Spring
Below is a selection of tasks to be done over the forthcoming spring months. The garden diary is updated regularly so keep checking in to see what needs doing throughout the year.
March
at a glance…
- Mulch bare soil in beds & borders
- Move evergreen shrubs
- Prune bush and shrub roses
- Get a head start by sowing vegetable seeds indoors
- Prune shrubs with colourful winter stems
- Lift & divide overgrown clumps of perennials
- Plant summer-flowering bulbs.
- Reseed bare patches of lawn.
- Start mowing lawns regularly.
last chance to…
- Finish planting bare-root trees and shrubs and new fruit trees and bushes.
April
at a glance…
- Continue watering newly planted trees and shrubs if the weather is dry.
- Plant vegetable seeds outdoors
- Plant evergreen trees & shrubs
- Trim grey-leaved shrubs to keep them bushy.
- Tie-in the new shoots of climbers
- Prune early flowering shrubs.
- Divide perennials.
- Stake tall-growing perennials.
- Keep weeding.
- Deadhead daffodils.
- Sow or turf new lawns.
- Feed established lawns.
- Start mowing lawns regularly.
last chance to…
- Cut-down any dead growth left over winter on perennials, especially grasses, before there is too much risk of damaging new shoots.
- Plant summer flowering bulbs.
May
at a glance…
- Water plants that need it regularily.
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering.
- Lightly trim box and other formal hedging.
- Cut-back and divide spring flowering perennials.
- Clear out spring bedding plants and replace with summer bedding.
- Feed and weed lawns to encourage good growth, as well as mowing regularily.
- Inspect plants regularily for signs of pests and diseases.
last chance to…
- Sow or turf new lawns before it gets too dry.
- Finish planting evergreen shrubs.
Summer
Below is a selection of tasks to be done over the forthcoming summer months. The garden diary is updated regularly so keep checking in to see what needs doing throughout the year.
June
at a glance…
- Keep weeding and deadheading to maintain beds, borders and container displays.
- Water new and young plants as necessary.
- Prune spring flowering shrubs
- Cut-back spring flowering perennials.
- Cut down faded foliage of bulbs
- Plant summer bedding plants
- Mow the lawn and trim edges regularly.
last chance to…
- Plant new plants before the summer heats up.
- Sow hardy annuals to flower this year.
July
at a glance…
- Keep new and young plants well-watered.
- Feed and water containers regularly.
- Continue deadheading.
- Prune shrubs that flowered in early summer.
- Plant autumn flowering bulbs.
- Summer prune apple and pear trees.
- Prune cherry and plum trees
last chance to…
- Fill any gaps in borders with bedding plants.
August
at a glance…
- Water plants that need it regularly.
- Trim hedges
- Prune rambling roses after flowering.
- Trim lavender after flowers have faded.
last chance to…
- Finish summer pruning trained fruit trees.
Autumn
Below is a selection of tasks to be done over the forthcoming autumn months. The garden diary is updated regularly so keep checking in to see what needs doing throughout the year.
September
at a glance…
- Start clearing autumn debris to prevent pests and diseases overwintering.
- Start planting new trees, shrubs and climbers, and perennials.
- Move evergreen shrubs.
- Begin dividing overgrown perennials.
- Plant spring flowering bulbs.
- Sow or turf new lawns.
- Scarify and aerate established lawns.
last chance to…
- Plant onion sets.
- Plant new strawberry plants.
- Sow spring cabbages.
October
at a glance…
- Rake up fallen leaves and pile them up to make leaf mould.
- Continue clearing the garden.
- Dig over empty areas of soil.
- Finish planting evergreen shrubs.
- Give conifers a last trim if necessary.
- Divide overgrown perennials.
- Plant lily and tulip bulbs.
- Make new lawns from turf.
last chance to…
- Sow grass seed.
- Harvest pears and apples before they are damaged.
November
at a glance…
- Tidy the garden for winter.
- Carry out winter digging.
- Plant bare-rooted trees and shrubs and new roses.
- Plant tulip bulbs.
- Plant fruit trees and bushes.
- Winter-prune fruit trees and bushes.
last chance to…
- Plant out spring bedding.
- Plant garlic.
Winter
Below is a selection of tasks to be done over the forthcoming winter months. The garden diary is updated regularly so keep checking in to see what needs doing throughout the year.
December
at a glance…
- Prune woody ornamental plants, fruit trees and bushes.
- Continue winter digging, incorporating organic material (compost or manure) into the soil.
- Clean paths, repair sheds & fences.
January
at a glance…
- Keep on top of winter germinating weeds.
- Clear the crowns of plants of dead leaves.
- Continue with winter digging as soil conditions allow.
- Plant deciduous hedging.
- Prune trees and shrubs to shape.
- Prune wisteria and other vigorous climbers.
- Sort through your seeds, buy new seeds and plan what you want to plant in Spring
February
at a glance…
- Apply organic based fertilisers.
- Continue planting trees, shrubs, fruit trees & bushes.
- Prune winter flowering shrubs.
- Prune summer flowering shrubs.
- Prune hardy evergreen trees & shrubs.
- Prune off old stems from herbaceous perennials.
last chance to…
- Cut back overgrown shrubs & hedges before the nesting season begins.