November Gardening Hints I must defiantly be getting old, each year passes by much quicker than the previous one and I want to say stop the bus I want to get off. The strange weather we have had this year doesn't help, there are no defined seasons like there used to be (or is that nostalgia and old age talking again), they all seem to roll into one. At the time of writing we are experiencing a real Indian summer, after torrential much needed rain. It’s still in good time to plant spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, snow-drops, crocus, hyacinth etc. We still have a good selection at the garden centre. The summer hanging baskets, pots and tubs at home were still looking good up to the monsoon type weather that hit late October so I will now plant up my Autumn/Winter containers and baskets. I will include tulips and daffodils planted in the containers at different depths to create a longer flowering time in the Spring. We still have plenty of Pansies, Violas, Sweet William, Primroses, Cyclamen etc., at the garden centre for planting now. The lawn still needs cutting because of the warm unseasonable weather, break-off debris and falling leaves before mowing and raise the blades up a notch or two at this time of year. If you get a change its well worth digging over your empty areas of your vegetable patch introducing well rotted manure at the same time. This will definitely improve the quality and structure of the soil in preparation for Spring sowing and planting. Generally after a mild Autumn, there is usually a spell of cold weather, it’s worth identifying the tender plants in your garden and if they are in pots move them to a sheltered area or if planted in the soil get ready to fleece to protect them from hard frosts. If in pots lift them off the ground using pot feet or bricks or wood etc enabling the water to drain freely from the pot, this will prevent water clogging and the water freezing and cracking the pots. Visit our Facebook page, because we have some seriously good bargains in our Christmas section to mirror the situation of the country at the moment. Also we have an extensive range of fireworks for sale at very good prices until the 10th November. Our very fresh non-drop Christmas trees will arrive at the garden centre last week of November. As always I advise you to come early, pick your tree from a large selection, take it home and stand it in a bucket of water outside for at least a week to soak up loads of moisture before bringing indoors. This will keep it fresh throughout the Christmas festivities as long as it’s not sited near a radiator. As always, sit back and relax and enjoy your garden with a drink of your choice. Mine is a sloe gin—cheers!! Source: Nigel, Art Garden Centre. Vicarage Lane.
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Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
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