Divide prune and cut back in the garden
There’s still time to do some tidying up in the garden, which will make your task easier in the spring once everything starts growing again.
Faded herbaceous perennials can be cut down and clippings thrown on the compost heap. Leave your penstemons though (but do carry on deadheading) and they may still keep flowering for a while. Cut them back more in the spring. Leaving the stems offers protection to the crowns – a mulch is worth adding as well, especially if you live in a cold area.
You can also tidy up bamboos and ornamental grasses now – though you may want to leave attractive seedheads, as they look amazing when covered in frost or snow – be ready with the camera when that happens!
You can also still lift and divide any herbaceous perennials that are overgrown. Tuberous bedding begonias, cannas and dahlias can also be lifted and stored, if they’ve been caught by frosts.
Problem areas
Now’s the time to get the last of your harvest from the garden. Either leave them in the ground or lift and bury in a shallow trench so you can easily get to them when you need them. Parsnips’ flavour improves once they have caught the frost. Likewise, celeriac can be left in the ground but does need some protection – mulch with straw or another suitable material. Also make sure you stake the talks of Brussels sprouts so they don’t get damaged by wind before your Christmas dinner.
Christmas Craft and Design Fair, Rosemoor
Enjoy some Christmas shopping in the lovely setting of Devon’s RHS Garden Rosemoor. The Christmas Craft and Design Fair takes place on 22 and 23 November and is open from 10am to 3pm. You will find a range of exciting gift ideas on show, with an emphasis on the unusual and beautiful. Normal garden entry applies.
Felt Christmas decorations and cards
Get creative and make some beautiful festive items at this special workshop at RHS Garden Harlow Carr on 19 November. The workshop, which runs from 10am until 4pm, will allow participants to try a number of needle-felting techniques in order to create 3D Christmas sculptures, which will make ideal gifts or decorations. Hand-felting techniques will be used to make cards, with the help of an embellisher and various textiles. All materials, tea and coffee are provided. The workshop costs £73 (£65 for RHS members)
RHS podcasts
Listen to our latest podcast, where we offer seasonal information, you can hear tips on growing fruit and veg, and get up-to-the-minute help and advice.
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