Chilly November Mornings in the Garden – How Do You Cope?

Not me- leaving the gardening until spring now.

No point mulching frozen ground now ! It needs to be mulched weeks ago before the frost , you are only locking the frost inn

No gardening for me in this freezing weather !

I’ve been in my garden most of the morning as I still had some dahlias to take out of their pots and store in the shed for the winter.
I was wearing jeans (no tights underneath,) thermal vest, fleece jumper and a fleece gilet. I was as warm as toast in the sunshine apart from my fingers. Gardening gloves just don’t keep them warm.
I always feel better for being outside and the hot soup for lunch was very welcome.

First hard frost two nights ago. First snow at our level (very sleety) last week. Lots on the mountains.

Finished mulching the allotment raised beds in October ; a 6inch cover of fresh seaweed for all. Straight from the beach in sacks onto the beds; the rain takes care of salt and the worms dig most of it in over winter. Great effect on soil structure and fertility. Any left by worms, will be raked up to cover next years potato beds.

I have two very busy dalek compost bins which were also emptied and spread in Oct, then filled up with any unready stuff and the summer's growth waste material , layered with leaves, seaweed, grass cuttings, kitchen waste and ( new trial) the feather fillimgs from two old cushions. (Very messy, lots of feathers flew off and escaped as I tipped them in) They are already warm . In the next few months I'll collect bags of horse manure, also used as activating layers in bins.

I've cleaned out and washed the greenhouse (inside) .

Sowed some aquadulce broad beans in beds under cloches; never tried an autumn sowing before. They are UP but something ( mouse or slugs) is nibbling them.

Garlic planted in September is also up.

The shed is chaotic and needs a total clear out. The paths need weeding.

I have a load of potted up cowslips to plant out (grown from seed, from a plant friend gave me last year)

Plum tree was so overladen with fruit it broke some branches, it and the cherry tree both need pruning.

almost a year and still no sign of life on the drilled and filled shitake "mushroom farm" logs. If they don't get their shit together they will go to hell as fire logs .

Our garden had ‘muck* put on it three weeks ago, I’ve got a bag left for the veg bed in January when we’ve cropped, hopefully, parsnips and sprouts, the few cabbage we can work around. Pruning all done apart from a climber and grasses, they’ll be done early spring, I can’t work out there in the cold, my fingers go numb and are useless.

On a cold sunny day, with leaves to rake, nothing better exists. But that of course is a mid to late afternoon job as the shadows lengthen.

Not doing it this year. My leaf filled garden is a thing of the past. I have a small town centre garden, currently almost entirely unplanted and raw earth - but come the spring tall shrubs are going to be planted around the perimeter wall - so I will have leaves next autumn.

My garden can look after itself until April. I have plenty of more interesting things to do indoors where it is warm.

You are obviously an enthusiastic gardener, so buy yourself some really warm clothes and boots for Christmas, or in the January sales.

Out in garden at lunch time , as by that time sun had melted most of the frost.

Heated waistcoat ( gilet) kept me warm.
Only a few leaves and some plants that had succumbed to the frost to put in garden bin.
Had just come back from walk so body had acclimatised and no sudden cold shock.
Rain tomorrow so I needed to be out and about in the sunshine today.
As you say good for the soul.

Last garden bin collection of the year here today - my bin was rammed. There’s still a lot of leaves and apples to fall, so I’m hoping for a fine weekend or two to get those into the bin. Otherwise, I’ll be feeding the birds, but not much else for a while.

Too cold for me - there is no pleasure in it, but I do need now that the frost has done for them to dig up the dahlias and replace them with tulips.

Hoping to do that in the next week or so when the weather warms up.

I fiddle in the garden on better days until the big spring tidy up.

What can one do in a garden at this time of year?

I am new to this.

More leaves to sweep up and the lavender needs chopping back.

The beds were mulched ages ago but some lovely weeds wildflowers are growing through.
Does anyone know how to get rid of Fox and Cubs, very pretty but it's taking over and is difficult to dig out.

butterandjam, beware of pruning cherry and plum trees at this time of year as they can be susceptible to a fungus, leaf curl. My brother lost two cherry trees like this. Apparently, best time to prune is late summer before it gets cold.

I’m doing very little in the garden until spring, if it’s looking untidy so what 🤷🏼‍♀️, the wildlife and hibernating insects will benefit.
I did prune the roses a couple of weeks ago but that’s all.
I have lots of self-seeded flowers growing, especially cerinthe which the bees love, and nigella. I really don’t want to disturb them.

Does anyone know how to get rid of Fox and Cubs

I thought you meant real ones. 😮😂

No idea what they are. What’s the Latin name?

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Quite pretty but grows in cracks, borders, groceries, everywhere.

I've just seen one for sale on eBay for nearly £20, I could make a fortune if I dug them up and sold them.

Tonight's Gardeners World, Monty is lifting dahlias. He normally wears a chunky jacket.

AuntieE

My garden can look after itself until April. I have plenty of more interesting things to do indoors where it is warm.

You are obviously an enthusiastic gardener, so buy yourself some really warm clothes and boots for Christmas, or in the January sales.

That’s a bit dismissive, AuntieE. The OP suggested a cosy chat?

I’ll be watching Gardeners’ World tonight as I suspect it will be the last one. Monty’s also lifting dahlias so at least my timing’s right. 😂

Fox and Cubs - Pilosella aurantiaca

merlotgran

^Does anyone know how to get rid of Fox and Cubs^

I thought you meant real ones. 😮😂

No idea what they are. What’s the Latin name?

Pilosella. They are quite pretty, but can spread like mad. Sarah Raven is selling the seeds!

groceries no, not in the groceries 😂
Rockeries!

Allira

groceries no, not in the groceries 😂
Rockeries!

😂😂

merlotgran

^Does anyone know how to get rid of Fox and Cubs^

I thought you meant real ones. 😮😂

No idea what they are. What’s the Latin name?

Pirosella aurantiaca, or golden mouse ear, or common hawkbit I think.

You could dig it up and sell it - the RHS charge £7.99 a pot! 🤣