November 15th

November 15th 2011

What You Should Have Done Last Week in your Garden – Or NOW

PRUNING

No particular rush everyone as your fruit trees can be pruned any time over the next two or three months. Not all fruit trees though. You hardly need to prune any fruit tree that bears a fruit with a stone in so don’t prune cherry, apricot, nectarine, peach or plum trees. If you need to prune them for shape or height do it in the late spring. But you do need to prune apple, pear and quince trees at this time of year at least once every other year. For espaliers or trained trees you can do this in July as well to maintain the shape.

Cut off any shoots that are growing from the ground. Cut of any damaged, diseased or dead wood.  Cut off any twigs or branches that are crossing over. Always cut just above the fruit bearing buds, if you look carefully these are bigger that the leaf buds, they are your fruit for next year.

PUTTING AWAY

If you have somewhere to store garden furniture, hosepipes...... do it now before the winter takes its’ toll on them.

If you have outdoor pipes for water you may want to insulate these.

LEAF TIDYING

I am still raking up leaves and they are still valuable. So either continue putting them into composting jute sacks or add them to your compost heap.

BEDS

If you have been so efficient as to clear a few beds, make sure you protect your earth by adding a layer of manure, otherwise the harsh winter will remove the goodness from the earth.

HARVEST

I am still picking rocket from my under my poly tunnels, all my squash are now stored on my windowsill waiting for me to use. There are still apples everywhere and also the odd pear, if you can store them, now is your last chance, the birds are beginning to get them.