Courtesy of the RHS, here are a few things that we should be getting on with this month. There is always something to be done in the garden!
Fruit
- Thin out congested spurs on restricted fruit trees.
- Tie in new tiers of espaliers.
- Prune apples, pears, quinces and medlars.
- Prune red and white currants and gooseberries.
Vegetables
- Parsnips can be left in the ground until needed, or lifted and then buried in a shallow trench for easy access when needed. They taste better when frosted.
- Celeriac can also be left in the ground for a bit, but do protect them from the cold with a thick mulch of straw, bracken, or other suitable material.
- Stake any Brussels sprouts stalks that look leggy and vulnerable to wind rock.
- Clean and store bamboo canes in the shed or other dry place to ensure they’re still in good condition for next year.
- Dig over, incorporating well-rotted organic matter if available and weed vacant areas of the vegetable plot.
- Now is a good time to get ahead and prepare new asparagus beds for planting up in the spring.
- Order seed catalogues for next year, if you haven’t already done so.
Flowers and Shrubs
- Clear up fallen leaves – especially from lawns, ponds and beds
- Raise containers onto pot feet to prevent waterlogging
- Plant tulip bulbs for a spring display next year
- Prune roses to prevent wind-rock
- Plant out winter bedding