Cooler temperatures, frost, snow and rain can be particularly harsh on British gardens which is why planting and sowing may be the last task on people’s minds right now.
However, while people are not using their outdoor space as much at this time of year, there are still certain tasks, including planting, that need to be completed now ready for the seasons ahead.
Builder’s merchant Travis Perkins offers a wide range of products to help expert gardeners with their garden and landscaping projects. They have shared which plants and crops need to be planted now.
Certain plants and crops need more time to grow, which is why they need to be planted now, ready for spring.
Gardeners need to plant everything from flowers to bulbs, crops, and seeds in November and December for a beautiful garden in spring.
What to plant in winter
November
As temperatures drop, gardeners can start to plant spring tulips in well-draining containers.
Place the bulbs at a depth of around three times their height and use compost to completely cover them.
Come spring, these plants will look vibrant and pretty, adding colour to gardens that are likely looking a little sad after winter.
Christmas roses, also known as hellebores, can also be planted in borders now for beautiful winter flowers. Varieties such as ‘Double Mixed’ will produce larger blooms while Hellebore argutifolius will produce small lime green flowers.
Hyacinth bulbs can also be planted now for a beautiful, colourful display in spring.
Planting garlic in November can help ensure a good harvest in the summer months.
The cloves should be planted with the pointed end up in well-drained soil, around two centimetres deep and between 15 and 23cm apart.
December
Gardeners can sow onions in December ready for harvest in early to mid-summer.
Onion seeds can be sown in seed trays or in plugs filled with compost. They need to be kept warm in order to germinate.
For some winter colour, gardeners can plant hardy cyclamens like Cyclamen coum and Cyclamen hederifolium or pansies.
