WILLOW

  Garden Design           

Seasonal Tips

Below are gardening tips for each month of the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter!                                                                           

Spring

March

After the last freeze, cut back and remove last year's debris and prepare the garden for spring.  Remove all dead leaves and stems.

Now is a good time to divide your perennials. Fertilize perennials with slow-release fertilizer once they start to sprout from the ground

Plant hardy vines and ground covers.

Prepare flower garden beds.  Plant hardy annuals, biennials and perennials when there is no danger of frost.  Water plants thoroughly. It's best to water plants in the morning.

Apply mulch.  Mulching can help eliminate the need to weed. Be sure to apply a thick layer.  This will help retain moisture in soil and eliminate weeds.

Start aerating and dethatching your lawn. Plant evergreen grasses when there is no danger of frost. Fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer. Begin to cut grasses at the proper height.

Start corns, roots and tubers indoors.

Prune and fertilize shade, and spring-flowering trees, shrubs and vines after they have bloomed.

Prune roses and then apply lime sulfur to control pests.

Check for pests and leaf blight.

April

Water plants thoroughly during the growing season.  It's best if you water in the early morning when the sun has enough time to evaporate the water.  Watering at night can promote fungus diseases and mold.

Now is a good time to start a regular weeding regimen.  If you pull out thin weeds early the easier it to pull them out. 

Mulching can help eliminate the need to weed. Be sure to apply a thick layer. This will help retain moisture in soil and eliminate weeds.

Prune and fertilize shade, and spring-flowering trees, shrubs and vines after they have bloomed.

Plant evergreen grasses while the weather is cool. Fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer. Continue to cut grasses at the proper height.

Stake or support tall or top heavy perennials like peonies and delphinium to give them support. 

Plant herbs and tender annuals and flowering bulbs, corns, tubers and roots like Canna, Coleus and Dahlias once there is no danger of frost.

Keep an eye out for worms, caterpillars, gnats, aphids, miner and other pests and leaf blight. Treat with appropriate insecticide.

Do not prune roses unless you have to remove dead wood or remove unhealthy canes. Remember to cut the flowers just above a joint with five leaves.

Prune tropical plants that wintered over indoors.

May

Bring tropical plants outside.

Plant herbs and tender annuals.

Pinch the tips of flower stems on plants to promote branching, increase fullness and more blooms. 

Remove spent flowers to extend the blooming season. 

Prune creeping perennials like Dianthus and Candytufts to keep them neat and promote new growth. Prune taller plants to about one-half their height after they bloom.

Fertilize spring-flowering shrubs and vines after they bloom.

Spray roses for beetles and black spot according to instructions.

Plant summer grasses.  Fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.

Begin planting seeds or annual vines like Morning Glory and Passion Flowers this month.

Monitor the rain water level.  Be sure to water plants and grasses if there has not been significant rain.

Mulch all plants and shrubs to maintain moisture.

Cut back the foliage of spring flowering bulbs once they have died back.

Keep an eye out for worms, caterpillars, gnats, aphids, miner and other pests and leaf blight. Treat with appropriate insecticide.
                                                   

Summer

June

Most perennials are in peak form.  Continue to weed at least once-a-weak if possible.

Monitor the soil moisture.  Push your finger about an inch or two in the ground.  If it's dry, water thoroughly. When watering, be sure to give your plants and trees a deep soak. Window boxes, hanging plants and containers will need to be watered more frequently.

Pinch the tips of flower stems on plants to promote branching, increase fullness and more blooms. 

Remove spent flowers to extend the blooming season. 

Spray roses for beetles and black spot according to directions.

Start pinching the terminal buds of chrysanthemums.

Continue to fertilize plants.

Keep an eye out for pests, particularly slugs, worms and beetles.  Treat with appropriate insecticide.

Keep lawns watered during dry spells.

July

Weed at least once-a-weak if possible.

Monitor the soil moisture.  Push your finger about an inch or two in the ground.  If it's dry, water thoroughly. When watering, be sure to give your plants and trees a deep soak. Window boxes, hanging plants and containers will need to be watered more frequently.

Pinch the tips of flower stems on plants to promote branching, increase fullness and more blooms. 

Remove spent flowers to extend the blooming season. 

Spray roses for beetles and black spot according to directions.

Pinch the terminal buds of leggy chrysanthemums.

Continue to fertilize plants.

Keep an eye out for pests, particularly slugs, worms and beetles.  Treat with appropriate insecticide.

Continue planting or reseeding summer grasses. Keep lawns watered during dry spells.

Cut back bearded irises and daylilies when they start to brown. Separate and transplant rhizomes if needed.

August

Stop planting and reseeding summer grasses in mid-August. Keep lawns watered during dry spells.

Stop pinching the terminal buds of chrysanthemums.

Do not prune or fertilize summer-flowering shrubs.

Remove spent flowers to extend the blooming season. 

Fertilize plants to get a final burst of color.

Keep an eye out for pests, particularly slugs, worms and beetles.  Treat with appropriate insecticide.

In late August, begin to prune large roses back at least one-third. Continue to spray roses.

Monitor the soil moisture.  Push your finger about an inch or two in the ground.  If it's dry, water thoroughly. When watering, be sure to give your plants and trees a deep soak. Window boxes, hanging plants and containers will need to be watered more frequently. 

Fall

September

Plant evergreen grasses like fescue.  Fertilize with a high-nitrogen slow release fertilizer..

Stop pruning and fertilizing plants.

Discontinue pruning of trees.

Remove spent flowers to extend the blooming season. 

Fertilize plants to get a final burst of color.

Prune roses back to one-third  and fertilize if you have not done so.

Plant chrysanthemums, pansies, and ornamental grasses to add interest to the garden.

Rejuvenate last year's Amaryllis if it has been properly prepared.

Continue to monitor water levels.  Water as needed. Now is a good time to give plants a good soaking before winter sets in.

Take cuttings of plants to bring inside for the winter.

Examine potted plants and check for insects. Repot plants that will be brought inside for the winter.

October

Do not prune or fertilize trees, shrubs or vines this month.

Spray infested plants and shrubs as needed.

Continue to prune roses.

Fertilize roses for the last time if you have not done so.

Continue to plant hardy annuals, perennials and biennials.  Fertilize when planting but do not do so again until next spring. 

Begin to cut dead annuals, biennials and perennials to the ground once they die back.

Continue to take cuttings of plants to bring inside for the winter.

Examine potted plants and check for insects. Bring tender plants and tropicals indoors.  If possible, place plants in similar light condition

Dig tender corns, tubers and roots after the frost.  Store in a cool place.

Fertilize evergreen lawns if you haven't done so. Do not fertilize summer grass lawns. Allow summer grasses to grow about three inches to harden for the winter weather.

Apply pre-emergence weed control if needed.

Before the first frost, bring your houseplants indoors.  Soak them with soapy water to remove any insects.  Adjust your watering if you have turned on the furnace.  Mist plants to raise the humidity and help them adjust to the drier air.  Now is also a good time to check your plants to see if they need to be repotted.

November

After the first frost, cut dead annuals, biennials and perennials to the ground.

Plant balled and burlaped (B&B) and container grown trees, shrubs, vines, roses, hardy biennials and grown cover and perennials if the ground is not likely to freeze or not too wet.  Fertilize all newly planted trees.  Stake newly planted trees if needed.  Mulch well to insulate plants.

Start Paperwhite Narcissus, hyacinths, and Amaryllis bulbs indoors.

Fertilize Christmas cactus and Poinsettias once blooms appear.

Do not plant or fertilize grass lawns.

Apply pre-emergence weed control if needed.

Winter

December

Remove dead annuals, biennials and perennials.

Plant dormant shrubs and vines and hardy perennials until the ground freezes. Do not prune or fertilize. Water thoroughly.

Prune evergreens.

Use burlap to protect broadleaf evergreens from wind and cold damage.  Do not use plastic.

Rake leaves away from the base of trees and shrubs.

Start planning next year's garden.  Look through your favorite catalogs and jot down your ideas and select special plants.

Purchase ornamental peppers, Christmas cactus, Kalanchoes, Amaryllis, and Paperwhite Narcissus.

During heavy snows, brush snow off limber tree branches to keep them from breaking.  Snow on sturdy shrubs can help insulate plants and prevent cold damage.

January

Plant balled and burlaped (B&B) and container grown trees, shrubs, vines, roses, hardy biennials and grown cover and perennials and  if the ground is not likely to freeze or not too wet.  Be sure to fertilize all newly planted trees.  Stake newly planted trees if needed.

Prune dormant trees to shape.  Remove diseased wood and crossed branches.

Prune shrubs (except spring-flowering evergreen shrubs).  Prune vines like Clematis according to instruction.  Most can be pruned until new growth appears.  Others require pruning after their blooming period.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs befor the ground freezes.

Order seeds from mail-order catalogs. Start seeds inside in later January and early February.  This is also a good time to take clippings from last year's Coleus and Geraniums.

Rake leaves off your lawn to keep them from smothering the grass.

During heavy snows, brush snow off limber tree branches to keep them from breaking.  Leave the snow on sturdy shrubs to help insulate plants and prevent cold damage.

February

Continue planting balled and burlaped (B&B) and container grown trees, shrubs, vines, roses, hardy biennials and grown cover and perennials if the ground is not likely to freeze or not too wet.  Be sure to fertilize all newly planted trees.   Stake newly planted trees if needed.

Fertilize evergreens with an acid fertilizer. This is a good time to inspect plants for pests, such as lacebugs and scales.

Forsythia can bring some welcomed blooms.  Simply bruise the cut ends of the stems and put them into hot water and then cold water.  Place them in a vase in a cool place and watch the blooms appear.

Plant pansies, peonies and iris if the weather permits.

Cut back Liriope almost before new shoots appear.  This will promote growth and a neat appearance.

Prune roses and then apply lime sulfur to control pests.

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Last modified: 03/06/05