Winter is just about upon us. Is there much to be done in the garden in November

A.� Temperatures may be dipping and the evenings getting longer but the ground still generally still has some warmth in and is still loose enough to dig.

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Basically there are two elements to the garden in November, planting and getting the soil ready for the spring.

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A.� November is the traditional month for decorative trees, particularly fruit trees and conifers to enable them to get established in time for new growth in spring. Mix plenty of compost into the planting hole to get them off to a good start.

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A.� As soon as perennials and annuals have been cut down and cleared get in to the vacant areas with a spade and dig the ground over, adding a liberal helping of compost or manure. Doing this now gives the goodness time to break down and be absorbed into the soil ahead of spring planting. If, however, you have a very light soil leave this operation until spring.

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If you have a heavy clay soil, as well as adding manure and compost to lighten the soil leave big clods exposed to give the coming frosts a chance to break them up. On the evidence of last year the sooner you do this the better as if we get the downpours of last winter heavy soils will soon get too wet to work over properly.

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A.� The remnants of all but the winter veg should have been cleared by now, and, like the flower borders should be dug over thoroughly and compost or manure mixed in. Late plants that will take the winter such as cabbages and leeks can be planted now and early broad beans and peas should be sown.

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