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seasonal hints and tips

 

Garden Calendar 

  • Recycle your Christmas tree by shredding it for mulch

  • Ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days

  • Dig over any vacant plots that have not been dug already

  • Repair and re-shape lawn edges

  • Inspect stored tubers of Dahlia, Begonia and Canna for rots or drying out

  • Prune apple and pear trees

  • Start forcing rhubarb

  • Plan your vegetable crop rotations for the coming season

  • Keep putting out food and water for hungry birds

  • Prepare a polythene shelter for outdoor peaches and nectarines, to protect them from peach leaf curla 

a month by month guide to tasks in the garden 

January

February

 

  • Prepare vegetable seed beds, and sow some vegetables under cover

  • Chit potato tubers

  • Protect blossom on apricots, nectarines and peaches

  • Net fruit and vegetable crops to keep the birds off

  • Prune winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering

  • Divide bulbs such as snowdrops, and plant those that need planting 'in the green'

  • Prune Wisteria

  • Prune hardy evergreen hedges and renovate overgrown deciduous hedges

  • Prune conservatory climbers

  • Cut back deciduous grasses left uncut over the winter

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

March

April

  • Plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes

  • Protect new spring shoots from slugs

  • Plant summer-flowering bulbs

  • Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials

  • Top dress containers with fresh compost

  • Mow the lawn on dry days (if needed)

  • Cut back Cornus (dogwood) and Salix (willow) grown for colourful winter stems

  • Weeds come back in to growth - deal with them before they get out of hand

  • Start feeding fish and using the pond fountain; remove pond heaters

  • Open the greenhouse or conservatory doors and vents on warm day

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

 

  • Keep weeds under control

  • Protect fruit blossom from late frosts

  • Tie in climbing and rambling roses

  • Sow hardy annuals and herb seeds

  • Start to feed citrus plants

  • Increase the water given to houseplants

  • Feed hungry shrubs and roses

  • Sow new lawns or repair bare patches

  • Prune fig trees

  • Divide bamboos and waterlilies

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

May

June

  • Watch out for late frosts. Protect tender plants

  • Earth up potatoes, and promptly plant any still remaining

  • Plant out summer bedding at the end of the month (except in cold areas)

  • Collect rainwater and investigate ways to recycle water for irrigation

  • Regularly hoe off weeds

  • Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days

  • Mow lawns weekly

  • Check for nesting birds before clipping hedges

  • Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs

  • Watch out for viburnum beetle and lily beetle grubs

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

  • Hoe borders regularly to keep down weeds

  • Be water-wise, especially in drought-affected areas

  • Pinch out sideshoots on tomatoes

  • Harvest lettuce, radish, other salads and early potatoes

  • Position summer hanging baskets and containers outside

  • Cut lawns at least once a week

  • Plant out summer bedding

  • Stake tall or floppy plants

  • Prune many spring-flowering shrubs

  • Shade greenhouses to keep them cool and prevent scorch

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

July

  • Check clematis for signs of clematis wilt

  • Place conservatory plants outside now that it is warm

  • Water tubs and new plants if dry, but be water-wise

  • Deadhead bedding plants and repeat-flowering perennials, to ensure continuous flowering

  • Pick courgettes before they become marrows

  • Treat apple scab

  • Clear algae, blanket weeds and debris from ponds, and keep them topped up

  • Order catalogues for next year’s spring-flowering bulbs

  • Give the lawn a quick-acting summer feed, especially if a spring feed was not done

  • Give woodwork a lick of paint or preserver, while the weather is dry

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

August

September

October

November

December

  • Prune Wisteria

  • Don’t delay summer pruning restricted fruits

  • Deadhead flowering plants regularly

  • Watering! Particularly containers, and new plants - preferably with grey recycled water or stored rainwater

  • Collect seed from favourite plants

  • Harvest sweetcorn and other vegetables as they become ready

  • Continue cutting out old fruited canes on raspberries

  • Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners

  • Keep ponds and water features topped up

  • Feed the soil with green manures

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

 

  • Divide herbaceous perennials

  • Pick autumn raspberries

  • Collect and sow seed from perennials and hardy annuals

  • Dig up remaining potatoes before slug damage spoils them

  • Net ponds before leaf fall gets underway

  • Keep up with watering of new plants, using rain or grey water if possible

  • Start to reduce the frequency of houseplant watering

  • Clean out cold frames and greenhouses so that they are ready for use in the autumn

  • Cover leafy vegetable crops with bird-proof netting

  • Plant spring flowering bulbs

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

 

  • Clear up fallen autumn leaves regularly

  • Cut back perennials that have died down

  • Divide herbaceous perennials and rhubarb crowns

  • Move tender plants, including aquatic ones, into the greenhouse

  • Plant out spring cabbages

  • Harvest apples, pears, grapes and nuts

  • Prune climbing roses

  • Order seeds for next year

  • Last chance to mow lawns and trim hedges in mild areas

  • Renovate old lawns or create new grass areas by laying turf

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

 

  • Clear up fallen leaves - especially from lawns, ponds and beds

  • Raise containers onto pot feet to prevent waterlogging

  • Plant tulip bulbs for a spring display next year

  • Prune roses to prevent wind-rock

  • Plant out winter bedding

  • Cover brassicas with netting if pigeons are a problem

  • Insulate outdoor containers from frost - bubblewrap works well

  • Stop winter moth damage to fruit trees using grease bands around the trunks

  • Put out bird food to encourage winter birds into the garden

  • Use a seasonal bonfire - where this is allowed - to dispose of excess debris unfit for composting

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

  • Check your winter protection structures are still securely in place

  • Check that greenhouse heaters are working OK

  • Prevent ponds and stand pipes from freezing

  • Prune open-grown apples and pears (but not those trained against walls)

  • Prune acers, birches and vines before Christmas to avoid bleeding

  • Harvest leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage, sprouts and remaining root crops

  • Deciduous trees and shrubs can still be planted and transplanted

  • Take hardwood cuttings

  • Keep mice away from stored produce

  • Reduce watering of houseplants

     

     

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