Autumnal Gardens to Explore in November for Stunning Hues
Best Plants for UK Gardens in November and Suitable Gardening Jobs
November is a great time for garden enthusiasts in the UK as it offers a variety of plants that can thrive or flower during the cooler months, adding colour and structure to the autumn landscape. Here are some of the best plants for UK gardens in November, along with suitable gardening jobs to maintain garden health and prepare it for a vibrant spring resurgence.
Plants for November
- Sanguisorba, such as the late-flowering 'Autumn Red', blooms well into November with dark-red burrs, adding late-season colour.
- Repeat-flowering roses, like the 'Flower Carpet Cherry', can bloom well into November in sheltered spots if properly maintained.
- Salvias, geums, and Erigeron karvinskianus produce flowers from early summer to first frosts, brightening borders.
- Evergreen shrubs like Pieris japonica, with colorful winter buds, and cascading plants such as Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) are excellent choices for containers.
Gardening Jobs for November
- Prepare beds for winter by clearing dead annuals and mulching perennials to protect roots.
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils and tulips.
- Prune deciduous trees and shrubs while they are dormant, avoiding those that bleed sap.
- Manage late-flowering plants by deadheading to prolong bloom periods (e.g., salvias, roses).
- Divide and replant overcrowded perennials if the ground is workable.
- Clear fallen leaves and debris to reduce disease and pests over winter.
- Plant or maintain hedges to define borders, a key element in English garden design.
These tasks help maintain garden health and prepare it for a vibrant spring resurgence while making the most of November's planting opportunities and ongoing bloomers.
Additional Information
- Howick Hall Arboretum, located in Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 3LB, offers a diverse range of trees and shrubs, with its pathways requiring good footwear, particularly in wet weather.
- Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, located in Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8QS, has around 2,500 species of tree from around the world, divided into two areas: the Old Arboretum and Silk Wood.
- The Inner Temple Gardens in London offer extended seasons of colour well into late autumn and winter, thanks to shrewd, successional planting of exotic plants, annuals, and late-flowering perennials.
- Knoll Gardens in Dorset is renowned for its diverse range of grasses and honed cultivation methods, making it an ideal place to learn about their use in different environments.
For more information about these gardens, you can visit Howick Hall Arboretum's website or contact them via phone at 01665 577285. Westonbirt, The National Arboretum can be contacted via phone at 0300 067 4890 or online at forestryengland.uk/westonbirt-the-national-arboretum. The Inner Temple Gardens can be contacted via the Inner Temple's website, and Knoll Gardens can be contacted via phone at 01202 873931 or online at knollgardens.co.uk.
- Sanguisorba, like the late-flowering 'Autumn Red', and repeat-flowering roses, such as the 'Flower Carpet Cherry', can add late-season colour to UK gardens in November.
- Salvias, geums, and Erigeron karvinskianus can brighten borders with their flower production from early summer to first frosts.
- Evergreen shrubs like Pieris japonica and cascading plants such as Golden creeping Jenny are excellent choices for adding colour to containers during the cooler months.
- Gardening jobs in November include preparing beds for winter, planting spring-flowering bulbs, pruning deciduous trees and shrubs, managing late-flowering plants, dividing and replanting overcrowded perennials, and clearing fallen leaves and debris.
- For those interested in exploring gardens across the UK, places like Howick Hall Arboretum, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Inner Temple Gardens, and Knoll Gardens offer diverse ranges of plants and cultivation methods.
