of changeable weather for us - very wet and unseasonably mild.

This month we really start to notice the days getting that little bit longer and there are often a few sunny days to look forward to too! The warmer days can tempt us outside but don’t be fooled there's still a likelihood of cold winds, heavy frosts and maybe even a sprinkling of snow so remember, early sowing of seeds and planting out may lead to disappointment!

On those days warm enough to get outside and enjoy you’ll be able to see signs of life beginning to stir in and around your garden! Snowdrops and crocuses are already up and flowering in many areas and even the daffodils have made an appearance making everywhere look so much brighter and cheerier! We're already seeing them peeping through in many of our client's gardens here in Kenilworth and Warwickshire.

This month is a really great time to prune trees, roses, shrubs and climbers that are due to be cut back in late winter. Buds are already appearing on many plants and it’s best to finish the winter pruning just before the spring time growth spurt really begins so sooner rather than later is the mantra for this year so far!

Take a walk around the garden on a warmer day and check that your recently planted trees and shrubs haven’t been lifted by the frost or strong winds (known as wind rock). If they have, gently firm them in – those that have been planted the previous year should have had plenty of time to grow out from their root balls.

Last month we mentioned planning what you wanted to do in your garden this year, whether it was making a new veggie bed, to moving or dividing plants through to re-designing part or the entire garden. So, if you are considering having a new veggie bed now is the time to plan for it and a few questions to ask yourself are:

Once you’ve answered those questions it’s time to get started. If there is turf in the area you want to use simply skim it off the surface and then fork over the soil and let the remaining frosts break it down and it will also give it time to settle! Have a look through the seed catalogues or go and visit a local garden centre for inspiration!

February Garden Jobs

There’s still lots to do in the winter garden!