As the seasons shift and we wind down our gardens for winter, even the most seasoned gardeners can slip up. From mistimed pruning to neglecting your grass, these easy-to-make mistakes could leave your garden struggling come spring.
Heading outside this weekend? While there are plenty of gardening jobs to be getting on with in November (planting tulip bulbs, lifting dahlia tubers after the first frost, preparing bare-root roses), the experts have shared the jobs not to do.
Take a look at the common mistakes gardeners make, plus how to avoid them.
1. Overcrowding spring bulbs
From crocuses to pretty purple hyacinths, squeezing too many bulbs into one compact container can lead to overcrowding and smaller blooms the following spring. If you’ve fallen victim to this, lift and divide bulbs to replant them.
Follow the rule of planting depth about 2-3 times the bulb height and give enough spacing so they can breathe.
2. Binning fallen leaves
Crunchy, golden leaves tumble onto our lawns and pathways during autumn, but according to the experts, we should think twice before sweeping them away.
Instead of binning them, place leaves into an outdoor compost bin. Then, add food scraps and other compostable materials over winter. Cleverly, dead leaves naturally break down into a nutrient-rich, eco-friendly compost that can supercharge spring growth.
You can also use leaves elsewhere in your garden. ‘Create piles of leaves in the corners of your garden, spread them onto borders, or, except for paths and patios, just let them remain where they’ve fallen,’ says Lucy Taylor from Vine House Farm Bird Foods.
‘We’ve long had a bit of an obsession in the UK for clearing up fallen leaves in our gardens and then disposing of them, but attitudes are changing and it’s much better to see autumn leaves as something of a harvest.’
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3. Pruning hydrangeas too early
Timing is key when it comes to pruning your hydrangeas. If done at the wrong time, it can result in loss of blooms, weakened plants, or damage from frost. Pruning is recommended in late winter/early spring.
‘Leave dried blooms on hydrangeas over winter — they shield buds from frost,’ says Claire Albon, Category Manager of Gardens at Wickes. ‘Deadhead in early spring, just before new growth. Protect roots by covering the base with natural material like bark chips or fallen leaves. This locks in moisture, feeds the soil as it breaks down, and prevents winter damage.’
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4. Not securing young trees
Young trees take a few years to anchor themselves in the soil and need staking to prevent winter storm damage. According to Claire from Wickes, securing young trees is often overlooked in winter, but skipping this step can leave them damaged or with lifeless sprouts by spring.
‘Young trees benefit from gentle staking for some extra support during more volatile weather to help prevent them from breaking or collapsing,’ adds Nisha Kumar, Head of marketing at Onduline. ‘Before this, check for any weak, dead, or damaged limbs and prune where necessary so they don’t fall and cause damage during a storm.’
5. Forgetting to winterproof your lawn
Don’t put your gardening tools down just yet: November is the perfect time to winterproof your lawn. Claire suggests areating and feeding to strengthen the grass roots, then finishing with a deep watering to lock in moisture.
And don’t forget about that final trim, too. Early November is the best time for the final grass cut of the year, as growth slows dramatically when the temperatures dip below 10 degrees.
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David Beckham
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David Beckham is a dedicated gardener at his Cotswolds home, where he tends to a large vegetable patch and enjoys harvesting produce like carrots, courgettes and onions himself.
You can follow all of his green-fingered projects over on his Instagram, and his wife Victoria Beckham frequently shares updates on her Stories, too.
Jo Whiley
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Jo Whiley is not only a celebrated broadcaster but also a passionate gardener. She has spoken about the joy she finds in her garden, particularly in creating naturalistic planting schemes and encouraging wildlife – and she has even collaborated on several RHS garden over the years.
Follow her on Instagram for the occasional tour of her garden.
Kate Moss
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In 2022, former supermodel Kate Moss left the hustle and bustle of London behind and permanently relocated to her Cotswolds home in Little Faringdon, where she reportedly grows her own veg. More of a secret gardener, Kate doesn’t post about her green activity, but you can find numerous photos of her countryside plot online.
Will Young
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Pop Idol’s first-ever winner, Will Young, is not just passionate about singing. His garden makes a frequent appearance on his Instagram feed and he has spoken about how spending time surrounded by greenery helps him ‘deal with his PTSD’.
Stacey Solomon
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When Stacey Solomon doesn’t look glamorous on TV, she is an avid hobby gardener, who says growing her own vegetables and keeping chickens ‘feed her soul’. On her Instagram, you’ll find countless photos shared from her garden, whether it’s Stacey beaming next to her homegrown brassicas or cuddling her toddlers among daffodils.
Jim Carter
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The Downton Abbey actor discovered his love of gardening during the pandemic, when he and his wife Imelda Staunton spent all of their time outside. In 2023, Jim campaigned for gardening and horticulture to be added to the national curriculum, saying ‘Children need to put their phones away and get out into the garden.’
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