Outdoor diary November’s checklist

+ November means unpredictable weather. One minute you’re trying to stop pots from drying out, the next you’re staking plants. The motto for gardeners at this time of year? Be prepared for anything.

+ Slugs and snails are a major nuisance in spring when it’s warm and wet. I’ve tried plenty of traps and other organic alternatives to using bait and have recently discovered the website bugofff.com/how-to-get-rid-of-slugs-and-snails – it has lots of different ideas, including skewering!

+ Mulching is the best way to reduce garden maintenance. Weeds will go crazy in bare, unmulched areas. As the weather heats up those patches will dry out, meaning the garden will need more water, costing you time and money. Planting a living mulch (groundcovers) is a good alternative to bark. Consider arctotis, gazania, lamb’s ear, Cape daisy,

Coprosma ‘Poor Knights’, catmint or blue star creeper.

+ Aerating your compost is probably the last thing you feel like doing when it’s cold and wet. But that kind of weather can turn your compost into a soggy mess if there’s no air flow. No air means no decomposition, so grab that fork and get turning.

+ Living gifts are so much more appealing (and more environmentally friendly) than stuff that ends up in the landfill. If you start potting up a few flowering annuals or shrubs to give family and friends now, they’ll look lush and lovely by Christmas time. Save money by buying smaller plants and moving them to bigger pots that they can grow into. Add an attractive pebble mulch and a pretty ribbon and you’re good to go.

+ Ponds can turn slimy over winter, especially if they fill up with rotting leaves. Clear these out so the water will be nice and clean for summer, and use a stick to remove slimy algae. While you’re at it, scrub out the birdbath, too.