January

Annuals

• Dream up your garden! Sketch out where you’d like to plant colorful flowers like Zinnias and Marigolds this year.
• Order seeds for your favorite annual flowers to get a head start on spring.
• Check on any hardy perennial seeds you’ve stored; consider sowing some outdoors if the ground isn’t frozen (e.g., Cornflower or Larkspur).

Vegetables and Herbs

• Plan your vegetable garden—decide where to plant cabbages, onions, and peas when the weather warms.
• Start seeds indoors for early herbs like sage or parsley if you have a sunny windowsill or grow lights.
• Check on any overwintered herbs like sage; trim away dead leaves to keep them healthy.

Patio and Container Plants

• Inspect your stored containers and pots—clean them up and get them ready for spring planting.
• Start planning which spring bulbs or summer flowers you’d like to display in your containers.
• If you have plants overwintering indoors, give them a little extra care—check for pests and ensure they’re getting enough light.

Trees and Shrubs

• Protect young trees and shrubs from winter damage by adding a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around their bases.
• Prune any damaged or dead branches from your shrubs to keep them healthy for spring growth.
• Check evergreens for yellowing leaves; they might need a balanced fertilizer like “10-10-10 Hollytone” in early spring.

Roses

• Inspect your roses for winter damage; remove any dead wood, but wait to do major pruning until spring.
• Order new container roses to plant later in the season—now’s a great time to plan!
• Ensure your roses are still protected from frost if temperatures drop.

Tomatoes

• Start planning your tomato garden—choose main season varieties to grow this year.
• Prepare your seed-starting supplies (trays, soil, labels) for indoor sowing next month.
• Check and clean last year’s tomato cages, trellises, stakes, etc., so they’re ready for spring.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Check on stored bulbs like tulips or daffodils—make sure they’re dry and free of rot.
• Plan where you’ll plant your perennials this year; order any new ones you’d like to add.
• Ensure winter mulch is still in place to protect perennials from cold snaps.

Lawns

• Clean up your lawn by raking away leaves and debris from fall.
• Sharpen your mower blades so they’re ready for spring mowing.
• Plan to aerate and overseed your lawn in early spring if it looks thin or patchy.

February

Annuals

• Start seeds indoors for fast-growing flowers like Zinnias and Marigolds—place them on a sunny windowsill or under grow lights.
• If the ground isn’t frozen, sow hardy perennial seeds outdoors, like Cornflower or Larkspur, for early blooms.
• Prepare flower beds by removing weeds and debris; add compost to enrich the soil.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Start seeds indoors for cool-season veggies like lettuce, spinach, and peas to transplant later.
• Trim back any overwintered herbs like sage to encourage healthy new growth.
• Plan your spring vegetable garden—decide where to plant cabbages, onions, and leeks next month.

Patio and Container Plants

• Check on your overwintered containers—clean them and ensure they’re ready for spring planting.
• Start thinking about which spring flowers (like pansies) you’d like to add to your patio displays.
• Keep an eye on indoor plants; they may need more light as days get longer.

Roses

• Check your roses for winter damage; remove any dead wood, but hold off on heavy pruning until next month.
• Order new container roses to plant in spring—now’s the time to get your favorites!
• Ensure winter protection (like mulch or burlap) is still in place if frost is expected.

Tomatoes

• Start tomato seeds indoors for main season varieties—use seed trays and keep them warm and well-lit.
• Prepare your garden beds by adding compost or fertilizer to get them ready for spring planting.
• Make sure last year’s tomato cages, stakes, or trellises are clean and ready to use.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Inspect stored bulbs for rot or sprouting; discard any that aren’t healthy.
• Start planning where to plant perennials this spring; order new ones if desired.
• Keep winter mulch in place to protect perennials from late freezes.

Lawns

• Rake your lawn to remove winter debris like leaves or twigs.
• Plan to apply a lawn treatment like “Green Power” in early spring to help it green up.
• Consider overseeding thin areas of your lawn next month—choose a grass variety that suits your area.

March

Annuals

• Start seeds indoors for slow-growing flowers like geraniums, begonias, and impatiens to enjoy summer blooms.
• Take cuttings from indoor plants you overwintered (like geraniums) to grow new plants for your outdoor beds.
• Prepare flower beds by mixing in compost, lime, and a slow-release fertilizer like “Osmocote” to nourish your plants.
• By late March, plant cold-tolerant flowers like pansies and violas to add early color to your garden.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Remove winter mulch from perennials as the weather warms, but keep it handy in case of late frosts.
• Add a slow-release fertilizer like “Plant Tone” or “Osmocote” to your perennial beds to encourage healthy growth.
• Divide overcrowded perennials (like daylilies or hostas) that you didn’t split last fall, and replant them to give them more space.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Start seeds indoors for peppers, celery, and tomatoes—place them on a bright windowsill or under grow lights.
• Sow early tomato varieties indoors so you’ll have ripe tomatoes before your neighbors; plant a few extra seeds just in case.
• Late in the month, plant cold-tolerant veggies like spinach, peas, and radishes directly in the garden, and set out transplants of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and onion sets.
• Finish cleaning up your vegetable garden from fall—remove old plants and weeds, and prepare the soil for planting.
• If the soil is workable, mix in compost and fertilizer to get your veggie beds ready for the season.

Patio and Container Plants

• Bring summer bulbs like dahlias or gladiolus out of storage and start planting them in pots.
• Pot up frost-tolerant plants like pansies and violas in small containers indoors; let them grow strong before moving them outside.
• Trim back any leggy growth on your container plants and take cuttings to grow new ones.

Trees and Shrubs

• Remove supports from trees that have been in the ground for a year—they should be stable now.
• After early-blooming shrubs like forsythia or spirea finish flowering, prune 1/3 of the oldest branches to the ground to encourage new growth.
• Feed your trees and shrubs with a fertilizer like “Tree Tone” as they start growing.
• Spray lilacs with “Dormant Oil” before their leaves appear to prevent scale insects.

Roses

• As rose buds start to swell and open, remove any winter protection like mulch or burlap.
• Prune shrub and tea roses to shape them and encourage blooming.
• Remove any dead branches from climbing roses.
• Water your roses deeply and feed them with a slow-release fertilizer like “Rose Tone.”

Lawns

• Rake and mow your lawn early to clear away leaves and winter debris before it starts growing.
• Fix any soggy or uneven spots in your lawn by leveling the soil.
• Aerate your lawn to help air, water, and nutrients reach the roots, then overseed with a grass variety that suits your area.
• Apply a weed preventer like “Crabicide Green” to stop crabgrass from sprouting.
• Keep newly seeded areas moist until the grass sprouts, which can take 4-6 weeks.

April

Annuals

• Keep preparing your flower beds by clearing weeds and loosening the soil.
• Start seeds indoors for quick-growing flowers like Zinnias and Marigolds to brighten your summer garden.
• Plant seeds of hardy flowers like Cornflower and Larkspur directly in the garden—they can handle cooler weather.
• Use a weed preventer like “Preen” to stop spring weeds from popping up in your flower beds.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Plant cool-season veggies like cabbages and onions in your garden.
• Sow seeds for peas, lettuce, radishes, and spinach directly in the soil; keep planting small batches every week or two for a continuous harvest.
• As the soil warms up, plant seeds for beets, carrots, turnips, and other cool-season crops.
• Trim back overwintered herbs like sage and lavender to encourage new growth, and plant hardy herbs like parsley or chives.

Patio and Container Plants

• When the weather warms, move your overwintered containers and indoor-started plants outside.
• Replace winter plants in your containers with spring and summer flowers to refresh your patio.
• Be ready to cover tender plants with a fabric (not plastic) if a late frost is expected.

Trees and Shrubs

• Add a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around trees and shrubs to keep the soil moist and healthy.
• After they bloom, prune young azaleas, rhododendrons, and wisteria to help them grow compact and strong.
• Remove any dead or misshapen branches from your trees and shrubs.
• Feed evergreens with yellowing leaves using a balanced fertilizer like “Hollytone.”
• Pinch off any twisted new growth on pine trees to stop pine shoot moths.

Roses

• Prune ever-blooming roses to shape them and encourage more flowers.
• Plant container roses anytime from now until July.
• Feed established roses with a slow-release fertilizer like “Osmocote.”
• Start weekly sprays to prevent black spot and mildew on your roses.
• Remove any winter-damaged wood from old garden roses, but wait to shape or thin them.

Tomatoes

• Start main season tomato seeds indoors if you haven’t already—there are still 4-6 weeks of unpredictable weather before planting outside.
• If your early tomato seedlings are getting big, move them to individual pots to give them more room.
• Finish preparing your tomato beds by mixing in compost, fertilizer, or leftover cover crops.
• Check and clean last year’s tomato cages, trellises, or stakes so they’re ready for planting.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Finish preparing the soil for your perennials—loosen it up and remove weeds.
• Weed, water, and feed your perennials with a fertilizer like “Osmocote” or “Plant Tone” as needed.
• Leave the foliage on spring bulbs (like tulips or daffodils) until it starts to dry out naturally.

Lawns

• Sharpen your mower blades for clean cuts this season.
• De-thatch and aerate your lawn if you didn’t do it earlier—it helps the grass grow stronger.
• Apply a lawn treatment like “Green Power” or “Preen for Lawns” to keep it healthy and weed-free.
• Overseed thin spots with a grass variety that suits your area if you didn’t last month.
• Keep newly seeded areas moist until the grass sprouts; after 4-6 weeks, care for it like a regular lawn.
• Use a weed preventer like “Crabicide Green” to stop crabgrass in established lawns.

May

Annuals

• Once the risk of frost is gone, plant your remaining annual flowers in the garden.
• Keep your flower beds tidy—pull weeds, water as needed, and feed with a fertilizer like “Miracle Gro.”
• Watch for pests or diseases on your annuals; remove any insects by hand or treat with insect spray if needed.
• Add a layer of mulch around your annuals to keep the soil moist and reduce weeds.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Plant hardy herbs like rosemary or thyme directly in your garden.
• Start basil seeds indoors on a sunny windowsill for transplanting later.
• Keep sowing quick-growing crops like cilantro every week or two for a steady harvest.
• Thin out seedlings in your veggie rows—enjoy the tiny thinnings as baby greens in salads.
• Transplant seedlings of cucumbers, melons, squash, and peppers into your garden.
• Water your transplants with a high-phosphate fertilizer like “Tomato Tone” to help them settle in, and water as needed.
• Plant warm-season crops like corn, beans, and pumpkins now that the weather is warmer.

Patio and Container Plants

• Check your container plants daily—water them if the soil feels dry and look for pests.
• Pinch back leggy growth and remove faded flowers (deadheading) to keep plants looking neat.
• Swap out spring bulbs in your containers for summer-blooming plants like petunias, or geraniums.
• Watch for insects or diseases—remove bugs by hand and discard any diseased plants; use insecticides only as a last resort.
• Add a slow-release fertilizer like “Osmocote” to your containers to keep plants thriving.

Trees and Shrubs

• Feed blooming shrubs with a fertilizer like “Tree Tone” to encourage more flowers.
• Prune any tent caterpillar nests from your trees and destroy them to prevent damage.
• Trim away suckers (small shoots) growing at the base of your trees.
• Prune water sprouts (long, upright shoots) from crabapples and other small trees to keep them shapely.

Roses

• Feed your roses with a granular fertilizer like “Rose Tone” to boost blooming.
• Keep an eye out for mildew or aphids—spray with a rose and garden insect spray if needed.
• Water your roses weekly during dry weather, giving them about an inch of water; avoid wetting the leaves to prevent disease.
• Plant shallow-rooted annuals like portulacas around your roses as a “living mulch” to keep the soil covered.

Tomatoes

• Keep your tomato seedlings short and strong by giving them plenty of light—place them near a bright window or under grow lights.
• Warm up your tomato beds by covering the soil with plastic mulch.
• Feed your tomatoes with a fertilizer like “Miracle Gro” or “Tomato Tone” to support growth.
• Be ready to cover your tomatoes if a late frost is forecast—by the end of May, the risk should be low.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Add a layer of mulch around your perennials to keep the soil moist and weed-free.
• Weed, water, and feed your perennials with a fertilizer like “Plant Tone” as needed.
• Trim back perennials after they bloom (deadheading) to encourage more flowers and keep them healthy.
• Remove faded blooms from bulb plants, but let their leaves dry out and yellow naturally before cutting them back.
• Watch for pests or diseases on your perennials—treat early to keep them healthy.

Lawns

• Feed your lawn with a product like “Greenview 2-Way Weed & Feed” to help it grow strong and control crabgrass and weeds.
• Use a lawn weed killer to tackle tough weeds like dandelions.
• Start a regular mowing schedule—never cut more than 1/3 of the grass height at a time to keep it healthy.
• Look for signs of fungus or diseases in your lawn, and watch for insect damage from cutworms, grubs, ants, or clover mites.
• Water established lawns with about 1 inch of water per week, giving one deep soaking if the weather is dry.

June

Annuals

• Keep your flower beds tidy—pull weeds, water as needed, and feed with a fertilizer as required.
• Plant new annuals to fill gaps in your beds or replace any plants that didn’t thrive.
• Watch for pests or diseases on your annuals; remove insects by hand or treat with insect spray if needed.
• Remove faded flowers (deadheading) to encourage more blooms throughout the season.
• Cut flowers early in the morning for bouquets—they’ll last longer indoors.

Roses

• Water your roses regularly during dry weather, giving them about an inch of water each time.
• Add mulch to any bare spots around your roses to keep the soil moist and weed-free.
• Feed your roses with a granular fertilizer like “Rose Tone” to encourage more blooms.
• Snip off faded flowers from ever-blooming roses to promote new blooms; cut the stem back to a leaf with 5 leaflets.

Tomatoes

• Prune, tie, and train your tomato plants as they grow; use cages or stakes to support them.
• Once the soil is warm, remove plastic mulch and replace it with organic mulch (like straw or bark) to prevent weeds and retain moisture.
• Water deeply during dry spells to prevent blossom-end rot—a condition that causes dark spots on the fruit.
• Keep an eye out for pests or diseases; treat early to keep your plants healthy.
• For a big fall harvest, plant some late-started tomato seedlings by the end of the month.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Keep your perennials tidy—weed, water, and feed with a fertilizer as needed.
• Trim back perennials after they bloom (deadheading) to encourage more flowers and keep them healthy.
• Remove faded blooms from bulb plants to prevent seed formation, but leave the green foliage to dry out naturally.
• Clean up brown, dry foliage from spring-flowering bulbs once it’s fully dried.
• Watch for pests or diseases on your perennials—treat early to keep them thriving.
• Plan your perennial blooms by season—here’s a guide to help you:
  • Spring Bloomers: Ajuga, Arabis, Basket-of-Gold, Bergenia, Bleeding Heart, Columbine, Coral Bells, Euphorbia, Foamflower, Jacob’s Ladder, Lady’s Mantle, Leopard’s Bane, Peony, Poppy, Primrose, Pulmonaria, Thrift, Violet.
  • Summer Bloomers: Acanthus, Astilbe, Baby’s Breath, Bee Balm, Bellflower, Blanket Flower, Catmint, Coneflower, Coreopsis, Cranesbill, Daylily, Delphinium, Dianthus, Goat’s Beard, Hosta, Iris, Lavender, Loosestrife, Lupine, Monkshood, Penstemon, Phlox, Rudbeckia, Veronica, Yarrow.
  • Fall Bloomers: Aster, Boltonia, Chrysanthemum, Cimicifuga, Japanese Anemone, Goldenrod, Lobelia, Toad Lily.

Lawns

• Stick to a regular mowing and watering schedule to keep your grass healthy—water with about 1 inch of water per week.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn after mowing—they’ll add nutrients back to the soil.
• Apply a weed control product like “Greenview 2-Way Green Power” to feed your lawn and tackle annual weeds.
• Watch for signs of fungus or insect damage; use appropriate treatments at the recommended rates if needed.

Trees and Shrubs

• Feed acid-loving plants like magnolias and rhododendrons with a fertilizer like “Hollytone.”
• Lightly prune small trees to improve air circulation and prevent white powdery mildew on leaves.
• Trim junipers, yews, and hemlock hedges to keep them neat.
• Prune pine and spruce trees in June or July to thicken growth, especially around the trunk, as they mature.
• Water your trees and shrubs as needed, especially during dry spells.
• Check for insects or diseases; apply insecticides or fungicides if necessary.

Patio and Container Plants

• Check your container plants daily—water them if the soil feels dry and look for pests.
• Feed your plants with a water-soluble fertilizer like “Miracle Gro” or foliar feed every 2 to 4 weeks to keep them vibrant.
• Pinch back leggy growth and remove faded flowers (deadheading) to keep your containers looking tidy and encourage new blooms.
• Replace any seasonal or struggling plants with new ones to keep your patio displays fresh.

July

Annuals

• Keep your flower beds tidy—pull weeds, water as needed, and feed with a fertilizer as required.
• Remove faded flowers (deadheading) to encourage your annuals to keep blooming through the summer.
• Plant seeds of cool-season flowers like snapdragons or pansies for beautiful fall blooms.
• Watch for pests or diseases, especially spider mites, which thrive in hot weather; treat with insect spray if needed.
• Cut flowers early in the morning for bouquets—they’ll last longer indoors.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Lightly cultivate around your plants to control weeds—be gentle to avoid disturbing roots.
• Add mulch around your veggies to keep the soil moist during hot, dry weather.
• Water your garden in the morning, using drip irrigation if possible, to reduce evaporation and keep leaves dry.
• Harvest mature crops and young herb shoots before they flower for the best flavor; use or preserve them as soon as possible.

Patio and Container Plants

• Check your container plants daily—water them if the soil feels dry and look for pests.
• Pinch back leggy growth and remove faded flowers (deadheading) to keep your containers looking tidy and encourage new blooms.

Trees and Shrubs

• Help new trees and shrubs get established by applying a plant starter or root stimulator.

Roses

• Water your roses weekly during dry weather, giving them about an inch of water each time.
• Feed your roses with a granular fertilizer like “Rose Tone” to keep them blooming.
• Watch for mildew, Japanese beetles, and aphids; spray with a diluted fungicide or insect spray if needed—dilute fungicides by 1/3 to avoid burning the leaves.
• Prune old garden roses after they bloom, and cut off old, failing canes on climbers; tie in new growth to supports.

Tomatoes

• Water deeply during dry spells to keep the soil evenly moist—this helps prevent blossom-end rot (dark spots on fruit) and fruit cracking.
• Keep an eye out for ripening tomatoes—heavy foliage can hide ripe fruit, so check carefully.
• Continue to prune, tie, and train your tomato plants; use cages or stakes to support them as they grow.
• Watch for diseases like blight, especially on lower branches, and check for pests like hornworm caterpillars; treat as needed.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Keep your perennials tidy—weed, water, and feed with a fertilizer as needed.
• Trim back perennials after they bloom (deadheading) to encourage more flowers and keep them healthy; some may even bloom again.
• Watch for pests or diseases, especially spider mites, which love hot weather; treat with insect spray if needed.
• Check for mildew on phlox and spray with a fungicide as directed to keep it under control.
• Plant seeds of perennials now for transplanting in fall or next spring.

Lawns

• Water your lawn as needed; if water is restricted, let the lawn go dormant—it will likely recover when rains return.
• Avoid heavy fertilizing in hot weather—too much nitrogen can make your grass more prone to disease.
• Raise your mower height by an extra ½ inch during hot, dry periods to reduce stress on the grass.
• Check your mower blade for sharpness—a dull blade can make grass more susceptible to disease and insect damage.

August

Annuals

• Trim back tired annuals to refresh them, and feed with a water-soluble fertilizer to give them a boost.
• Keep your flower beds tidy—pull weeds, water as needed, and feed with a fertilizer as required.
• Remove faded flowers (deadheading) to encourage your annuals to keep blooming into fall.
• Watch for pests or diseases, especially spider mites, which thrive in hot weather; treat with insect spray if needed.
• Cut flowers early in the morning for bouquets—they’ll last longer indoors.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Water your garden as needed and add mulch to keep the soil moist during late summer heat.
• Watch for beetles and diseases on your veggies; treat early to keep your plants healthy.
• Pull weeds and add them to your compost pile to keep your garden tidy.
• Harvest crops as they mature; pick herbs before they flower for the best flavor, and use or preserve them right after harvest for the best nutrition and taste.

Patio and Container Plants

• Check your container plants daily—water them if the soil feels dry and look for pests.
• Apply a water-soluble fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks to keep your plants vibrant.
• Pinch back leggy growth and remove faded flowers (deadheading) to keep your containers looking tidy and encourage new blooms.
• Replace tired or stressed summer annuals with fall bloomers like mums to refresh your patio displays.

Trees and Shrubs

• Avoid pruning or fertilizing spring-blooming shrubs like azaleas or lilacs—new growth could be damaged by winter cold.
• Water your trees and shrubs as needed, especially during dry spells.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Give your perennials a deep watering this month to help them through late summer heat.
• Weed and feed your perennials with a fertilizer as needed to keep them healthy.
• Trim back perennials after they bloom (deadheading) to encourage vigor and tidy up their appearance.
• Cut back any unsightly or browned perennial foliage to keep your garden looking neat.
• Watch for pests or diseases—treat early to keep your perennials thriving.

Lawns

• Stick to your regular mowing and watering schedule—water with about 1 inch of water per week.
• Raise your mower blade by an extra ½ inch to reduce stress on the grass during late summer heat.
• Assess your lawn’s condition and plan for possible fall renovations, like overseeding or aerating.
• Watch for signs of insect damage or fungal diseases; apply treatments as needed to keep your lawn healthy.

Tomatoes

• Harvest tomatoes as close to fully ripe as possible for the best flavor; eat or preserve them right away.
• If birds or pests are damaging ripe fruit, pick tomatoes earlier when the blossom end turns pink and let them ripen indoors—never refrigerate, but an air-conditioned house is ideal.
• Early tomato varieties may finish producing this month; compost plants that are done bearing fruit.
• Later plantings will start ripening by the end of the month for another delicious harvest.
• Check for blossom-end rot (dark spots on fruit) and remove affected tomatoes; prevent it by keeping the soil evenly moist.

Roses

• Even if your roses are still blooming, avoid fertilizing after the first week of August—new growth could be damaged by winter cold.
• Continue removing faded blooms (deadheading) to keep your roses looking tidy.
• Spray with diluted fungicides as needed to control mildew or other diseases.
• Water your roses weekly during hot weather, focusing on the roots and avoiding the foliage to prevent disease.

September

Annuals

• Trim back tired annuals to refresh them, and feed with a water-soluble fertilizer to give them a boost.
• Keep your flower beds tidy—pull weeds, water as needed, and feed with a fertilizer as required.
• Remove faded flowers (deadheading) to encourage your annuals to keep blooming into fall.
• Watch for pests or diseases, especially spider mites; treat with insect spray if needed.
• Cut flowers early in the morning for bouquets—they’ll last longer indoors.
• Choose the best flowers for drying to enjoy them through the winter.
• Start planting winter-hardy annuals like pansies, ornamental cabbage, and kale for cool-season color.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Enjoy late plantings of sweet corn and winter squash, which reach their peak quality this month.
• Prepare frost protection for tender crops like pumpkins, gourds, and squash late in the month—use row covers or blankets.
• Plant cover crops like oats or rye to protect and enrich your soil over the winter; they should peak this month.
• Pot up herb plants or start seeds indoors for winter use—enjoy fresh herbs all season long.

Patio and Container Plants

• Check your container plants daily—water them if the soil feels dry, feed with fertilizer as needed, and look for pests.
• Replace summer plants with fall bloomers like pansies, mums, cabbage, and kale to keep your patio vibrant.
• Take cuttings of tender plants like geraniums, begonias, and impatiens to overwinter indoors for next season.

Trees and Shrubs

• Check for insects and diseases on your trees and shrubs; spray with appropriate treatments if needed.
• Water your trees and shrubs as needed, especially during dry spells.
• Plant woody ornamentals like trees and shrubs now—fall is a great time for them to establish roots.
• Rake debris from shrub beds to remove overwintering insect eggs and keep your garden tidy.

Roses

• As the weather cools, resume spraying with full-strength fungicides as needed to control diseases.
• Water your roses as needed—fall can often be dry, so keep an eye on soil moisture.

Tomatoes

• Enjoy peak production from June-planted tomato varieties, though ripening may slow as temperatures drop.
• When a hard freeze is forecast, harvest all remaining fruit to avoid frost damage.
• Compost any dead tomato plants to clean up your garden.
• Pick green tomatoes before frost; loosely cover them with newspaper, place in a paper bag, and they’ll ripen in the dark.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Transplant perennial seedlings started in summer to their permanent spots as space becomes available.
• Divide and replant overcrowded perennials like bearded irises and daylilies to give them more room to grow.
• Plant new irises as soon as rhizomes are available for best results.
• Keep your perennials tidy—weed, water, and feed with a fertilizer as needed.
• Watch for pests or diseases—treat early to keep your perennials healthy.
• Continue removing faded flowers (deadheading) to keep your garden looking neat.
• Select spring bulbs like crocus, tulips, and daffodils for planting—buy them now for the best selection.

Lawns

• Rake your lawn to remove thatch (dead grass) and weeds, helping it breathe and grow better.
• Aerate your lawn if you haven’t already or if the soil feels hard and compacted—this improves air and water flow to the roots.
• Apply a fall fertilizer like “Greenview Winter Green 10-16-20” to prepare your lawn for winter.
• Sow grass seed over thin or bare spots, making passes from different directions for even coverage; cover with straw to prevent erosion.
• Keep newly seeded areas moist until the seeds sprout and develop a root system—usually 4-6 weeks.

October

Annuals

• Take notes on your annuals’ performance this year to help plan next season’s garden.
• Take cuttings from annuals or move them indoors if you want to overwinter them for next year.
• Weed and water any frost-resistant annuals still in your garden.
• Remove annuals killed by frost and start your fall cleanup.
• Add weeds and disease-free plant materials to your compost pile for next year’s use.
• Continue planting hardy annuals for winter displays, such as ornamental kale, cabbage, pansies, and asters.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Harvest and store late potatoes for winter use.
• Plant spinach and garlic for a late-season harvest or early spring crop.
• Plant cover crops to overwinter and protect your soil, such as oats or rye.
• Mulch your garden beds after the ground freezes to protect the soil and plants.
• As frost kills your crops, begin cleaning up the garden—remove dead plants and debris.
• Collect as many fallen leaves as possible for mulch and composting to enrich your soil.

Patio and Container Plants

• Keep checking your container plants daily—water them if the soil feels dry and look for pests.
• Remove spent plants and replace them with fall bloomers like pansies, asters, ornamental kale, or cabbage for seasonal color.
• Pot bulbs like tulips or daffodils to force indoors for a beautiful spring bloom.

Trees and Shrubs

• Check for insects and diseases on your trees and shrubs; spray with appropriate treatments if needed.
• Water your trees and shrubs as needed, especially during dry spells.
• Continue planting new woody ornamentals—fall is a great time for them to establish roots.
• Stake new trees as high as possible and tie them loosely to allow some wind movement while protecting them from damage.
• If you spot any scale insects on the backs of leaves of broadleaf evergreens, spray with “Bonide All-Season’s Dormant Oil.”

Roses

• Stop using fungicidal sprays as the season ends.
• Store fungicides and leftover insecticides in a protected, well-ventilated place—extreme cold can destroy the chemicals.
• Plant spring bulbs like tulips or crocus in your rose beds for a burst of early spring color.
• Water your roses as needed—fall can often be dry, so keep an eye on soil moisture.

Tomatoes

• Some tomato plants may survive until mid-month; once a freeze kills these late producers, start your fall cleanup.
• Remove dead tomato plants and compost them; discard or destroy any visibly diseased plants to prevent spreading issues.
• Clean vines and foliage from cages, stakes, and trellises, then store them for winter.
• When a hard frost is forecast, harvest all remaining fruit to avoid frost damage.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Continue dividing and planting herbaceous perennials to give them a fresh start.
• Plant all spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and crocus to ensure a colorful spring display.
• Weed and water your perennials as needed to keep them healthy through fall.
• Trim back perennials that have finished blooming (deadheading) to tidy up your garden.
• Clean up beds as plants die back or are affected by frost, adding plant materials to your compost pile.

Lawns

• Establish or reseed your lawn with a grass variety suited to your area.
• Apply a fall fertilizer like “Greenview Winter Green” at the recommended rates if you haven’t already.
• Rake leaves and other debris to keep your lawn clean and healthy.
• Raise your mower blade by ½ inch above normal to reduce stress on the grass as temperatures drop.
• Apply a broadleaf weed control product to tackle weeds, unless you’ve recently overseeded.

November

Annuals

• Continue cleaning up your garden and turn your compost pile to help it break down over winter.
• Remove any remaining spent annuals or those killed by frost.
• Add disease-free plant material to your compost pile for next year’s use.
• Finish preparing your soil for fall or spring planting—loosen it up and remove any debris.
• Start cleaning, repairing, and storing garden tools, hoses, and equipment for the off-season.
• Shut off, drain, and check your irrigation equipment to prevent winter damage.
• Finish planting hardy annuals for winter displays, such as cabbage, kale, pansies, and violas.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Complete your fall harvesting to wrap up the growing season.
• Mix manure into all garden beds to enrich the soil for next year.
• Clean up and store trellises, cages, poles, stakes, etc., to keep them safe over winter.
• Finish collecting fall leaves and till them into the soil—shredding them first will speed up decomposition.

Patio and Container Plants

• Dispose of any spent container plants that are no longer thriving.
• Bring in any remaining tender plants to overwinter indoors if you haven’t already.
• Bring in or cover terra cotta and cement containers to protect them from freezing and cracking.

Trees and Shrubs

• Keep fallen leaves from piling up against tree trunks—they can trap moisture and cause root rot.
• Plant deciduous trees and conifers anytime this month to give them a head start for spring.
• Take a garden inventory and remove any trees or shrubs that haven’t performed well.
• Use hardware cloth or screening to protect the trunks and stems of woody plants if they’re susceptible to rodent damage.

Roses

• Rake up rose leaves that may harbor pest eggs or diseases to keep your garden healthy.
• Prepare soil to mound over the graft union of your roses for winter protection—wait to mound or use rose collars until temperatures are consistently below freezing.

Perennials and Bulbs

• Continue your fall cleanup by removing dead plant material from perennial beds.
• Finish dividing and transplanting crowded perennials to give them more space.
• Complete planting spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and crocus.
• Apply a high-phosphate fertilizer like “Espoma Triple Super Phosphate,” bone meal, or garden food to your beds as needed.
• Prepare soil for spring plantings as space opens up in your beds.
• Mark the location of perennials with stakes before their foliage dies back—this helps you cultivate the soil and plant in fall or early spring without harming existing plants.
• Mulch your perennial beds after the ground freezes to protect plants over winter.

Lawns

• Rake leaves and debris as needed to keep your lawn clean.
• Mow newly overseeded grass at ½ inch above normal to encourage healthy growth.
• Water your lawn if the fall is dry to prevent stress.
• Apply a weed-and-feed product like “Greenview Winter Green” or “Greenview 2-Way Green Power” if you haven’t already.

Ecology Tip

• Store pesticides correctly over the winter. Dry pesticides should be kept in an airtight container to prevent moisture absorption. All pesticides should be stored at a cool room temperature to avoid freezing or overheating, which can damage containers and destroy the potency of some products.

December

Perennials and Roses

• Check recently planted perennials and roses—ensure they have enough moisture to support new roots.
• If frost has heaved plants out of the soil, gently press them back into place.
• Mulch with leaves or evergreen boughs after the ground freezes, typically after the new year, to protect plants from winter cold.

Trees and Shrubs

• If your soil is too acidic, apply lime now—it moves slowly through the soil and will reach your plants’ roots by early spring when they need it.
• After heavy snowfalls or ice storms, avoid disturbing plants—let nature remove snow and ice naturally.
• Check young trees and shrubs for bark damage from rodents; wrap trunks with tree guards to protect them from further harm.
• Water newly planted trees and shrubs if the winter is dry—set a hose at the base and let it drip slowly for about 15 minutes every three weeks.

Lawns

• Rake up leaves and debris when the lawn isn’t covered by snow to keep it clean.
• Minimize salt deposits on lawn areas near walks and driveways to prevent damage.
• Perform a soil test if you haven’t already to plan for spring improvements.
• Store your mower (with its gas tank drained) and other lawn supplies in a secure, dry place for the winter.

Care for Cut Christmas Trees

• No tasks provided for cut Christmas trees—check back for updates or add your own care tips!

Care for Live Christmas Trees

• Dig the planting hole now while the ground is still soft—waiting until after Christmas might mean frozen soil. Cover the hole and store the backfill dirt in the garage to keep it from freezing.
• Acclimate your live tree by placing it in your garage for a few days before bringing it indoors to avoid temperature shock.
• While the tree is in the garage, apply “Wilt-Pruf,” an anti-desiccant and flame-retardant spray, to coat the needles and prevent drying out.
• Choose a cool spot in your house for the tree, away from fireplaces or heat vents, to keep it healthy.
• Place the tree in a large tub and keep the root ball moist using a damp cloth, towels, or newspaper—do not let it sit in standing water.
• Add pine nuggets to the tub for a neat appearance after setting up the tree.
• Keep the tree indoors for no more than 7-10 days to avoid stress.
• Before planting, acclimate the tree again by placing it back in the garage for 2-3 days.
• When planting, mix compost into the soil and use a starter fertilizer to reduce transplant shock.
• Cover the top of the root ball with mulch after planting, and water thoroughly for 15-30 minutes, then every 2-3 weeks as needed.