November

Top Tips:
Soil preparation is the theme for November, if you have heavy clay soil don't break it down when you dig it Use a garden fork to turn it and leave the large clods to be exposed to the elements. This will save you a lot of work and produce much better results come the spring. I like to use leaf based compost on a yearly cycle (coniferous leaves need twice as long as a general rule), this year's leaves go into the composting system, last year's go into the ground. If you don't have enough leaves to create dedicated leaf mould just add it to your normal compost bin/heap.

Lawns:
From November onwards I tend to leave my lawn alone unless the grass needs a further trim and the weather permits me to use the mower.

I try to stay off the lawn after a heavy frost, I was taught as a young gardener that it can damage the grass, I'm not sure it's true but I still observe this rule.

You can lay turf in November if the weather permits, if it's too wet you'll find the prepared base can loose it's evenness with all the tramping about.

If you suffer from a waterlogged lawn, drainage can be put in now. Don't be put off by the idea, it isn't a hard task and relies more on common sense than experience. In a small lawn you can build drainage holes filled with stones about 6ft apart. In essence you make holes the size of golf holes 3ft deep, fill to about 6in of the surface with stone then top off with earth. Tamp down as firmly as possible then add a little more earth/compost and replace the grass, you are looking to create a small protruding mound because the earth and stone will subside over the course of the winter. If the mound is still prominent in the spring you can gradually roll it out. I've never tried it on any lawn bigger than 25ft by 25ft so if you are looking at a large lawn take further advice. If you only have a small area that gets waterlogged use the same technique on the one localised part

Perennials, annuals and bulbs:
You can plant; tulip bulbs, rose bushes and deciduous shrubs now.

Herbs:
Prune and cut back your thyme, parsley and sage if you haven't already as young growth stand the winter best

Fruit & Vegetables:
Now is the time to plant up most of your fruit trees and canes.

Prepare all your soil for next year's sowings, dig and feed. Manure is best for everything except root crops (unless you want to have strange shaped carrots to send to That's Life).

Parsnips and Swede can all come out now if you have suitable storage space for them.