November Gardening Jobs: Your UK Checklist

The days are shorter and the first frosts are on their way, but there's still plenty to do in the garden in November.

This month is all about getting ready for winter: protecting tender plants, tidying borders, planting while the soil is still workable, and adding some colour to pots so the garden doesn't feel bare.

Here's your November gardening checklist for UK gardens.

1. Plant Shrubs, Hedging, Roses and Trees

November is one of the best months of the year for planting hardy shrubs, hedges, roses and trees. The soil is still slightly warm and moist, so roots can settle in over winter, ready to grow away in spring.

Plant on a dry day when the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged, water well, and add a layer of mulch around the base. For ideas, see what to plant in November and our guide to the best evergreen shrubs for UK gardens.

2. Plant Up Winter Pots and Window Boxes

Swap tired summer displays for winter plants that will keep flowering through the colder months. Winter pansies and bellis are fully hardy, while cyclamen add rich colour in a sheltered spot. Add trailing ivy and an evergreen such as Euonymus for structure.

Water winter pots only when the compost feels dry, and pick off faded flowers to keep new ones coming. See our guide on how to plant winter pots that last until spring.

3. Protect Tender Plants from Frost

Many summer favourites won't survive a British winter outside. Before the first hard frost:

• Geraniums (Pelargoniums): frost kills them outright, so lift them or bring pots into a bright, frost-free place.
• Bedding Fuchsias: most are not frost hardy, so move them under cover if you want to keep them. Hardy border Fuchsias can stay in the ground.
• Dahlias: once the first frost blackens the leaves, cut the stems down, lift the tubers and store them somewhere dry and frost-free. In mild, well-drained gardens you can leave them in the ground under a thick mulch instead.
• Begonias: lift the tubers and store them for next year.
• Citrus trees: lemons, limes and calamondins aren't hardy in Britain. Bring them indoors to a bright, frost-free spot such as a conservatory, porch or cool greenhouse until May.
• Olive trees in pots: move them somewhere sheltered, and under cover in colder or wetter areas. Cold, wet compost is a bigger risk than frost.

For more detail, see how to protect plants from frost this winter.

4. Look After Pots Over Winter

Waterlogged compost is one of the main reasons potted plants die in winter. Raise pots onto pot feet or bricks so water can drain away, and group them together against a house wall, where they'll be more sheltered from wind and frost.

5. Tidy Borders, But Not Too Much

Clear away spent summer bedding and add it to the compost heap. Cut back perennials that have collapsed or gone soggy, but leave a few seed heads and hollow stems standing, as they give shelter to insects and food for birds over winter.

Some plants are better left alone until spring. Leave the old stems on Penstemons over winter, as they help protect the crown, and wait until spring to cut back dogwood for bright new stems.

6. Rake Up Fallen Leaves

Clear leaves from lawns, paths and the tops of small plants, where they can smother growth and encourage rot. Pack them into bags or a simple wire cage to make leaf mould, which turns into a lovely free soil improver in a year or two.

7. Give the Lawn a Last Tidy

If the weather stays mild and dry, give the lawn a final high cut. Keep off it when it's frosty or waterlogged, as walking on it then can damage the grass.

8. Bring Houseplants Through Winter

Houseplants grow much more slowly in winter, so they need less water. Let the top of the compost dry out before watering, move plants closer to the light, and keep them away from radiators and cold draughts. Our guide to houseplant care in winter has more tips.

9. Feed the Birds

Natural food gets scarce as winter sets in. Put out bird food and keep a shallow dish of fresh water topped up, breaking any ice on frosty mornings.

10. Clean Tools and Pots

On a wet day, clean and dry your tools, sharpen secateurs, and wash empty pots so they're ready for spring. It's a small job that saves time when the busy season comes round again.

November Gardening: Your Questions Answered

What should I do in the garden in November?

Plant shrubs, hedging, roses and trees, plant up winter pots, protect tender plants from frost, tidy borders, rake leaves and look after the birds.

Should I cut back plants in November?

Cut back perennials that have collapsed, but leave some seed heads and stems for wildlife. Leave Penstemons and dogwood until spring.

When should I lift dahlias?

Lift dahlia tubers once the first frost has blackened the leaves, then store them somewhere dry and frost-free until spring.

Ready for Winter

A few jobs now will make a big difference later, with plants protected through the cold, borders tidy and pots full of colour by the door.

Our garden plants are grown in Britain by growers we know, including the Yorkshire nursery that grows most of them. We check every plant by hand before it's packed, and send it out ready for your garden.