A Gardeners Year
What should I be doing in my garden every month?
A gardener’s diary can be useful to both the expert gardener with acres to look after as well as the person living in an inner city flat with only space for a couple of window boxes.
Creating your own calendar means you can tailor it to your own specific needs as the year progresses.
Although by no means comprehensive here are some of the key things you made need to do throughout the year, according to the experts at Country Life.
January
The start of the year is a great time to get yourself organised for the year ahead.
Check all your gardening tools and equipment to see if they still work properly and if they need sharpening or cleaning.
Draw up plans for the coming year and decide on what you want to do and think about any new tools you may need.
Giving the garden a good tidy-up is a good idea too, including any greenhouses or sheds.
Continue to trim perennials.
Check any garden items or features as well as fencing for signs of damage.
February
Now is the time to order summer bulbs like lilies or gladioli and start sowing annuals to produce early flowers.
Start pruning your roses, if you have any.
February is also a good month to finalise how you want your garden to look by planning where you want to put certain plants and flowers.
Continue to weed and mulching.
March
Now is the time to seriously start sowing those seeds, particularly for hardy annuals and perennials.
It’s also an ideal time to pot those seedlings and prune any roses.
If you have a gravel path it’s a good idea to check it over to see if it needs topping up.
Continue with the weeding.
April
If you intend to grow sweet peas now is the time to plant out the seedlings and carry on with your sowing.
April is also the time to start applying biological control.
It’s also a good time to paint some shading on your greenhouse as the warmer months are coming.
Water any plants in greenhouses or pots.
Don’t let the weeds get out of control.
May
There’s lots of potting to be done in May, including potting on.
Dahlias need to be planted by the end of the month.
Remove your tulip bulbs to allow space for your next crop and empty any spring pot displays.
Keep your greenhouse and pot plants well-watered and make sure any pests are kept at bay.
June
Lots more planting out to be done.
Replant any greenhouse beds.
Start sowing biennials.
Deadhead plants such as peonies.
Keep those plants in greenhouses and pots well-watered.
Continue to keep those weeds under control.
July
Remove any dead annuals and replace with late-season crops.
Plant up pots for any late season displays.
Carry on deadheading and keeping those weeds under control.
Start planting biennials, if there’s space.
You might want to collect any seed heads to dry out and make into a winter decoration.
August
Order in your supply of spring bulbs and sweet pea seeds by the end of the month.
Also order up your annual seeds.
Carry on planting out your biennials as space becomes available.
Keep on watering your greenhouse plants and any in pots as well as continue to get rid of those weeds.
In the gardening world now is a good time to go on holiday.
September
Sow any hardy annual seeds for flowering next year.
Continue to deadhead plants and the weeding.
Order any new perennials and start planting them.
Draw up plans where to plant bulbs.
Water any greenhouse plants and those in pots.
October
Start to plant spring bulbs.
Order bare-root shrubs and roses.
Empty pots of any late summer displays.
Plant out hardy annuals before the temperature gets too cold.
Don’t forget the weeding.
November
Carry on planting spring bulbs and tulips.
Cut back your roses to reduce wind rock.
Sow sweet peas for flowers next year.
November is also time for a good clean-up of the garden.
It’s also a good time to start thinking ahead to next year and develop any plans you might have for your garden.
December
Plant any bare root shrubs.
Plant seedlings in your greenhouse for next year.
Clean out your greenhouse and garden shed.
