Gardening Calendar

Monthly tips for garden tending

September

In the flower garden

Begin dividing, replanting spring flowering perennials except iris and peonies.
Order bare-root roses, lily bulbs for fall planting
Keep after mildew with an appropriate fungicide.
Take cutting of annuals and use as house plants.
Plant hyacinth and daffodil bulbs in early to mid autumn.
Gather leaves for composting. Mix green and dry materials and alternate with thin layers of soil or compost for more rapid decomposition.
Dig, dry and store tender bulbs such as Gladiolus, Dahlias, and tuberous Begonias.
Aerate and seed lawns for fuller growth in the spring.

In the food garden

Sow spinach, lettuces, herbs in cold frame
Plant lettuces, spinach, cabbages, kale white turnips, beans, radishes for late harvest.
Harvest last of summer herbs: hang them upside down in bundles to dry.

October

October, when our gardens are slowing down, is the perfect time to tackle a few simple tasks that will give us a head start in the spring. Chives, for example, should be cut almost to the ground, making them look tidy and ensuring a vigorous re-growth in the warmer weather. Herbs for cooking, such as rosemary and thyme, can be potted and placed on a sunny windowsill for use throughout the winter. For best bloom next year, now is the time to transplant, divide, or plant new perennials, except Japanese anemones, mums, or ornamental grasses.

Cut back perennials as the foliage turns brown, cut mums back only halfway. Pull up dead annuals, shake off soil clinging to the roots, and smooth the ground with a rake. The plants can then be composted. Do not compost any diseased material. To the cleared areas, apply a layer of mulch, compost, or fertilizer to enrich the soil through the winter.

In the flower garden

Bring in tropicals and houseplants before frost; treat first with Neem oil or insecticidal soap
Stake chrysanthemums, water and fertilize
Complete lifting and dividing iris, lily-of-the-valley, and daylilies
Complete pruning of rambler roses
Lift, dry and store tender bulbs. i.e., cannas, dahlias, and gladioli after first frost
Pot up amaryllis, tulips, and other prepared bulbs; store in a cool, dark place until ready to force for the holidays
Band trees for fall cankerworm
Plant spring bulbs
Harvest mature green tomatoes for ripening indoors before frost
Cut herbs and flowers; bring indoors for drying

Autumn Alerts:

Adult Deer ticks are very active until early December and then again during warmer periods
Voles and moles should be addresses at this time of the year
Flying insects, winged yellow ants, stink bugs can be a nuisance

Christmas Cactus Know How:
The secret to a full blooming Christmas Cactus is temperature and light control. The cactus will develop buds and bloom if given bright light, short days, and night temperatures between 55° and 65°F. Christmas cacti bloom best when somewhat pot-bound. If repotting is needed, this should be done during midwinter. Christmas cacti require less water from October to March than they do when growth is active from April to September. A rest period is important if plants are to bloom abundantly. Dormancy should be started about the middle of September and continued for eight weeks. DO NOT over water during the dark days of winter. Bright sun during summer months can make plants look pale. Clay pots are great, but they draw the salts from fertilizer and the minerals from hard water out of the soil and into the clay. To clean clay pots:

Mix a solution of one part bleach or one part Lestoil to nine parts water.
Soak overnight.
Use a stiff wire brush to scrub off the deposits.
Rinse pots with fresh water.

November

Finish planting spring-flowering bulbs and corms
Plant amaryllis bulbs in early November for holiday bloom; pot paperwhites by mid-month
Continue composting throughout the colder months; leaves, rain, snow, and aerating the compost pile will all promote decomposition
Drain, coil, and store hoses
Drain and turn off outdoor water taps

Clean, oil, repair, and store gardening tools; wash and refresh gloves, use up gas and oil mix, as it will not keep

over winter

After the ground freezes, add a thick layer of mulch; cover plants needing extra protection
Cut back perennials that have no winter interest
Continue dividing overgrown perennials
Keep plants watered until ground is frozen
If you have a greenhouse, now is the time to clean it up remembering to clear out under any benches

December

December To-Do List:

Continue planting bulbs until ground freezes
Protect broadleaf evergreens and tender trees ie: figs with burlap on stakes
Cover and protect evergreen shrubs around foundation before the snow
Winter mulch bulbs, perennials, and strawberries after ground freezes
Inventory, clean, sharpen, and oil garden tools and store for the winter
Cut evergreens and holly for holiday decorations (see Tip)

Evergreen Tip:

When using evergreens for holiday decorating it is important to harden off the cuts by soaking in fertilizer and 2 gallons of warm water, this will keep them longer in the house

January

Evaluate your evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees for rejuvenation and plant health; prune for structure, and to remove deadwood, rubbing branches, and hangers.
Remove cool season weeds like garlic mustard.
Cut back late fall bloomers, if desired. Some do provide cover and seed for wildlife.
De-vine invasives like bittersweet and Japanese honeysuckle.

Take care of your tools! Sharpen, clean, oil and otherwise repair saws and pruners. Sharpen the cutting edge of spades and lawnmower blades, repair the handles of shovels and wheelbarrows or any other tool placed on the ‘to be fixed’ pile. Compose a list of tools to purchase that are in a state beyond repair.
If snow is absent, start cutting back Hellebore Hybrids (Helleborus x hybridus) towards the end of January. A warm February will often promote the start of blooming and it is easier to remove the foliage when the buds are not present.
Houseplants need to be kept on the dry side during winter, as too much water will cause root rot. Put your Poinsettias, Amaryllis or Cyclamen in a sunny southern window and water when the top of the soil becomes dry.
Start collecting Seed and Plant Catalogues, peruse and start planning for the summer deciding what to purchase!!

February

Purchase seeds and prepare to start seeds by end of the month, indoors under lights
Groom and feed indoor plants
Cut some branches of winter blooming Witchhazels (Hamamelis hybrids), Forsythia, Winter Sweet (Chimonanthus praecox) and Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), to force and enjoy indoors.
Order a new perennial or shrub to try this year.

March

Roses can be pruned now. Severe pruning results in nicer long stemmed flowers and more compact bushes.
Late March and early April is a good time to transplant shrubs and trees. As soon as the soil is workable, but before buds have swelled or broken open, you can move shrubs and trees.
Beware of weeds: Once the weeds go to seed you can be fighting that weed seed for up to seven years or more. So spending the time now will reap benefits not only this season and this year, but for years to come. Most weeds can simply be pulled or cultivated out of the garden while young.

Tip:
Be sure to not cut the leaves off the daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and other bulbed plants. After the flowers are spent, they need to reabsorb the nutrients from the greens to be able to remain healthy and bloom next year.

April

Improve soil with organic matter, fertilizer, and lime
Plant roses, perennials and cold-tolerant annuals
Divide late blooming perennials
Plant trees and shrubs
Fertilize trees and shrubs
Prune trees and shrubs (except spring-blooming)
Start seeds indoors
Plant cool-season vegetables
Dormant oil applications (early in the month)
If needed, apply lime sulfur to plants that won't tolerate oil sprays

Tips:

Lawn Care: The application of a spring lawn fertilizer will perk up the lawn and improve its overall color and appearance.

Consider thatching and over-seeding the lawn. Thatch buildup can smother the lawn. Remove thatch with a brisk raking or with a de-thatching machine. Over-seeding fills in bare spots and deters weeds.

May

May is one of the loveliest months in the northeast, although frost or a prolonged spring drought is still possible. A rule of thumb for planting is generally Mother’s Day.
Fertilize trees and shrubs. Use a rhododendron or evergreen type of plant food to feed evergreens and acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas, and junipers.
Use an all-purpose garden fertilizer (10-10-10) to feed roses, deciduous shrubs and trees. Be sure to water the fertilizer thoroughly after it is applied.

Prune forsythia, weigela and spirea when they have finished blooming. Cut back one-third of the oldest canes to ground level, then cut back one-third of the remaining branches by one-third of their height.
Lilacs can be pruned lightly once they finish blooming. Remove sucker growths and dead blooms.
Fertilize your hydrangea now, for pink blooms work lime into the soil to produce blue blooms add aluminum.
Carrots, lettuce, potatoes, corn, beans, peas, and most popular vegetables (with the exception of the warmer weather crops) can be seeded or planted in the vegetable garden.
Wait until mid to late May before planting the warmer weather crops like tomatoes, squash, cucumber, pumpkins, and peppers.

June

After planting, apply a 1 – 2" layer of organic mulch such as compost. Be sure to keep the mulch away from stems.
Pull weeds as soon as they appear to keep from getting overwhelmed.
For best results with container plantings, use larger containers and add organic matter such as compost to the soil to increase its water-holding capacity. Self- watering containers with their own reservoir will decrease watering frequency.

Fertilize annuals, perennials and flowering shrubs and trees with a slow-release plant food that contains nitrogen, sulfate of potash, iron and other micro-nutrients for overall plant growth and development.
Check all plants for sufficient water. Water thoroughly and deeply.
Move houseplants outside to the deck or patio and enjoy them outdoors for the summer. It is best to gradually introduce them to more direct sunlight to prevent the leaves from being burned.
Feed houseplants with a good quality indoor plant food such as Osmocote (slow-release granular). If needed, re-pot root bound houseplants to a larger pot. Use potting mix when repotting houseplants.
Visit a local farmers' market and eat seasonally. Try something you haven't eaten before. The farmers will be happy to tell you what to do with their produce.

July

Maintain high mowing heights on lawns.
Divide and replant iris.
Prune climbing roses when flowers fade.
No pruning or fertilizing woody plants after July 15.
Start spraying early in month for powdery mildew, if needed.
Remove spent flowers to prolong blooming of most plants.

Tips:

Take the time to pick flowers from your garden to enjoy inside or on the table for a picnic.

Be sure to check all plants, especially newly planted ones, for water on a regular basis. Water deeply and thoroughly as needed.

Gator bags provide a great way to keep trees watered during hot and dry months. These bags, which can hold up to 20 gallons of water, are secured to the trunk of the tree, where they release the water slowly to the root ball over the course of 15-20 hours.

August

Stop feeding roses this month so that there won't be tender, new growth for winter kill.
Keep picking or shearing faded flowers off annuals so they won't go to seed and stop blooming.
Gather and save seeds of other annuals that you might want to use again. Don't bother saving seed from hybrids,
they won't come true to type.
Put seeds in envelopes and label them by botanical name, common name, date, and color. Store in a cool, dry place - such as airtight plastic tubs in the refrigerator.