TIPS FOR BULBS IN NOVEMBER:

If your Lily-of-the-valley have become overcrowded and are blooming poorly, dig them up and replant a plant them a foot apart from each other. 

Now is the time to start those forced bulbs that were placed in a cool area in August or September. 

Dig up gladiola bulbs after the foliage has turned yellow. Store them in a crate or bucket filled with sawdust. 

If you've decided to store your bulbs indoors for the winter, try storing them in a pail filled with sawdust after they have off dried from being in the ground. 




TIPS FOR FLOWERS:

Add shredded leaves to the base of your Ferns to protect the growing tips. Remove when new growth appears in the spring. 

October, NOVEMBER and March are the three best months for planting Azaleas, Rhododendron, Camellia and other hardy broad leafed ever greens. 

Apply mulch around Hosta as the foliage begins to turn yellow. 

Roses that have been badly affected by disease this year should be pruned severely now. 

Fall flowers, like Sedum and Chrysanthemum, should be dead - headed before the first killing frost. 

Water perennial primrose deeply, when rains are scarce. Cover plants with a one inch layer of organic mulch; (fir boughs in colder areas) to protect from severe wind and weather. 

Plant new Peonies outdoors. Dig up and divide mature clumps, lifting entire root mass. Use a sharp knife to separate Peony roots into sections with at least three to five eyes. Re plant. 

Take cuttings from Geranium to enjoy indoor blooms over the winter. 

Harvest and dry remaining Straw flowers before the first hard frost. After they have died, compost Strawflower plants. 




TIPS FOR VEGETABLES:

Mulch rosemary, sage and thyme plants and give celery plants a final earthing. 

Cut down faded asparagus foliage and compost or burn it. Mulch beds with chopped leaves to protect crowns over the winter. 

Mulch late-maturing carrots to continue harvesting them into the winter months. 

Feed Rhubarb plants with one inch of organic compost. Remove leaves after they are killed by frost then mulch roots with straw. 

Dig up winter cabbages. Cut off stumps and place their heads on shelves in a dry, airy shed. 

Clear old runner bean stems and leaves and place on a compost heap. 

Protect late cauliflower from frost by bending one or two leaves over the curds. 

Harvest leeks using a garden fork to dig them up. Trim off roots and remove soil. 

Continue to harvest brussels sprouts as buttons become firm. 

Don't be tempted to retain potato tubers for replanting next year. They are very likely to be infected by viruses and will not produce a good crop. 



GENERAL YARD & GARDEN CARE:

Burn garden rubbish and plants infected by diseases. 

Rake up all leaves and place them on a compost heap. If left on paths they become a hazard when the colder weather comes. 

Greenhouse paths should be repaired now from general wear and tear.(reposition tilted slabs) 

Paint fences with wood preservative now that leaves have fallen and plants are not obstructing them. 

Clean all garden tools and wipe metal surfaces with an oily rag. (lawn rakes, edging-shears, spades and hoes) 




TIPS FOR FRUIT & BERRIES:

Prune established apple trees between now and late winter. 

Check stored apples and pears regularly and remove any showing signs of decay. If left, they encourage all the other fruits to rot. 

Before planting new apple trees, check to see that they are compatible with existing varieties. All apples need pollenation by another variety. 

Gather fallen Walnuts or use a long pole to knock nuts to the ground. Remove green husks from the shells, and dry them thoroughly. 

Mulch Raspberries with chopped leaves as protection against bad weather. This also provides food for plants in spring as it breaks down. 

Plant bare rooted fruit trees from now and until late spring if the soil is not frozen or water logged. 

Plant gooseberry bushes from now until early spring, when the soil is workable. Space the bushes 3 or 4 feet apart. 

Rake up all fallen fruit, leaves and blooms that you missed earlier and compost all disease-free organic refuse. 




TIPS FOR LAWNS:

Lawn cutting is probably over for this year, so clean the mower thoroughly . Scrape off soil and old grass. Cover all metal parts with a thin layer of oil or grease, then store mower in a dry area. 

When digging borders alongside lawns, place a plank on the turf to prevent lawn edges from being broken. 

If you were not able to repair worn patches of lawn in the early fall, use erosion mats to stop soil from washing away and to keep the problem from getting worse. 

Do not install lawn edging after long periods of rain. The ground may be swollen with moisture, and any edging you install may move once the ground dries. If your soil holds together loosely without clumping, it is safe to install lawn edging. 

You can still reshape cool-season lawns, but it is best to do it earlier in the fall. Earlier reshaping will give your lawn roots a chance to adjust before they stop growing in the winter. 
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