November: your home and garden checklist
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Guide written by:
Sebastian, self-taught DIY-er, Exeter
Harvesting your autumn veg and preparing your crops for winter
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November is the month to harvest your autumn veg, care for your soil, mulch your winter veg, pick up leaves and cover up your cold-sensitive plants with crop covers. There's still time to plant some spring cabbages or grey shallots, and mid-November is the perfect time to get bare root bushes and trees in the ground.
Pruning your trees and overwintering your plants
Don't forget: your most delicate decorative plants and trees will also need mulching! This includes any fruit-bearing trees or bushes, dahlias, cannas and gladioli. Any shrubs and bushes that have finishing blossoming can be cut back and your tools can be cleaned, sharpened and stored in a dry spot. With your grass left to its own devices for the winter, your lawnmower and scarifier can also be prepared for winter storage.
Cutting and processing your own wood
With pruning season underway, your chainsaw and garden shredder will be working overtime! To avoid any accidents, you'll need to make sure your blades are sharpened and ready for action. Now is a great time to take advantage of your garden resources by splitting logs and making your own mulch or compost.
Keeping cosy in the garden
While using your deckchair and hammock is probably out of the question, it is still possible to make the most of your outdoor furniture – as long as you have a gazebo to settle under or an outdoor heating system to cosy up to! And while a patio heater may not be the most eco-friendly option, it's a lot more effective than placing a blanket over your shoulders...
Heater
Preparing your pool for winter
Unless you have a heated pool or you fancy a bit of cold water swimming, your swimming days are long behind you! If you haven't done so yet, now is the time to prepare your pool for the winter months. From treating the water to cleaning the pool and shutting down your filtration system, your pool requires all sorts of overwintering care. Don't forget to invest in gizmos and a good pool cover to keep your pool safe!
Warming up the home
With the chilly weather here to stay, your boiler or electric heating system will be back to work. If you want to make the most of your central heating, make sure you've got the best radiators in place; bleeding your existing radiators will also work wonders on your heating bill! If your heating system isn't quite cutting it, think about investing in some space heaters for a cosy boost when needed.
Heaters
Preparing your home for hibernation
November is usually the month of the year that most of us go into hibernation mode; it's cold, it's raining and the days are shorter! Now is the perfect time to turn your home into a cosy palace for living out the winter months whether you're hoping to tackle puzzles, curl up with a book or just catch up with some cat videos... With many of us choosing to work from home, it's important to ensure you have an adequate space for work – believe us, your back will thank you in the long term!
...and we haven't forgotten your pets!
Make sure your dog is equipped with warm clothing and a comfy bed for plenty of naps and a pile of chews to keep them busy. Remember your cat might be needing a little more food to combat the cold and if they aren't tempted to venture out in the chilly weather, it might be a good time to invest in a new litter tray.
More information
Check out our monthly guides for tips and tricks on staying busy all year long!
Guide written by:
Sebastian, self-taught DIY-er, Exeter
Redo a roof with wooden beams? Check. Advise everybody in the DIY shop? Check. Redo bathroom plumbing? Check. If it doesn't work, try again! I'll do my best to advise you in your projects.
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