Gardening Tips for November
As we enter November, there’s still plenty of time to make the most of bright winter days and get out into our outdoor spaces. This month is an ideal time to maintain, organise, and tidy your garden ahead of the final months of the year.
As the weather starts to get more wintery, the main jobs in the garden this November are centred around protecting and preparing for the season ahead.
What can I do in my garden in November? 
This month we recommend you keep on top of your tidying. We can expect the temperatures to drop as November progresses, so we’d suggest making the most of clear and bright weather when it comes to get out in your garden.
Ensure leaves are cleared from your lawn, paths, and patios either by using a rake or leaf blower. Fallen foliage can become a slip hazard, especially when it gets colder and wetter.
Raise potted plants onto pot feet to keep them off the cold, wet ground. This helps to prevent the compost freezing or waterlogging.
Scarify established lawns to remove dead thatch, which can stifle growth in the winter months. Spike the surface with a fork or lawn aerator and apply Dobbies Peat Free Lawn Dressing to help improve drainage.
If cold, frosty weather is predicted, you should begin to protect tender plants from frost, wind, and cold rain. Move your plants into your greenhouse if you have one, or into a sheltered spot like a shed or garage. Alternatively, you can wrap your plants or pots in frost protection fleece or jackets.
How to look after plants and flowers this month
November doesn’t need to mean the end of gardening season. You can still grow new plants in your outdoor space – in fact, autumn is an ideal season for planting shrubbery. There’s still some residual warmth in the ground from the summer months which helps root establishment and gives plants a headstart for spring.
Now’s the time to plant hardy winter bedding. Pansies, violas, and winter-flowering heathers provide colour and variety to your garden for the new season.
Tulip bulbs are best planted in November. By putting in the work now, you could be enjoying a beautiful display of colour in May and June.
With Christmas fast approaching, now is the ideal time to plant Amaryllis which will flower during the festive season when you plant them now.
Prune summer-flowering plants and shrubs to prevent them becoming damaged by strong winds. Give evergreen hedges and hardy trees a trim too.
For indoor plants, we recommend that you offer them extra humidity to counteract drying effects if you have your heating on indoors. You can water them less frequently during winter but be sure to move them to brighter spots away from cold windowsills.
What to do with fruit and veg
​​​Naturally we’ll be harvesting winter vegetables this month like leeks, turnips and parsnips, but it’s also important to make sure we’re looking after produce we’ve already planted. You can still add to your fruit and vegetable patches in November.
Prune autumn-fruiting trees like raspberry bushes to the ground after harvesting and take hardwood cuttings from healthy berry plants.
Free-standing fruit trees such as apple and pear trees should be pruned every winter to control their size and keep them bearing fruit every year. Only do this once you’ve harvested all the fruit, and after all the leaves have fallen.
Prevent winter moth damage to fruit trees using grease bands and tree barrier glues. This will stop any wingless moths climbing up the trunks and laying eggs in the leaves and fruit. However, it’s important to make sure that the glue isn’t strong enough to trap small animals like mice, bats, and birds.
If the weather is slightly milder where you are, consider planting out autumn garlic and autumn broad beans to enjoy a slightly earlier crop in the new year.
If you’ve harvested all your vegetables for the year and aren’t planning on planting anything else, November is a great time to do a bit of tidying. Clear any weeds, stones and fallen leaves, and spread your allotment with manure or organic compost to prepare it for winter.
How to care for wildlife in autumn and winter 
Late autumn and early winter conditions can be difficult for wildlife, who still need our help with feeding and finding somewhere warm to rest.
If you’re having a bonfire or burning anything in your garden, be sure to check for any sheltering wildlife like hedgehogs.
Keep bird feeders full of a variety of seeds and nuts and consider adding feed and nesting boxes to your garden.
Keep bird baths unfrozen and topped up to provide wildlife with a water source.
If you have a pond, melt a hole in the ice with a saucepan filled with hot water.
Be vigilant when turning compost heaps as frogs, toads, and other animals can find comfort in the heat. 
We would love to see what you get up to in the garden this November, take a picture and tag us on socials with @dobbiesgardencentres for your chance to be featured on our social media channels.