WHAT to do WHEN in the Garden Here is a list of things to do, and a suggested approximate time to do them. Please note, timing is approximate, depending on your hardiness zone. I'm writing this from western Kentucky (south Zone 6). Click here to see Zone Map.
JANUARY
* Plan your vegetable, herb and flower gardens now. Click here for Books & CDs to plan your garden.
* Repot houseplants. Take cuttings of houseplants to give to friends.
* Start seeds of impatiens, geranium and vinca indoors. Click here for Flower Seeds.
* Cut branches of forsythia and pussy willow; put in vases and bring inside for forcing.
FEBRUARY
* Check daily to see what may be coming up in the garden.
* Loosen leaves around new shoots. If any perennial plants have been heaved up from the soil press gently back and add more mulch.
* Start seeds of petunia, eggplant and peppers indoors.
* Fertilize houseplants.
MARCH
* Start broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and tomato seeds indoors.
* Prepare vegetable garden areas for early crops, as early as ground can be loosened in the garden.
* Sow seeds directly outdoors for early greens and vegetables: spinach; lettuce; radishes; carrots; turnips; collards; mustard; garden peas.
* Sow seeds outdoors for perennial herbs, and perennial and biennial flowers. Click here for Herb Seeds.
* Direct sow seeds of hardy flowers such as aster, bachelor button, calendula, candytuft, English Daisy, English wallflower, larkspur, pansy, snapdragon, stock and sweet pea.
* Fertilize trees and shrubs.
* Fertilize and reseed lawn.
APRIL
* After all frost is past, remove leaves from garden beds.
* When roses start bud growth, cut canes back to just above a strong new shoot.
* Sprinkle a balanced fertilizer around all roses, blooming shrubs and perennial plants but don't let it touch the plants.
* Plant dormant perennials, shrubs and trees.
* After spring-flowering bulbs have finished blooming, allow the foliage to remain until it begins to turn yellow.
MAY
* After all frost is past, prepare vegetable garden areas for main summer crops.
* Wait until soil is warm before planting seeds of beans, cucumbers, cantaloupe, squash, pumpkin and watermelon.
* Plant annual flower seeds directly outdoors.
* Harden off indoor-grown seedlings, then transplant to garden.
* After flowering shrubs have bloomed, prune back as desired to shape the plants.
* Fertilize all spring-flowering bulb plantings during or after their bloom.
JUNE
* Start seeds of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower for fall harvest.
* As spring vegetable crops begin to fade or are harvested, replant the areas with summer or late vegetables. For instance, follow radish with summer squash, follow lettuce with beans, follow greens with lettuce.
* Dividing perennials after 3 or 4 years of growth is a good idea. After spring perennials have finished blooming, lift and divide them, replanting or sharing with friends. If not dividing, sprinkle a balanced slow-release fertilizer around perennials.
* Put houseplants outdoors in part shade for the summer. Fertilize them now.
JULY
* Mulch rose plants to conserve water and prevent weed growth.
* Water all plants weekly, applying about 1"" of water per week if there's no rain. Keep weeds under control by cultivating, hand weeding, or mulching.
* Sow seeds of biennial and perennial flowers now for bloom next spring. Click here for Books & CDs to answer your garden questions.
AUGUST
* Transplant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower seedlings to garden for fall crop.
* Sow lawn seed now, and fertilize lawn. Click here for Lawn Seed.
* Stake tall-growing perennial plants, and cut back those which are finished blooming.
* Last chance to sow seeds of beans, lettuce, endive.
SEPTEMBER
* Prepare areas for planting bulbs and perennials.
* Order or buy spring-flowering bulbs.
* Sow seeds of bachelor button and larkspur for early bloom in spring.
* Plant early-spring flowering bulbs such as winter aconite, snowdrops, crocus. These do well under trees and naturalized in lawn areas, or plant in masses around and in front of foundation shrubs.
* Prune hedges.
* Bring houseplants indoors for the winter.
OCTOBER
* Plant spring-flowering bulbs: daffodils, hyacinths, tulips and the minor bulbs.
* Divide perennials now (see ""June""). Plant trees and shrubs.
* Pot up spring-flowering bulbs for winter forcing.
NOVEMBER
* Water all trees, shrubs and perennial plants deeply before the soil freezes solid.
* AFTER soil has frozen, apply a 2-3 inch thick mulch over beds.
* Clean up garden debris.
DECEMBER
* Finish mulching.
* Fertilize houseplants. Water cactus sparingly until spring.
* Clean, sharpen, oil and organize your garden tools. Click here for Tools.
* Make bouquets of evergreen branches and wreaths to decorate the house. When these have faded, place over perennial and bulb garden areas to provide winter protection.
ANYTIME DURING THE YEAR
* Plant container-grown nursery stock any time of the year if soil is not frozen.
* Put out bird food.
* Cut off faded flowers and remove yellowing or diseased leaves. Add healthy plant scraps to compost pile.
* Turn compost pile.
* Provide regular watering for vegetables, trees and shrubs.
* Mulch garden soil.
* Label your plants with weatherproof stakes, marking plant names in pencil or crayon.
* Start herb and cactus seed for indoor growing.
* IN THE GREENHOUSE:
Keep walks swept. Regularly clean up insect and disease infestations. Soak and wash pots in a solution of 9 parts water to 1 part chlorine bleach. Root cuttings of houseplants. Sow seeds of geranium, impatiens, coleus, cactus, lettuce, radish, spinach, and whatever else you like.
* Happy Gardening!