November Gardening Jobs

November marks the transition into winter and the end of the main sowing season. While frosts begin to appear in some areas, grass and plants may continue to grow until soil temperatures fall below 7°C. This makes November a crucial month for protecting your lawn and garden from frost, damp, and disease—while laying strong foundations for healthy growth next spring.

If you’ve invested time and care into your garden over the summer, completing these essential November gardening tasks will ensure your hard work isn’t undone over winter and that your garden remains resilient through the colder months.

Autumn is famous for its colourful foliage—but fallen leaves can quickly become a problem if left unattended.

• Remove fallen leaves regularly to prevent them from blocking sunlight and creating damp conditions that encourage pests and disease
• Clear garden debris from borders, paths, and lawns
• Compost collected leaves to create nutrient-rich organic matter for future use
• Clean patios, driveways, and paths to remove slippery algae, moss, and lichen, making them safer to walk on during wet weather

Lawns can suffer significantly during winter if not properly prepared. November is the final opportunity to strengthen your grass before growth slows.

• If conditions are mild (not frosty or waterlogged), give your lawn its final cut using the mower on its highest setting (around 35–45mm)
• Apply an autumn or winter fertiliser to improve root strength and help grass withstand cold, wet conditions
• Treat moss early, as it thrives in damp, low-light environments
• Check for lawn diseases such as red thread and treat if necessary
• Avoid walking on frosty grass, as frozen blades are brittle and easily damaged
• After snowfall, gently clear snow from the lawn to prevent long-term damage

If you plan to seed or patch-repair your lawn in November, choose a grass seed mix designed to germinate in cooler temperatures.

November is an ideal time to tackle algae, moss, and staining on hard surfaces before winter weather worsens.

• Clean patios, driveways, walls, and paths to remove green algae and moss
• Address black fungal staining on walls or render
• Remove rust stains from walls, roofs, and wooden surfaces
• Keeping hard surfaces clean improves safety, appearance, and longevity

Strong winds, frost, and snow can cause damage at this time of year, so regular checks are essential.

• Inspect trees, shrubs, and hedges for wind damage
• Ensure stakes and ties are secure
• Clear snow from conifers to prevent branches snapping
• Protect frost-sensitive plants with horticultural fleece
• Chop up faded plants and annuals and add them to the compost bin

Preparing beds and borders now helps protect plants and improve soil quality for spring.

• Tidy borders by cutting back old or dead growth
• Add compost or well-rotted manure to enrich the soil
• Apply an autumn mulch to protect roots from frost and suppress weeds

Despite cooler temperatures, there are still plenty of planting opportunities in November.

• Plant Outdoors
• Bare-root fruit trees (apple, pear, cherry, plum, blackcurrant, raspberry, gooseberry)
• Broad beans
• Hardy spring onions
• Sweet peas
• Tulips, lilies, eryngiums, bugles
• Plant Indoors or in a Greenhouse
• Salad leaves
• Chillies

Some plants, such as eryngiums, require a cold spell to germinate, meaning you can start certain gardens in November.

Winter preparation isn’t just for plants—garden wildlife needs support too.

• Check bonfire piles carefully for hedgehogs and other animals before lighting
• Clean and refill bird feeders regularly
• Consider creating wildlife shelters to help animals stay warm through winter

November gardening is all about strengthening your lawn, protecting plants, and preparing every area of your garden for the months ahead. Choosing products and treatments formulated for colder conditions will give your garden the resilience it needs to thrive into spring.

If you need advice, specialist products, or want to plan ahead, our gardening experts have guides and solutions to support your garden all year round.