November 2023 — Monty Don
GATHER LEAVES TO MAKE LEAFMOULDEvery fallen leaf is potential leafmould and leafmould which, in distinction to compost, takes no turning, mixing or knowledge to make, is yard gold. So I’m obsessive about making leafmould, gathering as lots of the fallen leaves as potential, mowing them to cut them up after which stacking them in a vast open heap to allow them to interrupt down into a beautiful wealthy, crumbly texture and develop to be an integral part of our home-made potting compost.However I furthermore go away drifts and piles of leaves beneath hedges and timber to offer over-wintering cowl for hedgehogs, frogs, small mammals and bugs, together with stacks of logs and piles of prunings – all of which presents important winter safety for these small creatures that contribute fairly a bit to the yard’s properly being.PLANT TULIPSNovember it’s tulip-planting time. That is, to my concepts, a vital an greatest job of the month. It’s really one issue that could possibly be achieved at any time between now and Christmas though the sooner they get into the underside the sooner they might flower. The important challenge with all tulips is to make sure that they’ve good drainage. This factors quite a bit a lot much less within the occasion that they are to be handled as annuals and dug up after they’ve flowered along with they are going to be happier with an excessive amount of grit or sand added to heavy soil. Within the occasion that they are to be everlasting it’s a must to to plant them as deep as you possibly can – II normally use a crowbar to make a spot 12 inches or further deep – and the deeper they’re the stronger and straighter the stem is perhaps. In case you is perhaps rising them in a container then drainage is less complicated they normally don’t have to be so deep and can be planted in layers – a tulip lasagne, with an earlier alternative resembling ‘Orange Emperor’ planted deepest which will flower first, adopted by a mid-season alternative like ‘Negrita’ planted above it after which lastly, contained in the prime layer a late-season one resembling ‘Queen of Night time time time’. LIFTING DAHLIASFrost reduce Dahlias to blackened tatters so it’ll doable be time to carry them in. Nonetheless the tubers simply is not going to be harmed in addition to the underside freezes, so don’t panic. Wait till the most effective has utterly died as soon as extra after which cut back the most effective enchancment to six inches whereas they’re nonetheless inside the bottom and utterly dig up the tubers, eradicating as fairly a bit soil as potential. Stand them the mistaken technique up for just a few days to empty any moisture from the opening stems and to let the tubers dry significantly after which retailer them in a tray or pot stuffed with earlier potting compost, vermiculite, sharpsand or sawdust. The thought is to handle them cool nonetheless frost-free, darkish and dry nonetheless to not allow them to dry out completely or else the tubers will shrivel. I calmly water mine after layering them into massive pots or crates after which research them each month to see if any are mouldy or shrivelling up.MOVING PLANTSOne of the advantages of native local weather change is that the autumnal soil stays hotter for longer and thus November is an excellent time to maneuver crops, from small timber to shrubs like roses or herbaceous perennials. In case you is perhaps transferring any plant there are a alternative of concerns though the bigger the plant the slower it’ll doable be to adapt to its new dwelling and the extra cautious you should be when transferring it.1. Water the plant very correctly 48 hours ahead of transferring. Give it a terribly good soak.2. Dig as massive a rootball as potential. For herbaceous perennials this shouldn’t be an issue – and you possibly can presumably correctly wish to divide it into smaller sections ahead of replanting – nonetheless for timber and shrubs this inevitably means decreasing as soon as extra the quantity of roots.3. Scale back the most effective enchancment to steadiness the quantity of root you elevate. Ideally the unfold of a shrub or tree mustn’t exceed the unfold of the roots and with shrubs like roses cut back them as soon as extra very onerous. 4. Replant rigorously into well-dug soil in order that the roots are on the identical stage contained in the soil. Firm it in very correctly and presents a really beneficiant soak.
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GATHER LEAVES TO MAKE LEAFMOULDEvery fallen leaf is potential leafmould and leafmould which, in distinction to compost, takes no turning, mixing or knowledge to make, is yard gold. So I’m obsessive about making leafmould, gathering as lots of the fallen leaves as potential, mowing them to cut them up after which…