NOVEMBER "Ah, November — the month where pumpkins slowly get replaced by pies, and we all pretend to be experts in gratitude, gravy, and garden clean-ups. The air’s crisp, the sweaters are out, and the last brave blooms are waving us goodbye. Sure, the days are getting greyer, but our gardens are still full of quiet magic — a sprinkle of color here, a crunch of leaves there, and maybe a rogue carrot that refused to quit. As we coast toward the year’s finish line, we’ve packed this newsletter with all the good stuff: a touch of garden inspiration, a dash of updates, and zero calories (unlike everything else you’ll eat this month). Let’s dig in!"
PLANT OF THE MONTH SKIMMIA ‘RUBELLA’ "NEED A POP OF CHEER IN YOUR NOVEMBER GARDEN? MEET SKIMMIA RUBELLA — THE GLOSSY EVERGREEN THAT REFUSES TO FADE INTO THE BACKGROUND. STU’S JOBS FOR NOVEMBER "NOVEMBER — WHEN THE GARDEN LOOKS HALF ASLEEP BUT THERE’S STILL PLENTY TO DO! RAKE THE LEAVES, PLANT THOSE BULBS, AND MAYBE EVEN FIND YOUR LONG-LOST TROWEL. A BIT OF EFFORT NOW MEANS FEWER SURPRISES LATER LET’S SEE WHAT’S GOING ON AT PREGO "PREGO CAFÉ IS THE PLACE TO BE THIS NOVEMBER — THE SMELL OF SPICED LATTES IN THE AIR, HEARTY SOUPS SIMMERING AWAY, AND A HINT OF FESTIVE CHEER SNEAKING IN WITH EVERY SLICE OF CAKE. IT’S COZY, IT’S TWINKLY, AND IT’S FAR TOO EASY TO STAY LONGER THAN YOU MEANT TO. LET’S SEE WHAT DEAN’S GOT TO SAY ABOUT THE SEASONAL TREATS AT PREGO THIS MONTH!"
S’REHTAEH Plant of the Month SKIMMIA ‘RUBELLA’ "IF YOUR GARDEN’S FEELING A LITTLE GLOOMY THIS MONTH, SKIMMIA RUBELLA IS HERE TO SAVE THE DAY — OR AT LEAST BRIGHTEN THE BORDER. WITH GLOSSY EVERGREEN LEAVES AND DEEP RED FLOWER BUDS THAT APPEAR IN AUTUMN AND HOLD TIGHT THROUGH WINTER, THIS COMPACT SHRUB ADDS A POP OF FESTIVE COLOR JUST WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO HAVE GIVEN UP. COME SPRING, THOSE BUDS OPEN INTO FRAGRANT WHITE BLOOMS THAT BEES ABSOLUTELY ADORE. WHETHER IN A POT BY THE FRONT DOOR OR TUCKED INTO A SHADY CORNER, SKIMMIA RUBELLA IS THE GARDEN EQUIVALENT OF A CHEERFUL GUEST WHO NEVER ARRIVES EMPTY-HANDED — RELIABLE, GOOD-LOOKING, AND PLEASANTLY SCENTED."
Skimmia Rubella "ALTHOUGH SKIMMIA RUBELLA IS AN EVERGREEN AND RETAINS ITS FOLIAGE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IT STILL BENEFITS FROM ATTENTIVE CARE TO MAINTAIN PEAK CONDITION. WHILE MATURE PLANTS ARE HARDY, YOUNGER SPECIMENS MAY REQUIRE PROTECTION FROM SEVERE FROST. REGULAR OBSERVATION AND A LITTLE SEASONAL MAINTENANCE WILL ENSURE SKIMMIA RUBELLA CONTINUES TO PROVIDE HEALTHY, VIBRANT FOLIAGE AND RELIABLE COLOUR THROUGHOUT THE COLDER MONTHS." WATERING: KEEP THE SOIL EVENLY MOIST BUT NEVER SOGGY. WATER THOROUGHLY DURING DRY SPELLS — THOUGH ONCE ESTABLISHED IN THE GROUND, SKIMMIA BECOMES FAIRLY DROUGHT-TOLERANT. POTTED PLANTS OR THOSE IN SUNNY SPOTS MAY NEED WATERING MORE OFTEN. MULCHING: ADD A LAYER OF COMPOST, BARK, OR MULCH AROUND THE BASE TO HELP LOCK IN MOISTURE AND KEEP WEEDS AT BAY. LEAVE A SMALL GAP AROUND THE STEM TO PREVENT ROT. FEEDING: NO NEED TO FERTILIZE IN AUTUMN. IF YOUR PLANT NEEDS A BOOST, USE A SLOWRELEASE, ACIDIC (ERICACEOUS) FERTILIZER IN SPRING . PRUNING: HANDS OFF THE SECATEURS FOR NOW! PRUNE ONLY IN SPRING ONCE FLOWERING HAS FINISHED. PROTECTION: MATURE SKIMMIAS PLANTED IN THE GROUND ARE HARDY AND RARELY NEED PROTECTION. YOUNGER PLANTS CAN BE COVERED WITH HORTICULTURAL FLEECE DURING SEVERE FROST. FOR POTTED SKIMMIAS, MOVE THEM TO A SHELTERED SPOT (LIKE A PORCH OR NEAR A WALL) OR WRAP POTS IN HESSIAN OR WOOL FOR EXTRA INSULATION. SOIL: SKIMMIA PREFERS WELL-DRAINED, SLIGHTLY ACIDIC SOIL. IF YOUR GARDEN SOIL IS TOO ALKALINE, CONSIDER GROWING IT IN A POT FILLED WITH ERICACEOUS COMPOST INSTEAD.
FOR OCTOBER HEY GUYS! I KNOW IT’S ONLY BEEN A FEW WEEKS SINCE THE LAST NEWSLETTER, BUT WHAT CAN I SAY — THE GARDEN DOESN’T DO QUIET SEASONS! WE’VE STILL GOT LOADS TO TACKLE BEFORE WINTER FULLY SETS IN, SO I’M DIVING STRAIGHT IN. APOLOGIES IF I SOUND A BIT FULL-ON (I PROMISE IT’S JUST THE COMPOST FUMES TALKING, LOL). NOW GRAB A WARM DRINK, PULL ON YOUR BOOTS, AND LET’S GET STUCK INTO THIS MONTH’S GARDEN JOBS!
FLOWERS TUCK IN YOUR TULIPS: PLANT TULIP BULBS IN POTS AND BORDERS, GIVING THEM A NICE COZY BLANKET OF SOIL — ABOUT TWICE THEIR HEIGHT. THINK OF IT AS SENDING THEM OFF TO BED TILL SPRING. DAHLIA SPA DAY: ONCE THE FIRST FROST HITS, LIFT THOSE DAHLIA TUBERS, GIVE THEM A CLEAN, AND POP THEM INTO DRY COMPOST FOR THEIR WINTER HIBERNATION. THEY’VE EARNED IT. PLAN AHEAD (WITH SNACKS): GRAB A CUPPA, BROWSE SEED CATALOGUES, AND START DREAMING UP NEXT YEAR’S GARDEN MASTERPIECE. BARE ROOTS, BIG DREAMS: PLANT BARE-ROOT HEDGES, ROSES, TREES, AND SHRUBS BEFORE THE WEATHER TURNS PROPERLY GRUMPY. CLEAR THE CLING-ONS: SAY GOODBYE TO SWEET PEAS, MORNING GLORY, AND OTHER ANNUAL CLIMBERS THAT HAVE OVERSTAYED THEIR WELCOME — OFF THE SUPPORTS THEY GO! PERENNIAL MAKEOVER: CHOP BACK THOSE SCRUFFY PERENNIALS AND TREAT THE SOILTO A MULCH FACIAL WITH SOME LOVELY COMPOST. MAPLE MAGIC: PLANT A JAPANESE MAPLE IN A POT AND GIVE IT A SHELTERED, SEMI-SHADY SPOT — SOMEWHERE IT CAN LOOK EFFORTLESSLY ELEGANT ALL WINTER. BLACK SPOT BOOT CAMP: GATHER AND BIN THOSE FALLEN ROSE LEAVES WITH BLACK SPOT — WE’RE NOT LETTING THAT DISEASE RSVP TO NEXT SPRING’S GARDEN PARTY. ALPINE RETREAT: MOVE ALPINE CONTAINERS UNDER COVER TO AVOID SOGGY SOIL AND SAD, SOGGY PLANTS. MULCH MAKEOVER: REFRESH GRAVEL MULCH AROUND ALPINES — IT’S THEIR VERSION OF A CLEAN DUVET DAY. WRAP UP THE TENDER TYPES: GIVE BORDERLINE-HARDY PLANTS LIKE AGAPANTHUS A THICK, COZY MULCH BLANKET TO SURVIVE THE CHILL. RABBIT-PROOFING TIME: WRAP YOUNG TREES AND SHRUBS WITH STEM GUARDS — BECAUSE APPARENTLY RABBITS THINK BARK IS A SNACK. BERRY BONUS: COLLECT AND SOW SEEDS FROM BERRY-LADEN TREES AND SHRUBS — NATURE’S WAY OF GIVING YOU FREE PLANTS!
HARDWOOD HOMEWORK: TAKE CUTTINGS FROM YOUR BEST FRUIT BUSHES — CURRANTS, BLUEBERRIES, AND GOOSEBERRIES — AND FEEL SMUG KNOWING YOU’RE BASICALLY CLONING YOUR OWN SUCCESS. CLOCHES ON, BUT KEEP IT BREEZY: POP CLOCHES OVER WINTER PEAS, BEANS, AND SALADS, BUT LEAVE THE ENDS OPEN — PLANTS LIKE FRESH AIR TOO, NOT A STEAMY SAUNA. RASPBERRY REBOOT: ONCE YOU’VE FINISHED PICKING THOSE AUTUMN RASPBERRIES, CHOP THE CANES RIGHT DOWN. THEY’LL BOUNCE BACK NEXT YEAR — PROMISE. GARLIC GANG: GET YOUR GARLIC, SHALLOTS, AND ONIONS IN NOW WHILE THE SOIL’S STILL WORKABLE. COVER THEM WITH FLEECE SO THEY STAY COZY (AND TO STOP THE LOCAL WILDLIFE FROM REDECORATING). BERRY TIDY-UP: WHEN YOUR FRUIT BUSHES GO DORMANT, GIVE THEM A GOOD PRUNE — BLACKCURRANTS, REDCURRANTS, WHITECURRANTS, GOOSEBERRIES — THEY ALL LIKE A SMART HAIRCUT BEFORE WINTER. SPROUT SUPPORT SQUAD: TIE UP YOUR TOP-HEAVY BRUSSELS SPROUTS BEFORE THE WIND KNOCKS THEM FLAT. A STURDY CANE AND A BIT OF SOIL AT THE BASE WILL KEEP THEM STANDING TALL — UNLIKE US AFTER TOO MANY MINCE PIES. ARTICHOKE AFTERMATH: CUT DOWN YOUR JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES AND STORE THE TUBERS IN DRY COMPOST — THEY’LL KEEP NICELY UNTIL YOU’RE READY FOR SOUP SEASON. PIGEON-PROOFING: NET YOUR CABBAGES, KALE, AND OTHER BRASSICAS. THOSE PIGEONS THINK IT’S AN ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BUFFET OUT THERE. FRUIT TREE TIME: PLANT BARE-ROOT FRUIT TREES, BUSHES, AND CANES WHILE THE SOIL’S NOT TOO SOGGY. NOW’S THEIR MOMENT TO SETTLE IN BEFORE SPRING. CROP CHECK: PEEK AT YOUR STORED CROPS — ANY SIGNS OF ROT OR MUSHINESS, AND IT’S EVICTION TIME. CHICORY TRICKERY: LIFT AND POT CHICORY ROOTS, THEN KEEP THEM IN THE DARK TO FORCE THOSE TASTY, PALE LEAVES. STRAWBERRY SPA DAY: TIDY UP STRAWBERRY BEDS — TRIM OLD LEAVES, THIN OUT RUNNERS, AND GIVE THEM A QUICK WEED. A LITTLE PAMPERING NOW MEANS JUICIER BERRIES LATER.
BUBBLE WRAP MAKEOVER: GIVE YOUR GREENHOUSE A SNUG WINTER COAT BY LINING THE WALLS AND ROOF WITH BUBBLE POLYTHENE. IT’S LIKE CENTRAL HEATING… BUT CHEAPER. TENDER PLANT RESCUE MISSION: MOVE ALL YOUR FROST-FEARING PLANTS UNDER COVER — THEY’LL THANK YOU FOR THE WARM SHELTER WHEN THE FROSTY MORNINGS HIT. ROOT CUTTING TIME: PROPAGATE PERENNIALS LIKE PHLOX, ORIENTAL POPPIES, AND VERBASCUMS BY TAKING ROOT CUTTINGS. THINK OF IT AS CLONING YOUR FAVOURITES BEFORE WINTER BITES. WINDOWSILL GREENS: SOW QUICK LEAFY CROPS LIKE ROCKET IN TRAYS ON A BRIGHT WINDOWSILL — FRESH SALAD LEAVES IN WINTER? YES, PLEASE. PEST PATROL: KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OVERWINTERING PESTS. THEY LOVE A COZY GREENHOUSE AS MUCH AS YOUR PLANTS DO. SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB: GIVE THE GREENHOUSE A GOOD CLEAN — SHELVES, GLASS, AND FRAMES. A DISINFECTANT WASH NOW MEANS FEWER PROBLEMS LATER (AND YOU’LL FEEL ODDLY ACCOMPLISHED). BULB BABYSITTING: WATER POTS OF SPRING BULBS REGULARLY SO THE SOIL NEVER DRIES OUT — NEGLECT IS NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR TULIPS. SPRING PREP MODE: WASH OUT EMPTY POTS AND TRAYS, THEN STACK THEM NEATLY UNDER THE STAGING. FUTURE YOU WILL BE VERY IMPRESSED. HERB HOTEL: BRING IN POTTED HERBS LIKE PARSLEY AND CHIVES SO YOU CAN KEEP SNIPPING FRESH FLAVOUR ALL WINTER LONG. TEMPERATURE CHECK: USE A MAX-MIN THERMOMETER TO MONITOR TEMPERATURES AND POP ON A HEATER IF IT’S DIPPING TOO LOW — YOUR PLANTS PREFER COZY, NOT CHILLY. AVOID SPLASH ZONES: WATER CAREFULLY TO KEEP FOLIAGE DRY — SOGGY LEAVES ARE BASICALLY AN OPEN INVITE FOR FUNGAL DRAMA. OUT WITH THE OLD: CLEAR AWAY FADED TOMATO AND CUCUMBER PLANTS AND TOSS THEM ON THE COMPOST HEAP — THEY’VE HAD THEIR MOMENT.
FIGHT THE DRY AIR: CENTRAL HEATING MIGHT KEEP YOU COZY, BUT YOUR PLANTS HATE IT. GIVE THEM A LITTLE EXTRA HUMIDITY — A MISTING, PEBBLE TRAY, OR EVEN A STEAMY BATHROOM HOLIDAY WORKS WONDERS. FEED THE FAM: KEEP FEEDING HOUSEPLANTS WEEKLY WITH LIQUID FERTILIZER THROUGH AUTUMN — THINK OF IT AS THEIR PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE SEASON. ORCHID UPGRADE: IF YOUR MOTH ORCHIDS LOOK LIKE THEY’RE ABOUT TO BURST FROM THEIR POTS POST-FLOWER, REPOT THEM NOW — THEY LIKE A BIT OF SPACE TO STRETCH. COOL NIGHTS, LESS SIPS: WATER LESS OFTEN AND MOVE PLANTS OFF CHILLY WINDOWSILLS BEFORE BED — NOBODY LIKES COLD FEET. FESTIVE FLAIR: POT UP HIPPEASTRUM (AMARYLLIS) BULBS NOW FOR SHOWSTOPPING BLOOMS RIGHT IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. INSTANT INDOOR DRAMA — IN THE BEST WAY. WELCOME HOME: IF ANY HOUSEPLANTS HAD A SUMMER HOLIDAY OUTDOORS, IT’S TIME TO BRING THEM BACK IN BEFORE THE FROST CRASHES THE PARTY. POT SIZE MATTERS: REPOT ANY TOP-HEAVY OR ROOT-BOUND PLANTS INTO SOMETHING ROOMIER. IT’S THEIR VERSION OF MOVING INTO A BIGGER FLAT. CHASE THE LIGHT: SHORT DAYS MEAN LESS SUNSHINE — MOVE PLANTS TO BRIGHTER SPOTS OR PICK LOW-LIGHT-LOVING ONES TO FILL THE SHADY CORNERS. DUST PATROL: SNAKE PLANTS AND OTHER BROAD-LEAVED BEAUTIES TEND TO COLLECT DUST, SO GIVE THEIR LEAVES A QUICK WIPE. THEY’LL BREATHE EASIER — AND LOOK FABULOUS. LEAFY DIY: TAKE LEAF CUTTINGS FROM PLANTS LIKE AFRICAN VIOLETS AND BEGONIAS — OR FROM SUCCULENTS SUCH AS ECHEVERIAS, CRASSULAS, AND SEDUMS. A LITTLE PROPAGATION MAGIC GOES A LONG WAY. PEST WATCH: KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR APHIDS, MEALYBUGS, THRIPS, OR SCALE INSECTS — BASICALLY, ANYTHING CREEPY THAT DOESN’T PAY RENT.
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