Your Monthly Planting Guide

November is the perfect time to plant fruit trees and canes as the soil is still warm, and plants are entering a dormant period. If you’re considering planting fruit trees in November, those that can be planted now include:

• Apples
• Cherries
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Quince

Prepare soil for a new fruit tree by digging a square hole and removing all perennial weeds. Drive a stake vertically at least 1inch into the ground from the bottom of the hole and plant the tree about 3inch from the stake. Fix a tie near the top of the stake and loosely attach the tree to it. Fill the hole back in with soil and firm. Make sure to plant any grafting point of the tree above the soil (the knobbly bit a few inches above the root).

Follow the same soil preparation guidance for fruit bushes, although there is no need to stake them:

• Blackcurrants
• Figs
• Gooseberries
• Grapes
• Raspberries
• Redcurrants

A wide range of bare-root fruit plants are available in the autumn and winter. These are often stronger specimens than container-grown plants and come in a wider range of varieties.

If you are tempted with an end-of-season container-grown bargain, carefully check the health of the plant. Look for pests and diseases, or signs of other stress such as drought. The plant should not be pot-bound; gently pick up the plant near to the base of the stem to check that it does not come out of the pot easily.

What fruit to harvest in November

The last of the fruit should be harvested now, before any heavy frosts:

• Apples
• Bullace plums 
• Grapes
• Pears
• Quince

Apples and pears can store well if wrapped in newspaper and kept in a cool dark place.

Prune these fruit plants to encourage new growth later in the spring.  Remove dead wood, congested and rubbing branches, to promote good air flow through the plants:

• Apples
• Blackcurrants
• Grapes
• Pears

Mulch plants with a suitable compost to help protect them over the winter months.

Check fruit trees for signs of bacterial canker. Foliage will have fallen from the tree as expected in November, making it easier to spot the symptoms of this devastating disease. Look for dark, sunken and sometimes weeping patches of bark on tree stems and branches. Treat it by removing the wound and all surrounding tissue.

Add a barrier to raspberries, which will sucker and spread nearby, popping up where they aren’t always wanted. Burying a thin but rigid barrier about 1inch deep along the edge of the raspberry patch will help to stop them spreading.

Check stored apples and pears for decay. Diseases can spread quickly so remove any which show signs of spoiling.

November is the perfect time to plant new perennials and shrubs.  Many plants will be entering a period of dormancy over the winter, so can withstand the disturbance and do not require as much maintenance as those planted during hotter and drier weather.

There are many perennials and shrubs which can be planted straight into the garden at this time of year:

• Cotinus (Smoke bush)
• Cornus (dogwood)
• Garrya elliptica (silk tassel)
• Hamamelis (witch hazel)
• Forsythia 'Spectabilis'
• Thuja plicate
• Viburnum tinus

Prepare the ground by loosening the soil and adding organic matter. Water the plants about an hour before planting, dig a hole to the depth of the roots, and about three times as wide. Place the plant in the hole and refill with soil, gently firming it to ensure good contact between the roots and earth. Water well, and add a mulch to help retain moisture whilst it establishes.

What trees and shrubs to prune in November

The following trees and shrubs can be pruned in November:

• Berberis
• Cistus 
• Delphiniums
• Lupins
• Peonies
• Phlox

Tree and shrub maintenance in November

November is the ideal time to divide shrubs, once they have finished flowering:

• Aubretia
• Crocosomia
• Euphorbia
• Geraniums
• Hostas
• Pulmonaria

Other tasks to undertake before the cold winter months arrive:

• Check for pests and diseases that may be affecting the plant and treat appropriately.
• Provide supports to climbing plants.
• Mulch borders to improve the soil, helping conserve moisture for plants and providing a helpful source of nutrients. Add about 5cm (2in) to the soil surface, leaving a gap around stems to allow air to circulate around the plant.

November is the ideal time to plant roses. The earth is workable and warm, making it easy for you to give them the best possible chance to get established. There should be a wide-range of varieties available now as bare-root plants, and they are generally cheaper than container-grown roses.

There are several main types of rose.  Pick a type that suits the space available in your garden:

• Miniature and patio
• Bush roses (this includes hybrid tea and floribunda roses)
• Shrub roses
• Climbing
• Rambling
• Ground cover
• Standard

What roses to prune in November

Preparing to prune roses over the winter means checking that you have the right equipment.  Sharp and clean secateurs are essential, and roses can have very sharp and rigid thorns, so wear:

• Thick gloves
• A thick long-sleeved top that covers your arms
• Goggles

When pruning roses, remember that all cuts should be:

• Within 5mm (1/4in) of a bud.
• Directed away from the plant, so that water does not accumulate in crevices of the plant.

Different types of rose have additional specific pruning needs, depending on the time of year, size and habit of the plant.  Check for specific guidance on when and how to prune each type.

Rose maintenance in November

Mulch roses using well-rotted manure, compost or wood chip.  A specialised compost can provide nutrients specifically designed for roses.

Tie-in roses to supports. Strong winds in the winter months can damage plants by causing them to move around. The movement loosens roots in the soil, creating excess space for water to enter, which can then freeze and damage the plant.

As long as the ground is not frozen, November is the right time to plant the following bulbs:

• Alliums
• Anemones
• Bluebells
• Fritillaria
• Hyacinths
• Irises
• Spring-flowering Crocus
• Snowdrops
• Tulips

These will produce an early show of colour to look forward to next year.  The bulbs can be planted in the ground or in pots, or a mixture of both. Consider whether a mixture of different colours would be most eye-catching for your garden, or whether a flush of a single colour would strike a stunning display.

Flower and bulb maintenance in November

A late autumn display of flowers brought indoors can make a house feel like a home.  The following flowers will provide a source of cut flowers throughout November:

• Alstroemerias - typically orange, pink, red, white, yellow flowers
• Amaryllis - typically pink, red, white flowers
• Chrysanthemums - typically orange, pink, red, white, yellow flowers
• Hesperanthas - typically pink, red, white flowers
• Nerines - typically pink, red, white flowers

The following plants are frost-tender and should be brought inside:

• Cannas
• Dahlias
• Fuchsias
• Geraniums

Other jobs to undertake now:

• Lift dahlia tubers after the first frost. Store them in dry compost in a cool but frost-proof place.
• Clear sweet peas. Make sure you have saved some seeds to sow next year.
• Check for mould on bulbs which are to be planted, as it can spread to other bulbs.
• Replenish compost in containers where bedding plants and bulbs were planted earlier in the year. This will provide fresh nutrients to incoming plants and ensure that pests and diseases are disturbed.

Houseplants allow us to enjoy gardening whatever the weather is doing outside. There are a huge range of plants that can be grown indoors, and they will thrive in the right conditions. Here we recommend plants that are suited to an environment where the temperature is usually 18°C or warmer.

For rooms with good levels of light:

• Alocasia cuprea
• Caladium (Angel’s wings)
• Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii (Hearts on a string)
• Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (Areca palm)
• Hippeastrum (Amaryllis)
• Hoya carnosa (Wax flower)
• Phlebodium aureum (Golden polypody)

For rooms with poorer levels of light:

• Adiantum raddianum (Maidenhair fern)
• Philodendron xanadu
• Sansevieria (Snake plant)

Check the humidity requirements of a plant as well. Some need a dry atmosphere, where a hallway or landing might be appropriate. Others, such as ferns and orchids, prefer a humid atmosphere such as a bathroom or kitchen.

Houseplant maintenance in November

Houseplants have many health benefits. As well as cheering up a room and providing a positive mental focus, some varieties have been scientifically proven to purify the air, removing toxins from the home. Help the plants that are keeping you healthy by watering and feeding as needed and look out for pests which can attack them. Check for symptoms of damage from:

• Mealybugs - fluffy white lumps on the underside of leaves.  Wipe off, check daily and repeat if needed.
• Red spider mites - fine webbing on leaves and stems. Improve air circulation around the plant.
• Scale insects - white or brown waxy lumps on the underside of leaves.  Wipe off or tolerate if low in number.

Feed the houseplant to keep it strong and able to withstand attacks from pests. Use a recognised plant food which is suitable for indoor plants.