The joys of a November garden

Tulips are probably the most dazzling and varied: these are best planted late, from the end of November, as cool temperatures at planting time lower the risk of tulip fire (a disease that can damage flowers and foliage). When planting bulbs, use a trowel or bulb planter, and aim to plant them in a hole three times the depth of the bulb.

At Easton we are adding many kinds of bulbs across the gardens, which should result in spectacular spring displays. In the sumptuous Velvet Borders sweetly-scented, magenta-purple Hyacinthus ‘Woodstock’ will combine with dramatic tulips
‘Black Parrott’ (which has frilly petals of darkest purple) and ‘Curley Sue’ (a bright purple, fringed tulip).

Orange selections will feature in the Turf Maze, while in the Cottage Garden we have chosen double, pink-flowered tulip ‘Angelique’ and an Easton favourite, Narcissus ‘Cheerfulness’ which has small fragrant flowers of white and yellow, ideal for cutting.

In the Pickery (our picking garden), more tulips will feature, including pale yellow ‘Cheers’ and ‘Elegant Lady’ with goblets of cream and soft pink, all combined with wallflowers.

You will also come across many smaller bulbs including blue Scilla and Puschkinia in our container displays for next year, while in the Mini Meadows we’re adding smaller Tulipa sylvestris and dainty Pseudonarcissus for naturalising.

The overall effect, wherever you’ll be in the garden, will be a colourful and beautiful spring display!

Even though the garden looks a little quieter with fewer plants growing, there are still some gardening jobs to be doing:

• Collect and compost fallen leaves Raking leaves from lawns and patios is important as they damage turf and make hardstanding areas slippery. Any collected leaves can make a valuable resource for garden compost and leaf mould. In beds and borders, leaves improve the soil as they decompose so can be left in situ.

• Finish trimming evergreen hedging It is not too late to give evergreens a final trim, leaving hedges and topiary tidy through winter. Avoid doing any hard pruning.

• Tidy perennials Remove collapsed material of plants such as hostas, but keep standing stems and seedheads of other plants if you can (this not only makes the garden look interesting but it also offers shelter for overwintering wildlife). Divide perennials such as Geranium, Hemerocallis, Iris and Phlox.

• Begin fruit tree pruning You can start your annual pruning of apple and pear trees this month, but wait until most of their leaves have fallen so you can see the branch structure clearly.

• Check bonfires Watch for hibernating hedgehogs before bonfire night.

Many gardeners have mixed feelings about frost; it ends the joys of the past season yet brings undeniable magic. Rimed with ice, seedheads and branches sparkle and the glitter of frost shows off a well-structured garden perfectly. Hedges, topiary and carefully-trained trees appear sharper and crisper than ever.

Hoar frosts are particularly dramatic, with water vapour touching freezing surfaces and coating everything with feathery crystals. These are the mornings to rise early, brave the cold, and photograph the short-lived beauty.

While frost signals the end of the growing season, garden tasks continue. By now, tender plants such as Abutilon, Brugmansia and Pelargonium and most succulents should be under cover, but others that have been merely damaged by the cold may need some attention.

Dahlias are best not lifted until the frost has blackened foliage, as this is said to ripen tubers. In mild areas they and other fleshy-rooted plants such as cannas and gingers can be covered in situ with a thick mulch of garden compost. In the vegetable plot, crops such as carrots, parsnips, turnips, swedes, Brussels sprouts, kale and cabbage develop sweeter flavours after frost, so harvesting can commence.