Planting Fruit Trees and Bushes
- Plant fruit trees and bushes if the soil is not too wet; if it is, wait for drier conditions.
- Apples, pears, plums, strawberries, raspberries, and currants are easy to grow in well-drained soil with a sunny aspect.
- Use freshly lifted stock for better root establishment.
Pruning and Tidying
- Fruit tree pruning can be carried out, except on plums, to avoid silver leaf disease.
- Prune and tie in trained fruit trees, such as espalier and cordon pear and apple trees.
- Tidy up the vegetable garden, removing old crops to the compost heap, unless they are diseased.
- Control weeds in the garden to lessen future effort.
Soil Preparation
- Dig over vegetable ground, removing old crops or chopping them up and burying them as you dig.
- Spread compost and rotted manure before digging it in.
- Control weeds over areas of ground that will be dug over later in winter.
Herb Care
- Herbs such as mint, tarragon, and horseradish can be lifted and divided at this time; use the most vigorous parts for replanting.
- Store vegetables that can be over-wintered in a pit or cool shed.
