GARDENERS' World star Monty Don has shared the top jobs we should all be doing this November to winter-proof our gardens.
And while many might have thought they could hang up their gardening gloves for the rest of the year, there’s still plenty to do before you can take a well-earned break.
In fact, Monty, who recently released a new book called The Gardening Book, said there’s no time like the present.
In a new blog post on his website, the 68-year-old explained: “I am writing this on the last day of October and the garden outside is barely autumnal.
“Most of the leaves are still green and clinging to the trees and hedges and although it has been wet all month, October has been mild.
“But experience shows that, even with climate change altering the seasons, there is no room for complacency.
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“The clocks have gone back and winter is coming and preparation for any kind of extreme weather is sound practice.”
So here Monty shares how to “gradually put the garden to bed” and ensure plants are protected for the plummeting temperatures…
PLANT TULIPS
If there’s just one job you should put on your list for this month, Monty has the answer.
He wrote: “November it is tulip-planting time. This is, to my mind, the most important and best job of the month.
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“It is actually something that can be done at any time between now and Christmas although the earlier they get into the ground the earlier they will flower.”
Lifting the lid on the best method to do so, Monty continued that the most pivotal part is ensuring they have “good drainage.” Therefore, he suggests adding “plenty of grit or sand” to heavy soil.
Next, he suggested planting them “as deep as you can”. He added: “I often use a crowbar to make a hole 12 inches or more deep – and the deeper they are the stronger and straighter the stem will be.”
Winter is coming and preparation for any kind of extreme weather is sound practice
PROTECT PLANTS
With the weather getting colder every single day, Monty said it’s important to keep plants thriving.
He explained: “The temperature can plummet very quickly indeed overnight and semi-tender shrubs like pomegranates, olive, bay or citrus grown in containers – which are healthiest kept outside as long as possible – can suffer real damage.”
That means it’s time to take action, and Monty revealed that the best way to do this is to “have squares of horticultural fleece cut to fit each plant ready to wrap around them.”
He went on to say: “This will be enough protection against light frosts although in really cold weather, when the temperature drops below minus 5, they will need a double layer or moving indoors.”
PROTECT PLANT POTS
Monty was also quick to point out that it’s not just your plants that need protecting from the wind, rain and cold – their pots do too.
He explained: “The problem to beware is that terracotta is porous so absorbs water.
“Thus if it is filled with wet soil hard frost will expand that moisture and crack the pot. Even if it is empty fine terracotta can crack or flake in hard frosts.”
He then continued: “The answer is either to bring them in under cover where they can be kept dry or to wrap them in hessian or bubble wrap to provide a degree of insulation.
“This will be enough to protect a favourite pot and avoid a very pricey replacement in spring.”
This will be enough to protect a favourite pot and avoid a very pricey replacement in spring
TAKE HARDWOOD CUTTINGS
Monty also took the time to say that it’s an ideal month to think ahead to how you want your garden to look in the future – and taking cuttings to get the job done.
He wrote: “Hardwood cuttings are easy to take, slow to grow roots but a remarkably straightforward way of creating new shrubs, bushes and even trees from existing favourites.
“Fruit bushes, roses, any flowering shrub or tree are ideal for this method of propagation.”
But how do you do it? Monty revealed his technique, as he advised budding gardeners to “cut a 12-24 inch length of straight stem the thickness of a pencil of this year’s growth, and divide it into lengths between 6 & 12 inches long.”
He continued: “Cut straight across the bottom and at an angle at the top so you remember which way up to plant it and to provide an angle for water to run off.”
Once this is done, it’s time to strip the remaining leaves so that the stem is bare, and place the cuttings one third above soil level in a pot filled with gritty compost.
He concluded: “Leave them until next autumn, watering well once a week and a good percentage will make young plants ready for potting up or planting straight out.”
PRUNING CLIMBING ROSES
Another of Monty’s most helpful tips was dedicated to one flower in particular – climbing roses.
He explained: “Climbing roses flower on shoots grown the same spring so they can be pruned hard now.”
To make sure you’re getting a head start on beautiful blooms next year, he said there are a few simple steps to follow.
He said: “Start by removing any damaged or crossing growth or any very old wood which can be pruned right back to the ground.
“The main stems should be fanned out at an equidistance as horizontally as possible, tying them to wires or a trellis.
“Then all the side shoots growing from these main stems – which produced this year’s flowers – can be reduced to a short stub of a couple of leaves.”
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And his last piece of expert advice was to “make sure it is all tied firmly in to avoid winter damage.”
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