November Gardening Tasks

A simply amazing month in the home garden. Growth is rapid, flowers are bursting into bloom, and there’s still time to plant summer vegetables and delicate herbs like basil before the real heat of summer arrives.

Veggie Garden

Plan new planting carefully to guarantee a continuous supply of fresh vegetable throughout summer.
Try not to crowd plantings – air movement through developing vegetables is very important give them some air, as this helps reduce insect problems and disease, and helps control numerous insects.
Vegetables to be planted in November include beans, beetroot, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, corn, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnip, peas, pumpkin, radish, spinach, silver beet, and tomatoes.
Towards the end of the month some irrigation may be required to sustain healthy growth. Deep watering encourages strong root systems.

Tomato Care

Tomatoes love warmth, so November is prime time for growth and flowering.
Stake or cage plants early to support heavy crops later on.
Remove side shoots (laterals) to direct energy into fruit production.
Feed with tomato fertiliser to encourage healthy flowering and fruit set.
Keep watering consistent to prevent problems such as blossom end rot or fruit splitting.

Pollinator Planting

Bees and butterflies are now busy in the garden. Encourage them by growing nectar-rich plants such as lavender, borage, rosemary, echinacea, and salvias.
Group flowers together in clusters for maximum attraction – it makes feeding easier for pollinators and brings your garden to life.

The Summer Perennial Garden

November is a standout month for perennials. Varieties such as alstroemeria, salvias, echinacea, lavender, asters, and dianthus will be starting to bloom – and many will continue flowering well into summer with a little care.

It’s still time to plant new perennials from your local garden centre. Prepare the soil well, water deeply, and mulch to help them settle in before the heat of summer.
Apply a general garden fertiliser or compost around established perennials to encourage strong growth and longer flowering.
Keep up regular deep watering as the weather warms.
Stake taller varieties such as delphiniums and dahlias before they become top-heavy.
Deadhead finished blooms to extend flowering and keep plants looking tidy.
Mulch around plants to keep soil cool and retain moisture.

Roses

November is one of the best months for roses. Most are in full bloom, but common diseases like black spot or rust may start to appear in some cases. If spotted, treat asap – read our How to Grow Roses or our Q&A to learn how.

Deadhead finished flowers to encourage new flowers.
A second application of rose fertiliser should be made early in the month.
Mulch around all rose plants with compost.

Flowering Annuals

Annuals planted in October will now begin flowering.

Keep an eye on soil moisture and water deeply if it becomes dry.
Fill any gaps in the flower bed with quick-growing summer colour such as alyssum, ageratum, cornflowers, cosmos, marigolds, nemesia, phlox, portulacas, petunias, strawflowers, salvias, sunflowers, or zinnias.
Observe which varieties thrive best in your garden – it’s valuable knowledge for next season’s planting.

Bulbs

Very important to allow the tops of bulbs to go brown and die down. This process feeds the bulb for next year’s flowers.
Bulbs can be either lifted or allowed to remain in the soil to naturalise. Learn more in our How to Grow Bulbs.

Fruit Trees

Apply a second round of Daltons Premium Fruit & Citrus Fertiliser to all fruit trees, pip, stone and citrus.
Mulch around all trees to aid water retention and prevent excess weed growth.

Harvest and Preserve

Try freezing or preserving surplus fruit and vegetables – it’s a great way to extend your home-grown goodness into the cooler months.
Alternatively, swap excess crops with friends and neighbours – a simple way to share what you’ve grown and reduce waste. You’ll broaden what’s on your plate and theirs.

Strawberries

A peak month for harvesting fresh strawberries.
Don’t forget to apply crushed bark or pea straw around the plants to keep the strawberries clean.
Pick as they ripen to enjoy the sweetness of home-grown strawberries.

Pest & Disease Watch

With warmth comes an increase in pests such as aphids, whitefly, slugs, and snails, and diseases.

Check plants regularly and take action early.
Encourage beneficial insects like ladybirds (see above).
Avoid watering leaves, as this encourages fungal issues – instead, water at the base of the plant.
If you’re not sure what’s eating your plants, head out at night with a torch – you’ll soon spot the culprits in action – be sure to check underneath the leaves!

Lawn Care

Continue to mow regularly, slowly reducing the height that is being mowed.

Don’t mow too low as lawns withstand hot, dry summer conditions if there is a reasonable mat of turf.
Where water supply allows, irrigate during dry spells to encourage strong, healthy, grass growth – ideally in the morning or evening.

Herb Garden

New herbs planted in October should be thriving and providing plentiful herbs for the kitchen.
Plant extra of your favourites so you don’t run out.
Remember – herbs thrive in hot, sunny spots with light, free-draining soil.
Pinch out any flower heads to encourage leafy growth.

Indoor Plant Care

As temperatures rise inside the home, increase the frequency and amount of water applied to all the houseplants.
Check that plants growing near windows are not receiving too much sun.
Feed with Daltons Premium Houseplant Tabs – super easy to insert into the pot – one dose feeds for up to 6 months. Much easier and more cost effective than using liquid fertilisers.

Container Gardens Maintenance

As the weather warms, container plants may need daily watering, especially during hot, dry spells.

Establish a regular watering routine and apply controlled-release fertiliser towards the end of the month to keep plants growing strong.
For summer colour, try planting combinations of petunias, calibrachoas, and lobelia in bright, complementary shades.
Give pots a wipe down so they look clean and tidy for the upcoming season.