Alex Heath, a Calne-based gardener, is the founder of Sulis Design Ltd, a design-only service specialising in low-maintenance, climate-resilient gardens and borders. He also offers a garden lighting design service, helping clients create atmosphere, enhance security, and extend the enjoyment of their gardens into the evenings - all in an environmentally conscious way. Each month, Alex shares his expertise, seasonal insights, and practical tips to help readers get the most from their outdoor spaces.
by Alex Heath
We have reached month 11 and despite being derived from the Latin for nine, “Novem” and being the penultimate month in the Roman Calendar, January and February were later added to modern calendars. November has brought spectacles of fireworks and bonfires, and the reflective moments of Armistice Day and Remembrance.
With November’s varying weather, let’s take a quick look at water and its management. Both fundamental to life and destructive when lacking or in excess, water is an important element for gardeners to master and consider for the wider community, with our increasingly unpredictable weather and climate. Already this month we have had flood warnings for the Avon river basin.
2025 was the hottest summer on record since 1884. And whilst there have been temperature peaks in previous years, the regularity of the peaks is increasing. Bowood’s head gardener David Glass has previously looked at ways to preserve water in the garden to cope with unpredictable rainfall.
His article covers water management during dry spells but also how as a garden designer and gardener can we approach the issue of too much water - 2024 was considered to be the wettest year since 1872. It is a complex subject and this article is to start a thought process about how we can manage water for ourselves and wider communities through our garden practices.
Whilst the amount of rain has increased, there have also been increasing numbers of hard surfaces due to new housing estates, solar sites and paving front gardens for parking, for example. Whilst these developments are required for affordable housing, renewable energy and places to park, this reduction in permeable areas increases the amounts of water entering the rivers and treatment systems.
This matters, as we are seeing increased flooding in our towns and increased sewage discharges into rivers due to storm water. Whilst causing localised disruption and damage there is a wider impact to businesses – for example the severe flooding in Chippenham last November, which shut schools and prevented people from going to work.
There are four methods we can use to build a strategy for reducing the amount of water entering the river and sewer systems. Each is relatively small to implement but if adopted by communities the overall effect is greater.
Capture and store
Include waterbutts, ponds, dipping tanks or larger surface and underground storage tanks in your
garden or allotment. By diverting the rain away from the sewers and surface water systems for later
use, you and your garden benefit from free water but you may also be able to apply to your water
provider for a reduction in water bills. Locally Marlborough Town Council has recently unveiled
planting schemes designed to store water and release over time.
Slowing
Try diverting rain away from the drains and into a garden which is planted and landscaped with swales (depression of ground) and berms (small raised bank), allowing water to pool and evaporate or soak in over time. You could use green roofs on bike and bin stores or create a small rain garden area. The RHS has a helpful guide on how to calculate the size of garden required for diverting water from your roof. https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-features/rain-gardens
Improving
Allow water to soak in, by ensuring your soil has an open structure. This reduces the amount of run off into drains and sewers. This can be achieved by adding organic matter to soils and removing compaction.
If you have large areas of hard surfaces such as tarmac driveways or patios try adding planters and pots or remove the odd slab or two and replace it with low level vegetation such as Thymus serpyllum creeping thyme or gravel. If planning a driveway revamp consider permeable coverings, or a driveway with areas of planting. Check with your planning officer as there are often limitations on coverings if next to a road.
Planting
Use plants that absorb water and tolerate drought and flood conditions, as they will naturally store and release water over time. Plants such as Alnus Alder Bistorta bistorta and Rudbeckia cone flowers tolerate damper conditions and will absorb then transpire the water over time.
By adding a few of these elements you may find as a gardener you have a garden that not only looks beautiful, but also aids the wider community and wildlife too. The changes don’t have to be expensive or drastic but if a street of 50 homes each installed a 210 litre waterbutt there is a potential to store 105,000 litres of water and prevent it from entering the drains.
If you would like to learn more about rain gardens and water management in gardens or discuss garden design projects and garden revamps then click here www.sulisdesign.co.uk or on the Sulis Design Banner above and follow the links to the contact page.
Plant of the month
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums are in full bloom this month and add that flash of colour like fireworks. Whether you go for a grandiflora type or the single type there is a Chrysanthemum shape, colour and size suitable for any moist but well-draining border. Try combining them with salvias, sedums and ornamental grasses to create a beautiful display.
Garden tasks
Get goodness into the soil by adding a good layer of mulch and or manure to beds and borders. Don’t skimp on the depth as thin layers will allow perennial weeds to get a head start in spring.
Gather up leaves to make leaf mould, however avoid collecting leaves susceptible to disease such as roses.
Gather them up and burn them if permitted or bin them.
Prune hardwood fruit bushes such as gooseberries and currants to create an open frame. The pruning will stimulate vigorous growth in the spring and hopefully plentiful fruits.
Insulate your greenhouse to protect delicate specimens you may have stored there. Bubblewrap is a popular choice to line the interior of the greenhouse, protecting delicate plants from early frost.
Raise pots off the ground to allow water to flow freely from the pot and to avoid frost damage.
If you have a pond, check it regularly for fallen leaves. Carefully remove them to the side of the pond to allow any pond life to return to the water. And either compost it a day or two later or spread around the garden borders.
Identify any unruly roses and begin the winter prune. Starting this process early may prevent the roses from suffering wind rock and being damaged in winter weather.
Put out food and fresh water for wildlife. As the months become colder the wildlife will appreciate this extra support given.
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