Gardening tips for each month of the year
(as seen in the Country Neighbour)
JANUARY
Prune roses, apple and pear trees, Wisteria and deciduous hedges such as Beech and Hornbeam
Mulch borders with well-rotted manure or composted bark up to 10cm thick when the soil is dry and not frozen
to help deter weeds and retain moisture
Order seed potatoes for chitting in February – many varieties grow really well in containers!
Tidy up strawberries – remove old leaves and runners, spread compost around the plants
Cover rhubarb with a pot or old crock to force an early season tender pink crop
Cut old leaves from Hellebores to reduce the risk of disease
FEBRUARY
If you haven’t yet done so there is still time to prune roses, apple and pear trees, Wisteria and deciduous hedges such as Beech and Hornbeam
Chit seed potatoes – many varieties grow really well in containers!
Tidy up strawberries – remove old leaves and runners, spread compost around the plants
Divide and replant clumps of snowdrops while still in leaf (“in the green”) and once flowers have faded
Vegetable Garden - Buy and plant onion sets, sow tomato seeds for greenhouse growing, sow
broad beans in pots and keep in a cool frost free place
Prune autumn fruiting raspberries to encourage new growth, also Buddleias and Fuchsias
Cut back overgrown hedges – there is still time to do this before nesting starts. It is also not too late to plant a bare root hedge such as Beech
MARCH
Sow tomato and pepper seeds in trays or pots, keep them on a warm windowsill or use a heated propagator. Other seeds can be sown outdoors once the ground has begun to warm including rocket, carrots, radishes, lettuce and spinach. Onion sets and potatoes can also go in now
Keep on top of weeds by hoeing and digging out perennial ones such as dandelions and bindweed
Tidy up lawn edges
Put supports in place for herbaceous perennials. Hazel can be a great natural alternative to metal ones.
Summer flowering bulbs such as dahlias can be started in pots
Lift and divide clumps of summer flowering perennials and cut back winter seed heads
(including mophead hydrangeas) to make way for new season’s growth
Prune Autumn flowering raspberries. Buddleias can be pruned down hard to about 30cm to stimulate new flowering growth and Dogwoods can be cut back to encourage new colourful growth for next winter.
APRIL
Start to mow the lawn again on a regular basis, keep the blades high to begin with in case of late frosts.
If you haven’t done so already warm up the soil ready for seed sowing by covering the ground with dark plastic sheeting.
This will also help suppress weeds.
In sheltered areas plant summer flowing bulbs such as gladioli; lillies and dahlias can also be started in pots
Towards the middle of the month sow courgettes, pumpkins, beans and sweetcorn in pots, start off indoors or in a heated propagator.
Keep an eye out for early aphid attacks in the green house, consider using a soft-soap or
washing up liquid spray as an alternative to harsher chemicals
Keep a watch out for slugs on tasty new shoots of Hostas, make traps out of saucers of beer or upside-down grape-fruit halves,
early evenings are a perfect time to catch them!
Put up supports for climbing plants such as runner beans and sweet peas
MAY
Move tender plants outside once the risk of frost has passed and prepare containers for summer displays of flowers
Keep an eye on perennials, support tall rapidly growing plants and tie in roses if required
Keep weeds under control by hoeing and monitor for garden pests such as lily beetles, slugs and aphids
Sow successive crops of salads, carrot and beetroot in the vegetable garden and direct sow beans
Remember to water young plants regularly and check seedbeds for drying out
Deadhead spring flowering bulbs to improve next year’s display and mulch around growing plants
JUNE
Plant out and support your hardened off vegetable plants such as beans and courgettes, sow successive crops of carrots, salad and beetroot
Harvest early produce such as lettuce, radish and early potatoes, hoe to keep on top of the weeds
Spring flowering shrubs can be pruned now to allow fresh growth for flowers next year, support rapidly growing plants such as sunflowers
Plant out summer bedding and position summer hanging baskets and containers
Monitor the green house on hot days and ensure plenty of ventilation or add shade if required, pinch out the side shoots of tomatoes
JULY
Make sure squashes and pumpkins get plenty of water. Water at dusk to reduce evaporation and use a mulch to help retain water around plants. Recycle grey water as much as possible.
Deadhead roses and sweet peas regularly to encourage fresh flowers and tie back and support any plants becoming tall or straggly. Cut back delphiniums and hardy geraniums to encourage a second flush of flowers and foliage later in the year.
Give wisteria a midsummer prune, cut back the thin whip-like stems to 20cm from the base. Divide bearded iris and take cuttings from tender plants for overwintering. Keep an eye out for rust on hollyhocks and clematis wilt – trim off affected stems
Feed tomato and pepper plants with a high potash feed as soon as fruits begin to form and pick courgettes whilst young and tender. Don’t pick any more rhubarb to allow grow
AUGUST
Keep rhododendrons and camellias well-watered to ensure good flowers next year – grey water is great for these
Support tall dahlias and lilies, tie in rapidly growing sweet peas and keep picking the flowers to promote new growth
Take cuttings of woody herbs such as sage and rosemary plus tender perennials such as pelargoniums and fuchsias for new plants next year.
Keep a look out for problems such as clematis wilt, cut off affected foliage and dispose of in the household waste, feed well.
Cut out old canes on summer fruited raspberries once fruit has been picked, lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners for next year’s plants
Top up ponds, bird baths and water features when needed
SEPTEMBER
Keep cutting back dead heads on late flowering perennials to stimulate new growth
Plant daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops and hyacinths outside for a spring display of flowers.
Plant Amaryllis, hyacinths and some daffodil varieties in the third week of September for indoor Christmas flowering.
Divide clumps of early flowering perennials such as delphiniums and daylilies
Plant Autumn onion sets and protect ripening fruits such as late raspberries from birds
Begin to prune roses before the frosts, start with climbers cutting back dead stems to ground level
October
Harvest squashes and pumpkins and plant garlic for overwintering outside
Tidy up the garden trimming hedges ready for winter and look after the lawn by clearing leaves as they fall.
Plant new hedges and move shrubs if required.
Divide any spring flowering perennials and lift dahlia tubers, protect half hardy plants such as geraniums from frost or move them under glass.
Prune climbing and rambling roses after flowering, tie in stems to avoid wind damage.
Consider leaving foliage and seed heads from late flowering plants to provide food and shelter for wildlife.
November
Protect tender plants from frosts and gales – either bring under cover, wrap up those too big to move and support those exposed to wind.
Prune roses to prevent wind damage to roots (wind rock)
Raise containers on feet to avoid waterlogging and insulate with bubble wrap if necessary
Clear up fallen leaves from lawns, ponds and beds
Asparagus crowns can be planted now, established rhubarb crowns can be divided and replanted for new plants next year.
Currant bushes and raspberry canes can be planted too whilst dormant.
Net winter brassicas to prevent bird damage and stake if top heavy, lift parsnips after the first frost.
Spread manure over the surface of beds to rot down over winter and encourage worms to the surface.
Gardening tips for December
Prune acers, vines and open grown apple and pears trees. Wisteria can also be pruned from December, cutting back summer side shoots to 2 or 3 buds from the main stem. Climbing roses can be cut back and trained for next year.
Group outdoor pots together in a sheltered place to protect them from frost, make sure covers are in place for any tender plants that need to remain in situ in the ground. Leave faded flower heads on hydrangeas to provide frost protection for next year’s new growth.
Root cuttings can be taken from ornamental poppies and hardwood cuttings from trees and shrubs. Lift and divide established crowns of rhubarb.
Dig over empty borders and veg patches and improve soil where needed.
Cover heavy soils with empty compost bags to keep it drier and allow winter digging.
Reduce watering of houseplants to avoid water logging, bring forced bulbs into warmer places ready to flower.
Keep bird feeders and bird baths clean and replenished.
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