November is almost here again, which means new tasks can be tackled in the garden. Many people see November as the last month to do anything in the garden before winter truly begins. However, most of the tasks you can do are already in preparation for spring. So, you could also see it as a beginning!
New Plants
In November, it's best to plant tulips to prevent them from being affected by the fungal disease tulip fire. It's also still possible to plant perennials that bloom in spring, such as peonies. Additionally, now is the time to plant bare-root trees and shrubs. Roses are an example of this. Before planting, make sure the soil isn't too wet or frozen, which can already happen in November.
Care
Whether you cut back faded flowers and dead stems is a matter of personal taste. There are many opinions on this, but leaving stems and faded flowers can certainly create beautiful winter scenes when it freezes. It can also provide protection for overwintering animals in your garden, such as toads and hedgehogs. If you have sedum or miscanthus in your garden, it's definitely nice to leave them until spring. Always remove wet leaves from the crowns of perennials to prevent rot. When you do this task, you can also check if your perennials need to be divided. You can tell this by looking at large perennials to see if there are only stems on the outside. The heart of the perennial dies over time, and new shoots grow on the outside of the plant. For perennials that bloom in summer, you can also wait until spring to see where the new shoots emerge.
Dividing is not difficult at all, and you don't need any special tools for it. We usually do it with a large sharp knife, but you can also do it with a spade or digging fork. Perennials are very strong, so you can just tear them in half by putting a digging fork into them. Of course, you first have to dig up the plant. You can remove the dead part and replant the new shoots in the garden.
Flowering Plants
In winter, most perennials go dormant, and there's little new to discover. The helleborus niger, better known as the Christmas rose, usually doesn't bloom at Christmas but later in winter. This is definitely recommended for your garden and a beautiful discovery in your garden in January. There are also viburnum and prunus varieties that bloom in winter. Be sure to check those out if you want to have flowering plants in your garden during the winter months!
