Lawns Sow new lawns before the start of the cold weather, and resew worn areas. Aerate and top-dress existing lawns. Mow with blades set at medium height.
Trees and Shrubs Plant or transplant all types of evergreen trees or shrubs apart from conifers. After gales check climbers and young trees are still fastened and secure.
Roses Dead-head to encourage late flowers. Tie in new shoots on climbers, and check for diseases.
Perennials Dead-head and cut down all dead stems. Move late flowering chrysanthemums to the greenhouse and dig up early type varieties and put them in the cold frame. Plant young hardy border carnations.
Annuals Clear away all plants that have finished flowering.
Biennuals Plant out biennials grown from seed in separate beds.
Bulbs Plant spring-flowering bulbs. Pot indoor bulbs such as prepared hyacinths, daffodils and tulips for flowering in winter and early spring. Water dahlias in dry spells.
Fruit Prepare ground for winter planting of fruit trees and bushes. Prune any secondary growth on apple and pear trees. Cut away dead wood on sweet cherry trees and shorten the shoots pinched back in early summer.
Vegetables Sow winter lettuces and spring cabbages. Lift onions amd ripen off under glass. Pick French beans and runner beans. Feed leeks again with organic fertilizer. Spray Brussel sprouts, Savoy and winter cabbages, cauliflowers and broccoli against caterpillars and cabbage whitefly. Encourage the last tomatoes to ripen by removing some of the plant leaves. Continue digging up maincrop potatoes. Remove greenhouse shading and reduce ventilation.
Herbs Outdoors, plant rue and thyme and sow angelica and lovage. Gather fennel seed heads for drying. Under glass sow summer savory. Root sage cuttings in a cold frame.
Recent Comments