Lily's garden

November is a quiet time in the garden, but there are still some jobs to do. If the big clean-up has not occurred take advantage of the odd fine day, as all old summer plants need to be cleaned up in the flower borders and beds and shrubs trimmed back.

Here in the borders, daffodils, snowdrops and tulips are well into their rooting season, all these are under the summer plants and need to be manured as soon as possible. We give them a good dose of liquid chicken manure, with a good supply of natural nitrogen in it. This gets them going after what might be a cold winter.

Make liquid manure by putting a shovelful of manure into a container and cover with water, then stir on and off for a few days. The mix gets down to the plant’s roots quicker than just spreading dry material, it also encourages earthworms to do their job as they eat their way through soil and mix the material with mucus in their guts, this helps to improve soil crumb structure.

They are working away all of the time and our garden is full of them as no pesticides or sprays are ever used and no artificial manure, only farmyard manure.

Another job this month is the sowing of garlic, do so as soon as possible. To get good results, sow in a sunny position as it has a long growing season. It’s a bit late now to sow broad beans, as I like to get them in around mid-October. They are up in the garden and looking well after an extended growing season this year and if the winter is not too severe, they will get a head start with healthy plants in spring.

This is a good month for propagating rhubarb as it is the dormant time. Divide a root by digging it up using a strong garden fork, as the root will go deep into the soil, a spade or axe will be needed to successfully divide this root.

Each divided part of the plant will need a sunny part of the garden to grow. Make sure each root has buds before removing it from the main crown.

With water being talked about everywhere, we really don’t know what to think of the water coming down from our taps, the supply here is coming from deep wells and is very good. It’s the fluoride that we have a problem with.

I think a good spring well does not need a disinfectant to be added. I read an article in a newspaper recently where in America all fluoride toothpaste has to carry a poisonous notice by federal law, it states “if accidentally swallowed, can cause problems”. The same pea-sized amount can be found in a glass of tap-water. Enjoy a bit of quiet time in the garden, as spring is only a few months away.

For questions, hints and tips, etc, email me at lilysgarden1@gmail.com.