Finally…the hosepipe ban and the drought is officially over. It’s hard to believe how little rainfall we have had in the last six months: “We need 100% rainfall over the rest of autumn and winter to be back to a normal position by the end of next March”. (Environment Agency. 30th October 2025). Records have supposedly fallen over the reported warmest Guy Fawkes Night on record too.
So, there are plenty of jobs to do this month but many of them are ones undertaken in October too due to the mild weather:
• Herbaceous plants can still be divided and moved. Likewise, bulb planting should be successful even this late in this season.
• Raking leaves can seem to be an endless task, but it is worth it. Firstly, it allows the lawn to breathe and reduces the chance of mould developing in your lawn. Secondly, the leaves are good news in a compost heap when a layer of soil is added every 30 cm or so.
• Burning leaves is another way of processing them: the ash is good for the soil as it is high on potassium - the element that encourages fruit and flowers. Add any diseased plant material to the fire too including rose leaves that have black spot.
• Put rabbit guards on new trees to stop them gnawing at the bark if food is scarce in a harsh winter. Check tree ties too: loosen one that are too tight as this restriction can inhibit the flow of sap and therefore nutrients, around the tree.
• Prune shrub and standard roses by about a third in order that the wind does not move them around and damage the root system.
• Lift pots and containers off the ground by a few centimetres and give them “feet” of tiles or stone to avoid water logging. Pots that are fragile should have their winter wrap to prevent frost damage: bubble wrap is effective.
• Continue to mow lawns until the frosts come in, raising your blade to the maximum height as the month goes on.
• Put out bird feed such as fat balls or hanging peanut feeders. Remember to clean them and change the feed if they have been out for some time – it is far more attractive to the birdlife!
Whatever the climate may or may not be doing, there is still a hundred ways to enjoy the outdoors at this time of year. For me, it is essential to get out every day before I become sealed into a centrally heated building without fresh air. I am always astonished at the colours both subtle and bold, that I encounter.
And if you really want a blast, check out the weather forecast and get down to the sea on the rare sunny days. To stare at the autumn leaf colour against a crystal-clear blue seas and sky in November is unbeatable. Who needs TV when we have all this on our doorstep?!