As colder weather approaches, preparing your garden for winter is crucial to ensure your plants emerge healthy in spring. November offers the perfect chance to get outside and take essential steps to protect your garden.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) highlights several important jobs you shouldn’t overlook this month, with one simple yet vital action standing out: raising your container plants off the ground.
According to the RHS, placing pots on raised supports such as pot feet helps prevent waterlogging during wet and freezing conditions. They advise, “In wet weather, raise pots up off the ground on ‘feet’ or similar to keep the bottom of the pot out of standing water.”
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When pots sit directly on soil, excess rainfall can collect underneath, soaking the compost and suffocating the roots by depriving them of oxygen. This often leads to plants dying over winter, a loss many gardeners face come spring.
By elevating containers a few centimeters using pot feet, bricks, or pebbles, you allow water to drain freely from the pot’s base. While the setup may not always look perfect, your plants will be far better protected against winter damage.
November is also the ideal time to plant tulip bulbs to brighten your garden next spring. The RHS recommends planting a variety of tulips in autumn—from compact types for pots to taller stems for borders or delicate species for naturalizing lawns—for a vibrant flower display.
Following these straightforward tips will help ensure your garden thrives and looks its best when warmer months return.