Garden tips

November

Note: those garden tips are based on the climate as we have in The Netherlands, a relatively cool climate. Most tips are to use for sub tropical and mediate climate. 

Garden tip tub plants

All tub plants who can not survive frost must go inside in autumn. In many houses unfortunately there is not a cool room to put those plants. Important is that tub plants in winter time not have to grow, but only must survive winter. They need a rest period on a light place by a temperature between 5 tot 8 degrees Celcius. If temperature is too high you become louse problems en regrowing starts too soon. 
If you have no good conditions try to find a specialized grower to bring your tub plants in winter time.

Before the plants go inside clean the containers, check on snails and insects. Plants who are too big you can prune now partly. It also makes storage in winter time easier.
Let plants acclimatize step by step when they go inside, it prevent falling leaves.
Bald tub plants such as Fuchsia and Datura may have a little darker place during winter time.
Agapanthus sometimes looses all the leaves but they will start growing in spring time.
Only give water when the pot seems dry. Give a little bit each time.
If you only have a place in a warm room, you must give the plant water and nutrition regularly.

Garden tip protecting against frost and water

Some garden plants can not survive cold or frost. Some garden plants can not survive when the soil is too wet. Good material to cover plants is straw, pinus or conifer branches, leaves or Phragmitus. also jute or  plastic with little holes in it can be used. Do not use black plastic.

Cortaderia
Is sensitive for too much water. In spring time young leaves easy can rotten. Bind the leaves of the plant together before winter starts. Now the rain water can not reach the heart of the plant. It also protects the plant to frost.

Rosa
In winter time you best  fill up with earth around the stem of the rose. Or fill also with some peat. The space around you can put dried cow mest or compost. Important is to protect the graft for frost. In spring time remove the earth around the stem.
Stem roses you best can wrap with jute, straw or other material.

Garden tip pruning

Advise for pruning depends on the style of garden and the climate. Pruning gives often better growing of the plant. Pruning too much or the wrong place can damage the plant. A flower arranger prefers to prune when they need the materials. It is not always possible to do this but a little bit is no problem.

Shrubs
If the crown of a shrub is too thick or confused you can prune it. Prune first the dead branches. Take away old thick branches till 10 to 15 cm. above the ground. The plant will make new stems in spring time. Do not prune below zero.

Bleeding trees and shrubs you must prune in winter time. Examples are: Acer, Betula, Carpinus betulus. Bleeding takes place in spring time when regrow starts. Flower arrangers may not cut of branches in spring time.

Climbers
Prune climbers back to 2 till 5 eyes. We do this only on the bound branches what we call form branches.
Wisteria can be pruned back till 2 to 5 eyes. How far you cut back depends on the size and shape of the plant you want to have. Do not cut back too far because you will not have many flowers next year.

Spring time flowering shrubs
Shrubs who have flowers in spring time may not be pruned now or you have no flowers in spring time. Examples are: Citisus, Prunus triloba and Forsythia. Those shrubs flower on one year old branches and must be pruned direct after flowering. 

Summer flowering shrubs
Those shrubs usually have flowers on older wood. To keep the shrubs in a good model and young branches give space to grow you can prune them now. Prune only the oldest branches away. It will improve flowering. Some examples are: Kolkwitzia and Philadelphus.

Garden tip bulbs

Now it is your last chance to plant the bulbs of species wich must flower in spring time. Bulbs can dry out if you wait any longer.

Garden tip pond

Clean the pond now, remove leaves from the pond every day. Old rotting leaves on the bottom you can remove with a net. Do not damage the plastic. Old stems of water plants must stay in the water because when the water is frozen they provide oxid and change of gas. Your fish will survive winter in a better condition.
Water plants wich cannot have any frost must taken from the pond. Water lily can put in a box with peat. If the pond is deep enough you can let water lily in the pond. Tropical water plants such as Pistia stratiotes you can put inside the house in a container with water.
If you have a pump in the pond take it out and clean it and store it in the house. Do not circulate water in the pond during winter time, only surface circulation is good.

Garden tip falling leaves

In autumn the leaves fell of many trees. It can cover your garden. Take away the leaves on the lawn and all the leaves on winter green plants. Leaves underneath trees and shrubs can stay there, it improves the earth life.
Soft leaves from Hippocastanum and leaves of shrubs can put in the compost heap. Hard leaves such as Quercus or Fagus you can use to protect plants who are sensitive for frost. To keep it on place you can put chicken wire over it and fix it with a few sticks.

Garden tip slippery danger

Fallen leaves, moss and algy on stones or wood in your garden are very dangerous. Smooth tiles having a nice top layer are slippery. Also parts in the shade can have a problem with algy or moss. You easy can fall and break a arm or worse. Remove daily the fallen leaves and clean the stones and wood with a broom and water. You also can use once a year a cleaning machine or a  biological product. Do not use any cleaning stuff that harms nature.

Garden tip furniture

Clean the garden furniture now and storage it inside. If necessary let it repair now, do not wait till spring time.
Tropical hard wood furniture may stay outside during winter time. In spring time you clean them with a soft soap and a soft brush. Do not clean with high pressure water because it can damage the structure of the wood.
Plastic furniture can not stay out side in the frost. Coloured furniture will bleach by the sun.
Rotan furniture must be cleaned and dried now. After repairing it can be stored.

Garden tip general

Close the water to your outside tub and empty the water pipe. Check the water system underground and empty it.
Garden hose must be emptied and clean on a dark place, above zero. 
Garden ornaments such as pergola's you can clean and eventually paint with a protection product. Be sure climbers will not be damaged.
Clean all tools, check it sharpen it and put grease on it.

Tip for flower arrangers

If you want to have a garden for cutting material for your flower arrangements, you can make now a plan and replant the garden in coming month.

back to garden index

Last update of this page 23.05.2004