Maintaining a beautiful garden requires different tasks throughout the year. This comprehensive guide breaks down what you should be doing each month to keep your garden looking its best in all seasons. Whether you're a novice gardener or have years of experience, this monthly calendar will help you stay on track.
January: Winter Garden Preparation
January is a quiet month in the garden, but there are still important tasks to complete:
- Plan your garden: Use this quieter time to plan your garden for the year ahead. Order seeds and plants from catalogues for spring planting.
- Winter pruning: Prune deciduous trees and shrubs while they're dormant. This is an ideal time for apple and pear trees.
- Clean and sharpen tools: Maintain your garden tools so they're ready for the busier months ahead.
- Protect vulnerable plants: Check protective coverings on tender plants and ensure greenhouse heaters are working properly.
- Feed the birds: Garden birds need extra help during cold weather, so keep feeders topped up.
February: Preparing for Spring
As winter begins to recede, you can start preparing your garden for the growing season:
- Prepare vegetable beds: Clear any remaining debris and dig in compost or well-rotted manure.
- Prune late-summer flowering shrubs: Buddleia, hydrangea, and wisteria benefit from February pruning.
- Cut back ornamental grasses: Before new growth begins, cut back deciduous grasses.
- Start sowing seeds: Some vegetables can be sown indoors, such as tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines.
- Plant bare-root trees and shrubs: February is the last month for planting bare-root specimens before they come out of dormancy.
March: Spring Begins
With longer days and warming soil, March signals the start of the growing season:
- Tackle weeds early: Remove weeds before they establish and set seed.
- Mow the lawn: Give your lawn its first cut on a dry day, with blades set high.
- Feed shrubs and roses: Apply a balanced fertilizer around the base of shrubs and roses.
- Plant summer-flowering bulbs: Gladioli, lilies, and dahlias can be planted now.
- Sow hardy annuals: Directly sow hardy annuals like nigella, calendula, and poppies.
April: The Garden Awakens
April is a busy month as the garden springs into life:
- Sow vegetable seeds outdoors: Carrots, beetroot, peas, and lettuce can be sown directly into prepared beds.
- Tie in climbing plants: Support sweet peas, clematis, and other climbers as they start to grow.
- Apply mulch: Add a layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and perennials to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Plant container-grown shrubs: The soil is warming up, making it a good time to plant container-grown shrubs.
- Protect from late frosts: Keep horticultural fleece handy to protect tender plants from unexpected frosts.
May: Peak Growing Season
With frost risk diminishing, May is when the garden really comes alive:
- Plant out tender bedding plants: Once the risk of frost has passed, bedding plants can go outside.
- Earth up potatoes: Cover shoots with soil to prevent greening and increase yield.
- Thin out seedlings: Give vegetable seedlings room to grow by thinning to recommended spacing.
- Chelsea chop: Cut back late-flowering perennials by a third to encourage bushier growth.
- Water containers regularly: As the weather warms, container plants will need more frequent watering.
June: Summer Maintenance
With summer in full swing, focus on maintaining your garden's health and appearance:
- Deadhead roses and perennials: Remove spent flowers to encourage further blooming.
- Harvest early vegetables: Enjoy early crops like lettuce, radishes, and peas.
- Mow lawns weekly: Regular mowing keeps lawns healthy and looking their best.
- Water deeply and less frequently: Deep watering encourages plants to develop deeper root systems.
- Take softwood cuttings: Propagate shrubs like fuchsias, hydrangeas, and hebes with softwood cuttings.
July: Peak Summer
During the height of summer, focus on watering, harvesting, and maintenance:
- Water consistently: Maintain a regular watering schedule, ideally in the early morning or evening.
- Feed flowering plants: Apply a high-potassium fertilizer to boost flowering.
- Watch for pests: Check plants regularly for aphids, caterpillars, and other pests.
- Prune early-summer flowering shrubs: Once flowering has finished, these can be pruned.
- Harvest fruit and vegetables: Pick regularly to encourage more production.
August: Late Summer Tasks
As summer progresses, continue maintenance while planning for autumn:
- Collect seeds: Gather seeds from favorite plants for future sowing.
- Prune summer-fruiting raspberries: Cut back canes that have finished fruiting.
- Feed the lawn: Apply an autumn lawn feed to strengthen roots before winter.
- Sow green manures: Cover empty vegetable beds with green manures to improve soil structure.
- Take semi-ripe cuttings: Propagate evergreen shrubs with semi-ripe cuttings.
September: Early Autumn
As the season begins to change, focus on preparation and planting for the following year:
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs: Daffodils, crocuses, and alliums can be planted now.
- Divide overcrowded perennials: Split perennials that have outgrown their space.
- Harvest and store apples and pears: Pick and carefully store unblemished fruit.
- Collect and compost fallen leaves: Start gathering leaves for leaf mould.
- Net ponds: Cover ponds with netting to prevent falling leaves from entering.
October: Mid-Autumn
October is a key month for putting the garden to bed for winter:
- Plant tulips: Later than other spring bulbs, tulips benefit from October planting.
- Cut back perennials: Tidy up perennials that have finished for the year, but leave some seed heads for wildlife.
- Rake up leaves: Continue collecting leaves for compost or to make leaf mould.
- Move tender plants inside: Bring non-hardy plants into a greenhouse or conservatory.
- Plant bare-root roses: The dormant season begins, making it ideal for bare-root planting.
November: Late Autumn
As the garden quietens down, focus on protection and preparation:
- Plant bare-root hedges and trees: Dormant bare-root plants establish well when planted now.
- Protect vulnerable plants: Wrap tender plants in fleece or move to sheltered positions.
- Clean out bird boxes: Remove old nesting material ready for next spring.
- Raise containers onto feet: Prevent waterlogging by raising pots off the ground.
- Final lawn cut: Give the lawn a last mow, setting the blades higher than usual.
December: Winter Planning
The quietest month in the garden, but still with tasks to complete:
- Winter prune fruit trees: Established apple and pear trees can be pruned now.
- Check winter protection: Ensure protective materials are secure in harsh weather.
- Clean and sharpen tools: Maintain tools that have been used throughout the year.
- Plan for next year: Review the successes and challenges of the past year and plan for the next.
- Order seeds and plants: Get ahead by ordering seeds and plants for the coming spring.
Final Thoughts
Remember that these guidelines are just that—guidelines. Your specific garden tasks will vary depending on your climate, soil type, and the plants you grow. Pay attention to your garden's individual needs and adjust your activities accordingly.
By following a seasonal maintenance schedule, you'll ensure your garden remains healthy, productive, and beautiful throughout the year. The little and often approach to gardening not only makes the workload manageable but also allows you to enjoy the changing seasons in your outdoor space.
If you need help with any of these seasonal tasks, our team at SB&T Landscapes offers professional garden maintenance services tailored to your garden's specific needs. Contact us to learn more about how we can help keep your garden looking its best all year round.
