November Garden Checklist

Summer gardening is truly magical, with the promise that the bulbs you plant now will flourish season after season—provided they get a bit of TLC. With a few simple shifts in your summer gardening approach, you can help your green companions thrive. After all, we're here to guide you through the little details that make your garden a true sanctuary for plants and wildlife alike. Embrace the season with our November Garden Checklist, carefully created to take the guesswork out of planting bulbs and ensuring your garden bursts with colour all summer long.

Plant dahlia, and then while you are at it plant some more (you know you want to) 

What would a November Garden Checklist be without the darlings of the summer garden, dahlia. These dazzlers are highly versatile and rewarding plants, bringing lasting beauty to any garden. With an array of sizes, colours, and shapes to suit every taste, they are a must-have addition. Whether they flower on repeat in your garden or you are a beginner at planting these floral wonders, stick to the basics, and these blooming babes will steal your hearts forever, and a day.

Easy planting guidelines 

1. Mark out a spot in your garden that gets drenched with sunlight, for your dahlia to settle in.
2. Make sure to prepare your soil well. Compost adds nutrition, while sand promotes drainage. Start by loosening the soil to a depth of about 30cm and work the sand and or compost into your soil.
3. Plant your dahlia with the tubers facing down, and cover them with about 5-8cm of soil. Ensure you provide a generous layer of mulch over your planting area (more on this shortly).
4. Water deeply (for about 10 minutes) every three to four days provided it hasn’t rained.

Plant amaryllis for festive gifting and decor

Make someone feel truly special with the gift of a homegrown amaryllis, or plant these bulbs yourself for easy, versatile, and stunning blooms to grace your festive tables. Simply count six weeks back from the date you want them to bloom, and you'll have the perfect planting time.

Summer Watering Schedule + Mulch = Reduced Thirst

The warm season is here, so give your bulbs the star treatment they deserve and roll out the compost carpet! A good layer of mulch helps to keep them hydrated, ensuring they grow strong roots and make a fabulous debut. When it’s time to water, think less “light mist” and more “serious splash” (morning or evening, please). These bulbs aren’t here for a half-hearted drizzle—they’re future garden royalty! So give them a real soak and watch them bloom into the brilliant beauties they’re destined to be.

When it comes to your winter and spring bulbs, ensure you are watering them regularly, until their foliage and leaves die back naturally. When this happens, they are entering their dormancy stage.

For the love of dahlia, be patient for sprouts 

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are bulbs that went into the ground today! It is the heat that activates their root development and growth cycle. Seriously though, when you’re planting dahlias—or any other bulb, really—remember that patience is key. These perennial powerhouses need some quiet time to stretch out and settle their roots before they strut their sprouts. So don’t panic if, one or two weeks in, they’re still MIA. They’re just fashionably late! Once they pop up, though, there’s no holding these floral superstars back. They just go, go, go and put on the most magnificent show.

Keep calm and feed your bulbs 

Whether you’ve got summer bulbs or spring bulbs in your garden, don’t let them go hungry! Give them a good snack with Hadeco Bulb Food (or something similar) at weekly intervals.

After flowering

It is especially important, after they’ve strutted their stuff, and before they head into their beauty sleep, to give them regular doses of food. Do the right thing and let your bulbs continue their lifecycle after blooming. Don’t just yank them out.

Give vertical or containing planting a go 

If you're reading this and find yourself either without a garden or with garden beds already overflowing, we've got the perfect solution: vertical or container planting. Ready to give it a go? Let’s dive in!

A sun-drenched wall can become a unique canvas for growing summer bulbs, herbs, or vibrant flowering annuals. Gather a few essentials, map out your vertical masterpiece, and start planting. A summer filled with blooming beauty awaits!

Sow vegetable and herb seeds for a sensational summer

Enjoy summer all the more with your own vegetable and herb harvest! Here’s what you can grow now.

Vegetables 

• Green beans
• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Celery
• Courgettes
• Cucumber
• Eggplants
• Leeks
• Lettuces
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Swiss chard
• Spinach
• Sweetcorn
• Tomatoes

Herbs

• Basil
• Sage
• Chives
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Rosemary

Repot indoor plants 

Is your potting medium running low? Have your plants overstayed their welcome in their current pots? Or perhaps you've just picked up a plant whose soil could use an extreme makeover? Treat them to a new, clean pot filled with quality potting mix, and give them a welcoming drink to settle in.

There you have it—the November Garden Checklist, filled with planting ideas, care tips, and something new to try. Happy gardening!