Floors Castle Garden Centre, Kelso, Scottish Borders: Things to do in November

Plant of the Month: Indoor Cyclamen

Our cyclamen are locally grown to the very highest standard and provide a popular choice for adding a splash of colour to our home. They are not suitable for planting outdoors, and you should be very wary of any that claim to be suitable for patio planting. They require a cool position in the house well away from radiators, and should be watered sparingly from the base. Over-watering and too much heat are the main causes of failure of cyclamen plants. We offer for sale both cyclamen and mini-cyclamen in shades of white, pink and red. Try placing five or six plants of the same shade in a basket for a really elegant display.

Tip of the Month:

Prepare for winter in advance! Remove pumps from water features and store in a frost free place. Take all patio furniture and
parasols indoors after oiling all folding joints. Thoroughly clean the BBQ and store indoors. By doing all this now you will save
a lot of trouble in the spring when you want to start using them all again.

Gardening Tasks:

Ö		Continue to sweep up fallen leaves and add to the compost heap.

Ö		Tie in any upright growing conifers to prevent snow damage.

Ö		Apply a mulch of grit to any alpines and container plants which may need protection from winter wet.

Ö		Apply Path & Patio cleaner to hard surfaces to help prevent them becoming slippery in the wet.

Ö		Dig over exposed ground to allow the frosts to break up the soil.

Ö		Keep an eye out for loose soil around plants as a result of wind-rock. Re-firm as required.

Ö		Ventilate the greenhouse and coldframe whenever the weather permits.

Ö		Continue to plant fruit trees and bushes as long as ground conditions permit.

Ö		Cut back growth of herbaceous plants at it dies down.

Ö		Start feeding the wild birds in earnest. Suet treats and peanuts are a good source of energy for them as the weather gets colder.

Ö		Cover outdoor taps with an insulating sleeve for the winter.

November Events at the Garden Centre:

Exclusive Evening Christmas Shopping Event for Invited Guests only. Enjoy a glass of wine and the magical evening
atmosphere at the garden centre. Emma & Stephen host this annual event which is back by popular demand.