GATHER LEAVES TO MAKE LEAFMOULD
November monty don: a concise orientation before we get practical.
November monty don: Quick notes
Every fallen leaf is potential leafmould and leafmould which, unlike compost, takes no turning, mixing or knowledge to make, is garden gold.Â
 So I am obsessive about making leafmould, gathering as many of the fallen leaves as possible, mowing them to chop them up and then stacking them in a big open heap so they can break down into a lovely rich, crumbly texture and become an essential component of our home-made potting compost.
But I also leave drifts and piles of leaves under hedges and trees to provide over-wintering cover for hedgehogs, frogs, small mammals and insects, along with stacks of logs and piles of prunings – all of which gives essential winter protection for these small creatures that contribute so much to the garden’s health.
PLANT TULIPS
November it is tulip-planting time. This is, to my mind, the most important an best job of the month. It is actually something that can be done at any time between now and Christmas although the earlier they get into the ground the earlier they will flower.Â
The essential thing with all tulips is to make sure that they have good drainage. This matters less if they are to be treated as annuals and dug up after they have flowered but even so they will be happier with plenty of grit or sand added to heavy soil. If they are to be permanent it is important to plant them as deep as you can – II often use a crowbar to make a hole 12 inches or more deep – and the deeper they are the stronger and straighter the stem will be.Â
If you are growing them in a container then drainage is easier and they do not have to be so deep and can also be planted in layers – a tulip lasagne, with an earlier variety such as ‘Orange Emperor’ planted deepest that will flower first, followed by a mid-season variety like ‘Negrita’ planted above it and then finally, in the top layer a late-season one such as ‘Queen of Night’.Â
LIFTING DAHLIAS
Frost reduce Dahlias to blackened tatters so it will be time to bring them in. However the tubers will not be harmed unless the ground freezes, so do not panic. Â
Wait until the top has fully died back and then cut back the top growth to 6 inches whilst they are still in the ground and carefully dig up the tubers, removing as much soil as possible. Stand them upside down for a few days to drain any moisture from the hollow stems and to let the tubers dry a little and then store them in a tray or pot packed with old potting compost, vermiculite, sharpsand or sawdust.Â
The idea is to keep them cool but frost-free, dark and dry but not to let them dry out completely or else the tubers will shrivel. I lightly water mine after layering them into large pots or crates and then check them every month to see if any are mouldy or shrivelling up.
MOVING PLANTS
One of the benefits of climate change is that the autumnal soil stays warmer for longer and thus November is a very good time to move plants, from small trees to shrubs like roses or herbaceous perennials. If you are moving any plant there are a number of considerations although the larger the plant the slower it will be to adapt to its new home and the more careful you must be when moving it.
1. Water the plant very well 48 hours before moving. Give it a really good soak.
2. Dig as large a rootball as possible. For herbaceous perennials this should not be a problem – and you may well want to divide it into smaller sections before replanting – but for trees and shrubs this inevitably means cutting back the amount of roots.
3. Reduce the top growth to balance the amount of root you lift. Ideally the spread of a shrub or tree should not exceed the spread of the roots and with shrubs like roses cut them back very hard.Â
4. Replant carefully into well-dug soil so that the roots are at the same level in the soil. Firm it in very well and give a very generous soak.
A short mention of November monty don helps readers follow the flow.
Just finished reading Monty Don’s November advice for prepping the garden beds—turns out burying compost under frost is magic for soil.
Genius tip! My soil’s been struggling—time to give this a shot.
Just followed Monty Don’s November tips and tidied up the flower beds—they’re looking neat for winter. Feels good to wrap up the gardening year like this!
Love that! Your tidy beds will welcome pollinators in winter and give a head start on spring blooms. 🌼.
November feels different this year—Monty’s advice about autumn gardens sticks in my head, and I’ve finally tried planting garlic in that forgotten kitchen corner.
Your garlic in that forgotten spot proves Monty’s autumn wisdom takes root—where there’s vision, seasons feel more alive!
November’s Monty Don episode? Feels like he’s singing the garden’s favorite songs—like foxgloves popping up uninvited where lettuce once lived. Reminds me how November always stitches the year’s last dance.
Monty’s knack for highlighting November’s quiet beauty—foxgloves claiming the soil, the garden’s slow waltz as the year draws close.
The garden’s bones are bare now, but I’m planting tulip bulbs under the drip of an old tin roof—just like Monty advised. Coffee smells better than the rain, even in November.
Coffee’s warmth beats November rain—tulips under your roof will bloom bold.
November frosts are creeping in. but Monty Don’s advice stuck—chatted with him last week about lifting daffodils early. Bold move. but my beds feel fresher already. Worth the dig-up. I reckon.
Bold move—frost might bite, but your beds sound like they’re fighting back. Fingers crossed!
I’ve tried something similar at home—Monty Don’s no-dig method isn’t magic. but it’s doable. I didn’t get it perfect. but my soil feels lighter already. Small wins. right?
Spent a chilly November morning with Monty Don. clearing frost-kissed leaves and planning bulb layouts. He insists on winter prep. so here I am. half-buried in compost.
Ah, winter prep wisdom from Monty! Compost is the best mulch—enjoy the earthy paradise.
Monty Don’s November advice on planting garlic really clicked with me—I followed his tip to break bulbs into individual cloves and now half my garden smells like allicin!
November 2023 with Monty Don feels like a crisp autumn embrace—crunching leaves underfoot, bonfires casting warm glows while gathering seedlings for winter. His garden always reminds me that even as daylight fades, life persists in quiet, tender ways.
Homegrown herbs and dormant bulbs remind me: each season sows the roots of the next.
Love how Monty Don’s November episodes always make me rethink winter gardening. Who knew a season of bare soil could be so full of potential?
I’ve tried something similar at home—Monty’s tip on composting kitchen scraps has been a game-changer! My soil’s never felt healthier, and those herbs are thriving. Nature’s magic in November.
Just caught up on Monty Don’s November tips—love how he emphasizes layering textures, like pairing bare shrubs with grasses, and optimizing light.
Totally agree! Layering textures like Don suggests adds depth, and those grasses are a game-changer.
Just caught Monty’s November chat—love how he turns the cold into magic with those bare roots. Made me chuckle recalling my own frost-bit hands planting garlic cloves.