November is here, and with it, colder and wetter weather. The leaves start to fall, and the wintery glow of autumn arrives. There is time to admire the beautiful stems of the dogwood and the cyclamen peeping out in the borders, but soon will be the time for winter clothes and cosy fires. Most importantly, it is time to protect your plants and garden ornaments from the harsher weather. Here are a few things to keep you busy on a dry autumnal day.

November Jobs

* Top tip: Check stored crops for signs of rot or deterioration, especially apples which bruise easily.

* Top tip –Plant tulip and spring flowering bulbs in pots and borders, covering them with at least twice their depth of soil or compost.

November Garden Project – Leaf Mould Cage

You can make a leaf mould cage from four stakes and chicken wire and let the autumn rains take care of it, but if you don’t have enough room for a cage, you can recycle used compost bags. These are perfect since, unlike bin liners, they are sturdy and won’t break. Don’t forget to add a little water to the leaves once collected and pierce the bags to allow for drainage. Lovely soil conditioning leaf mould will be ready the next year in 12 months.

* Top tip –After the first frost, you can lift dahlias, clean dry and store in dry compost in a cool, frost-free place.