HOME and GARDEN: Seasonal Maintenance & Enhancement

WINTER: December- February

December – Flower of the Month – Narcissus

• Stake young trees.
• Replace rotting fence posts.
• Make jellies and jams.
• Make Christmas Wreaths.
• Buy a Living Conifer Tree for Christmas.
• Clean Gutters and Mulch Beds with leaves.
• Decorate with Evergreens.
• Be sure Birds have Food and Water.
• Put Fireplace Ashes on beds.
• Walk through Garden and envision new changes.

January- Flower of the Month – White Carnation

• Mulch beds and rake leaves.
• Clean gutters and drain lines
• Harvest winter veggies
• Repair raised beds and trellises
• Order seeds for Spring
• Clean up storm debris
• Order bare root roses and fruit trees.
• Add calcium to plants as needed.
• Repair Fences
• Build Cold Frames.
• Begin Pruning Deciduous trees and fruit trees.

February – Flower of the Month -Violets

• Harvest Chard and Kale.
• Plant Herb Garden.
• Prune Lavenders.
• Prune Grape Vines and Ornamental Vines
• Sow Indoor Spring veggie seeds.
• Prune bare root fruit trees
• Sow peas in garden.
• Spade in Cover Crops.

Spring: March – May

March – Flower of the Month – Daffodil

• Divide Hostas and Daylilies, Peonies and Mums.
• Clean Bird Houses and Bird baths.
• Fertilize Evergreen Shrubs and Trees.
• Prepare Potting Soil and Store.
• Fertilize Roses and Perennials.
• Plant Summer Flowering Bulbs.
• Trouble shoot and Fine tune Irrigation System.
• Reseed Bare Spots in lawns.
• Sow Tomatoes, Eggplant and Pepper Seeds Indoors.
• Plant Berries.

April – Flower of the Month – Sweet Pea

• Plant rhubarb, potatoes,
• Sow melon and cucumber seeds indoors.
• Plant Gladiola bulbs, Marigolds and Cosmos.
• Transplant cool crops.
• Put floating row covers over cabbages.
• Plant Asparagus bed.
• Sow lettuce seeds
• Deadhead all bloomers and prune flowering shrubs.
• Thin Seedlings.
• Bring out stored Geraniums and Fuschias.
• Set out hanging baskets.

May- Flower of the Month- Lily of the Valley

• Trap Moles and Gophers
• Mulch New Trees and Shrubs.
• Mow lawns at 2” high.
• Prune Forsythia after flowering.
• Remove yellow bulb foliage.
• Fertilize Roses, Rhododendrons and Azaleas.
• Set out Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplant.
• Thin Peaches
• Plant Dahlias.
• Put up supports for Cucumbers and Beans.

Summer: June – August

June- Flower of the Month- Rose

• Plant Corn
• Mulch beds.
• Sow Green Beans.
• Sow Basil near Tomatoes.
• Plant bolt resistant Lettuce.
• Irrigate raised beds in early morning or evening.
• Net Cherry Trees.
• Hose off White Flies and Aphids use Insecticidal soap.
• Move plants outdoors.
• Thin seedlings and pull weeds.
• Remove suckers from roses.
• Tie up Tomatoes on stakes.
• Thin Apples, Pears and fruit trees.
• Prune Lilacs and deadhead Hydrangeas.

July- Flower of the Month – Larkspur

• Plant infill and stake tall flowering Perennials
• Cover Blueberries with Netting.
• Harvest herbs for Drying.
• Irrigate Asparagus and Weed.
• Feed and Irrigate Corn and Tomatoes.
• Plant Annuals for Fall Color.
• Sow seeds for veggies.
• Pinch back Basil.
• Pick Green beans.
• Prune Wisteria.

August- Flower of the Month – Gladiolas

• Bait and Trap Yellow Jackets.
• Irrigate and protect peppers from insects.
• Remove blossoms to ripen Tomatoes.
• Harvest Peaches.
• Sow Turnip and Parsley.
• Irrigate camellias deeply.
• Plant Arugula and Mesculan.
• Can and freeze Tomatoes and Peaches.
• Pick cucumbers and pickle them.
• Pick Bartlett Pears.
• Take cuttings of Lavender and root.

Fall: September – November

September – Flower of the Month- Aster

• Lift Onions and Dry
• Harvest Table Grapes.
• Harvest Roma Tomatoes and make sauce.
• Harvest Potatoes.
• Can Bartlett Pears.
• Reseed Lawns.
• Harvest and store Apples.
• Plant Garlic and Shallots.
• Plant Spring Cabbage.
• Pick up Fall leaves.
• Clean spent veggie beds.

October – Flower of the Month – Calendula Pot Marigold

• Divide Iris
• Order Bulbs for Fall plantings.
• Dig and store Dahlias.
• Mulch Annual Beds with Compost.Winterize Irrigation system.
• Dig and Divide Perennials.
• Pick and store Winter Squash.
• Plant trees and shrubs.
• Plant Bulbs.
• Trap Gophers and Moles.
• Clean and store winter squash
• Disconnect and store hoses.
• Clean leaves from gutters.

November – Flower of the Month- Chrysanthemum

• Rake leaves and Compost
• Mulch Asparagus beds with Oak leaves.
• Force bulbs for Winter Color Indoors.
• Plant a windowsill Herb Garden.
• Prune Deciduous Hedges.
• Cook and freeze Pumpkins for pies.
• Remove withered stalks on Perennials
• Mulch Rose beds.
• Mulch Perennial beds.
• Clean up yard for Holidays.
• Harvest Brussel Sprouts.