November

What to do now - December

Your monthly gardening checklists

Plant tulip bulbs in pots and borders, covering them with at least twice their depth of soil or compost
Lift dahlia tubers after the first frost, clean them off and store in dry compost in a cool, frost-proof place
Send off for seed catalogues and start planning what to grow next year
Plant bare-root hedging, roses, trees and shrubs, before the weather turns really cold.
Clear faded sweet peas, morning glory, thunbergia and other annual climbers from their supports
Cut down faded perennials that are looking tatty, then mulch the surrounding soil with garden compost
Plant a Japanese maple in a pot and place in a sheltered spot in semi-shade
Gather up and bin the fallen leaves of roses affected by black spot, so they don't carry the disease over to next year
Move containers of alpine plants under cover to shelter them from winter rain
Replenish gravel mulch around alpines to keep the foliage clear of damp soil, which can cause rotting
Protect plants that are borderline hardy, such as agapanthus, with a thick mulch of straw or garden compost
Put stem protection guards around young trees and shrubs, if rabbits are a problem
Sow seeds from berry-laden trees and shrubs

Protect agapanthus from frost

Take hardwood cuttings from healthy fruit bushes, including currants, blueberries and gooseberries
Use cloches to protect winter peas, beans and salads, but leave the ends open as good ventilation is vital
Prune autumn-fruiting raspberries to the ground after harvesting
Plant garlic, shallots and onions in free-draining soil or raised beds, then cover with fleece
Prune fruit bushes once dormant, including blackcurrants, redcurrants, whitecurrants and gooseberries
Support top-heavy Brussels sprouts with sturdy canes, and pile earth up around the stems for extra stability
Cut down Jerusalem artichokes, then dig up and store the tubers in a bucket of dry compost
Put netting over cabbages, kale and other hardy brassicas to protect them from pigeons
Plant bare-root fruit trees, bushes and canes, as long as the ground isn't too wet
Check stored crops for signs of rot or deterioration
Lift and pot up chicory roots to force in the dark
Tidy up strawberry beds, cutting back old foliage and congested runners and removing any weeds

More winter veg growing advice.

Protect onions, garlic and shallots with fleece

Insulate the greenhouse walls and roof with bubble polythene
Make sure all tender plants are safely under cover and kept frost free
Propagate perennials, including phlox, oriental poppies and verbascums, by taking root cuttings
Sow leafy crops such as rocket into small seed trays on a warm sunny windowsill, for winter pickings
Check greenhouse plants regularly for overwintering pests
Scrub down greenhouse staging, glazing and the framework with disinfectant
Water indoor pots of spring bulbs frequently so they never dry out
Wash out all empty pots and trays and store neatly under greenhouse staging, ready for use in spring
Bring potted herbs, such as parsley and chives, indoors to continue cropping into winter
Monitor greenhouse temperatures with a max-min thermometer and turn on heating if needed
Avoid splashing foliage when watering, as it will dry slowly in cool weather and fungal diseases may set in
Clear out faded tomato and cucumber plants from the greenhouse and add to the compost heap

Bubble wrap makes excellent insulation for greehouses

Give houseplants extra humidity to combat the drying effects of central heating
Feed house plants once a week with liquid fertiliser, continuing throughout autumn
Repot moth orchids after flowering if they look like they're about to burst out of their pot
Water house plants less frequently and move them off particularly cold windowsills at night. Find out how to water your house plants
Plant hippeastrum (amaryllis) bulbs in pots for spectacular flowers over the festive season
Bring any house plants that you moved outside over summer back indoors, before temperatures start to drop
Repot any house plants that have become top heavy or pot bound into larger containers
Maximise the amount of light your house plants receive by moving to brighter spots, or choose indoor plants for low light
Some house plants, like snake plants, are particularly prone to collecting dust on their leaves. So be sure to give these a wipe regularly
Take leaf cuttings from house plants, including African violets and begonias
Take leaf cuttings from succulents, such as echeverias, crassula and sedums
Check your house plants for pests like aphids, scale insects, thrips and mealybugs
Take large-leaved house plants into the garden and hose them down to clean off accumulated dust
For more house plant advice and inspiration visit our Growing and caring for house plants page.

Give bird feeders a good clean

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Check bonfires carefully before lighting to make sure no hedgehogs or other wildlife are sheltering inside
Continue to mow the lawn in mild spells if the grass is still growing, but raise the height of the blades
Collect fallen leaves and place in bin bags, then leave to decompose into leaf mould
Look after garden wildlife as winter approaches, by providing additional food and shelter
Move wormeries under cover for the winter
Chop up any faded bedding plants, annuals and old crops, and add to the compost bin
Start pruning free-standing apple and pear trees once dormant, to control their size and encourage fruiting
Repair fences and trellis now they're becoming free of foliage
Remove pond pumps and fountains to prevent ice damage when temperatures fall below freezing
Wrap bubble polythene or hessian around pots to protect from frost damage and to insulate vulnerable plant roots
Put waterproof covers over any garden furniture that you can't take indoors over winter
Wrap insulating foam around outdoor taps and pipes
Clean out and scrub bird feeders regularly to maintain hygiene