Planting & Sowing

• Plant Spring Bulbs: Finish planting Tulip bulbs, daffodils, and alliums for spring colour
• Bare-Root Trees and Shrubs: November is the peak season to plant bare-root hedging, roses, fruit trees (like apples and pears), and deciduous shrubs.
• Overwintering Veggies: Sow hardy broad beans and peas in sheltered spots, or plant out garlic cloves, shallots, and spring cabbages.
• Winter Bedding: Swap out tired summer displays for cold-hardy winter bedding like winter pansies, violas, and bellis

Frost Protection & Container Care

• Protect Tender Plants: Lift dahlia, begonia, gladiolus tubers after the first frost store them in a cool, dry place. Move frost-sensitive potted plants into a greenhouse, shed, or conservatory.
• Wrap Vulnerable Plants: Cover tree ferns, olive trees, and borderline hardy shrubs with horticultural fleece or straw-packed crowns.
• Raise Potted Plants: Elevate outdoor containers using pot feet or bricks to prevent waterlogging and root rot during heavy winter rains. Insulate pot sides with bubble wrap or hessian

Pruning & Tidy-Up

• Cut Back Perennials: Cut down faded, dead perennial stems and clear away rotting foliage to discourage slugs and fungal diseases.
• Prune Fruit Trees & Bushes: Prune established, dormant apple and pear trees, plus autumn-fruiting bushes. Avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs or forsythia.
• Clear Fallen Leaves: Rake up leaves from lawns and ponds. Pile them in a quiet corner of the garden to create a natural leaf mould or a cozy habitat for hedgehogs and insects.

Greenhouse & Houseplant Care

• Insulate the Greenhouse: Line greenhouse glass or framing with bubble polythene to trap heat and keep tender plants frost-free.
• Adjust Houseplant Routines: Water houseplants less frequently as daylight drops, increase indoor humidity, and clean dust off leaves so they can absorb maximum light.

Wildlife & Tool Maintenance

• Feed Garden Birds: Set up regular feeding stations with high-energy seeds, fat balls, and fresh water since natural food sources are scarce.
• Check Bonfires: Carefully turn over or check any stacked garden bonfires for hibernating hedgehogs and small wildlife before lighting.
• Clean Garden Tools: Clean, sharpen, and oil secateurs, spades, and shears, then drain and store hoses indoors to prevent frost damage.