Gardener's diary - November gardening

Complete planting and preparation of new beds. Clear fallen leaves from beds to prevent rotting and discourage slugs.

Protect tender plants with straw or bracken.

Prepare beds for next year. Add garden compost but avoid rich manure, as this encourages growth of foliage rather than flowers.

Finish planting by the second week of November.

All deciduous shrubs can be planted now as long as the soil is well drained. Try to do this before the ground gets too cold. Don't allow roots to dry out.

As above.

Before soil becomes too cold is a good time to plant bare rooted trees. When buying new plants check the condition of the plant and root ball to ensure that they are healthy and free from disease.

Continue planting as long as the soil is not frozen or waterlogged. Do not plant evergreen or coniferous hedging when the weather starts to turn cold. Wait until April or the weather starts to warm up, except of course for container grown plants.

Complete planting by the end of the month.

Remove rotting foliage and protect tender species with sheets of glass. Bring into the light any pot grown plants that have growth of 4-5cm (1 ½-2 inches) or more. Move into a sunny but cool position.

This is the last chance to plant tulips. Tulips planted now have less chance of getting a disease known as tulip fire.

Water sparingly and provide ventilation in heated houses except for extreme weather.

Outside continue clearing beds and replace slug pellets.

Continue with routine tasks but do not mow during wet or frosty weather. Turf can still be laid and preparation can be started if you are planning to sow a new lawn in the spring.