Have I still got time?

[Auricula]

Because of all the recent rain i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/rolleyes.gif I am about 2 weeks behind with my autumn beds/borders revamp i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/embarassed.gif
I have 2 long borders which I really need to overhaul this autumn.I need to dig up and split irises,rudbekias and suchlikes, dig out completely some clumps of plants I now don't want and replace them with herbaceous plants which were cuttings taken in the late summer.There has been an infestation of bindweed and other weeds which must be completely rooted out, and I have lots of home made compost which needs using up to clear one of the bins...phew!!
My question is ( thanks for being patient i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/cheesy.gif ) Can I do this over the next few weeks? It has been very mild and damp and we don't usually get frosts, so will it be ok to work at these borders through November?
Thanks i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif

[Ladygardener]

Absolutely yes, living where you do Auricula I'd go for it. There is most likely some warmth in the soil and you'll get it done before the winter sets in. Good luck. ;D

[Jasmine]

Or you will have to be patient and wait
No, don't do that - do it now ;D

[Auricula]

;D ;D If I wait for spring - by the time I've got back from my holiday, things have started growing apace and it's too late......also....what is "wait"?? ;D ;D Thanks both of you, I just wasn't sure when / how quickly soil cools down

[Barbara]

Use your hands, if it feels toooo cold it probably is, but, being where you are, I suspect it's OK.

[Tig]

I've been moving stuff in my borders, and planting stuff out. The soil underneath is really still warm but you will lose some of that warmth if you are deep digging. Get it done asap, most things are starting to go dormant now anyway, well they are oop North

x Tig

[Auricula]

Thanks girls, I'll give it a shot i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif A lot of things are still in flower but I guess I'll just bite the bullet rather than risk waiting too long i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/cheesy.gif

[Jasmine]

Yes...don't you do any of that waiting stuff! ;D
They say October for us so I bet you could get away with November.

[Auricula]

Hope so Jas

[Dutchy]

Happy gardening Auricula.
( we do so till first week November max but when you draw a line I suppose we are up north of Norfolk and we do get severe frosts third week of November in general. Mind it gets slightly warmer after that and then in February brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr )

[andy]

I'm doing all my usual autumn / winter stuff such as planting spring bulbs and shrubs as well as some winter pruning as well as summer stuff like mowing, spraying and hand weeding !!!!! 17 degrees here today...the world's gone mad

[Chuckles]

I'd go for the digging out and splittin and replanting Auricula it's not to late and you are also in the right part of the country for the less extreme winter weather. The only thing that I would hold back on would be planting out the summer cuttings, I always wait until at least the following season if not the next depending how they go. Gives the new plants a chance to get well established roots, this time of year I pot them on into bigger pots, everybody does things differently though. It would also mean that come spring you would have a better visual of seeing if you did get rid of all the bindweed etc and if not you could get at it more easily to remove it.

[Auricula]

Good thinking Chuckles..thanks