Flower Garden

• Containers with winter bedding should be raised on feet or bricks to ensure good drainage during wet weather
  
• If you have heavy clay soil now is a good time to work in lots of  organic matter such as your own compost or well rotted farmyard manure
  
• Finish your autumn tidy of beds and borders if not already done. Any leaves or debris can be added to you compost bin
  
• If you don’t have a compost bin now would be a good time to buy one and install it ready for next year
  
• Any alpines should be cleared of debris and have a sheet of glass or plastic placed above them to protect them from the heaviest rains
  
• Any tender plants not brought inside should be wrapped in a protective covering of bubblewrap, fleece etc
  
• If you have room for a conifer why not buy a rooted Christmas tree. Keep it well watered whilst indoors and take outside as soon as possible. Try to get a pinus or abies instead of the usual spruce
  
• Indoors, water your houseplants less often and keep them away from direct sources of heat such as radiators

 
Lawns

• At this time of year there is very little to do with the lawn except keep it free from debris
  
• Make sure that the grass is walked upon as little as possible during frosty and very wet weather
  
• If you find people are taking a short cut across your lawn then now is a good time to think about sinking stepping stones where they are walking. If the slabs are lower than the surrounding lawn then you can mow right over the top
  
• Now is a good time to have your mower serviced.
  
• Before putting a mower away for the winter make sure it is drained of petrol, if it is a power mower, cleaned and oiled

 
Fruit and Vegetables

• Prune apple and pear trees that are growing in the open but do not prune cordons, fans or espaliers
  
• Gooseberries and all the currants can now be pruned as well
  
• Make sure that all fruit is pruned to give an open shape without any branches crossing or touching
  
• Protect your brassicas from pigeons with fleece, cloches or a frame of wire netting
  
• Continue to harvest brussels sprouts by taking the largest lower sprouts first as this will ensure they go on cropping
  
• Bring your bay tree under cover if the weather is particularly cold as they are borderline hardy
  
• Pot up some herb plants and bring into the kitchen to save going out in bad weather
  
• Check that stakes, ties and protection are still in place following very windy weather

 
Wildlife

• Don’t take all the holly berries for Christmas decorations but leave some for the birds
  
• Carry on leaving out bird food of all kinds and sizes. The more variety of food the more variety of birds
  
• Make sure there is always plenty of water in the bird bath and keep it free of ice
  
• If the ground is not frozen you could dig a wildlife pond and have it ready for the spring to attract even more fascinating creatures
  
• If you are planting new trees or shrubs consider using native species to attract more wildlife
  
• Watch for signs of large hedgehogs not yet hibernating if it is mild and feed with dog food or a brand of food sold specially for them

 
Looking Good This Month

Azalea - Houseplant with glossy green leaves and pretty flowers
Clematis Armandii - Evergreen climber with fragrant white flowers
Cyclamen Coum - Silver green leaves with dainty flowers from white to red
Elaeagnus Limelight - Tough shrub with striking green & gold foliage
Hippeastrum - Showy house plant with large blooms atop long stems
Ilex varieties - Evergreen shiny leaves with attractive berries
Jasmine Nudiflorum - Winter jasmine. Yellow flowers on bright green stems
Mahonia Media - Tall shrub with fragrant yellow flowers
Poinsettia - The Christmas indoor plant with red or cream bracts
Viburnum Bodnantense - Sweetly scented large shrub with pink or white blooms

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