To Do List - November

1. Autumn is always a full-time job in the garden; there is so much to do. Temperatures are still warm hovering around 20 degrees, rarely dropping below double figures, so it’s almost ideal. Intermittent showers, some heavy followed by warm autumnal sunshine. The scents from the forests are divine, especially if you lucky enough to be surrounded by eucalyptus or pine.

2. This is also a good time to re-evaluate your garden. Take stock and ask yourself where the successes and mistakes were made over the previous 12 months. Is the watering system being managed correctly? It’s still hard to believe, but even in our hot climate, more plants will be killed from overwatering and root rot than dehydration. If a particular shrub has not exceeded your expectations, consider moving it to another position, perhaps with some more sunlight, less exposure to winds, or away from other compacted plants. November is an ideal time to re-shuffle, re-create and re-design.

3. Unfortunately, despite its beauty in the shimmering light and ever changing colours of foliage, Autumn is also a messy time as deciduous trees and plants prepare for hibernation, the high winds spreading the discarded leaves, over gardens and terraces so you seem to be forever raking and clearing. However, they are a valuable source of organic compost so plenty of material for the heap. If you don’t have one, this is an ideal time to start.

4. The rains will trigger the growth of weeds, and already I have seen the first signs of Oxalis pes -caprae forming, known commonly as Bermuda buttercup. Tackle them how you wish, or even leave them alone; we all know it’s a lost cause trying to eradicate them completely.

5. Many annuals and geraniums will start to look tired and straggly, often showing yellowing of leaves and disease. I suggest cutting them back quite hard, it’s often better to do this rather than let them look untidy and sickly. There is a possibility that new growth will continue and fresh flowers will form into the winter.

6. Autumn in Iberia, I believe, is the best time for bulbs, so this month you can go bulb crazy. Daffodils, narcissus, muscari, anenomes, hyacinths and amaryllis, all have various successes and can bring added colour into the early part of the New Year.

7. Figs, pomegranates and olives should be all harvested, so consider pruning them to make sure next years growth is manageable for the following harvest.

Clearing: We all laze slightly during summer, so your garden is probably looking in need of a good clean up. Cut back summer bedding plants and annuals and they will often give another show of flowers if the weather stays kind. Keep dead-heading perennials and roses for long flowering.

As leaves start to fall, rake them off paths and add them to your compost heap or put them into hessian sacks. Moisten the contents now and again and the leaves will slowly breakdown forming leaf mould, a super-rich feed for your plants. Leaves on lawns, are easy to deal with on a dry day; get the lawn mower out - the cutting action will shred the leaves and they will then rot down rapidly, feeding the lawn at the same time.

Planting: Last month was the start of the important planting months in Mediterranean climates. The soil is warm so plants settle in quickly, rain and dewy mornings are all around us meaning less irrigation and root systems have a chance to establish well before the heat of next summer.

It’s important to plant now any bulk plantings, hedges, deciduous trees and shrubs, climbers and perennials. Remember to work in some good quality compost to get your plants off to a good start.

This is also a good month to move plants, so if you’ve got something in the wrong place, don’t despair!

Boundaries and Supports: Check that fences, trellis and tree posts are firm before the strong winds of winter start blowing things about.

Fertilising: This is the month to give your lawn its last feed of the year. Also established fruit trees, citrus, roses and shrubs; they’ll grow stronger and give you more flowers/fruits come springtime.

Rain: That wet stuff that we are all longing for — make the most of it. Save as much rainwater as you can, clean out gutters and downpipes, surface water drainage channels etc. so that not one drop is wasted! At the same time, stand pots on feet to prevent water-logging (most plants hate sitting in water) or, if they are on plates, empty them after heavy downpours otherwise the roots could rot.

Watering: After this long hot summer, check all your irrigation pipes. We’ve had many reports of rats, squirrels and even wild boar chewing through water pipes in their desperation for water.
New plantings need to be carefully looked after. Think in terms of a couple of buckets of water twice weekly if the weather is dry. This is far more beneficial than a little sprinkling every day.

Pots and Containers: Now is the time to replace summer bedding in pots with plants that will appreciate the cooler weather. There are some great foliage plants, things like heuchera, tiarella, frondy ferns, mix them with pansies, violas, cyclamen and you will have pretty pots right through to next summer.

Bulbs: This is also the month to start planting spring-flowering bulbs. We’ve a great selection coming into the garden centre very soon, the well-loved daffodils, freesia, anemone, hyacinth, crocus and some wonderful tulips. But try some more unusual onestoo-allium, amaryllis, coichicum, eremus, fritillaria, gladiolis, iris, lily, nerine, ornithogalum, nectaroscordurn, saffron crocus and the lovely Spanish bluebell. One of the advantages of bulbs is that, even if you only have a doorstep as your garden, you can make it look beautiful. As a general rule of (green) thumb, plant the bulbs at two to three times their own depth. Group in the garden in minimums of five for a showy display next springtime. Little pots of sweet-smelling narcissus and hyacinths can be brought inside when flowering. Plan some for Christmas, lovely gifts too - from planting to flowering is 4 to 6 weeks.