|
Jobs for the Month –
January
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
 | Continue to prune apple
and pear trees if conditions allow; do not prune in freezing weather;
ensure tools are sharp and cleaned after pruning each tree or bush to
avoid spreading fungal or viral diseases;
|
| Plant lily bulbs if the
ground is not frozen or waterlogged; bulbs can also be potted up now or
existing bulbs split to ensure good growth and flowering in the coming
season;
|
| Take root cuttings of
phlox, Oriental poppies, verbascum, acanthus (bear’s breeches), eryngium
and clerondendrum;
|
| Sow seeds of sweet peas,
begonia, lobelia, salvia and pelargoniums in a heated propagator to get an
early start; grow the seedlings on in reduced heat on a sunny windowsill
(not in direct sunlight) or heated greenhouse;
|
| Onion seeds can be sown
now in gentle heat in pots or seed trays; prick the seedlings out into
modules or individual pots when they reach the “crook” stage (i.e. they
resemble a shepherd’s crook);
|
| Indoor cyclamen that
have finished flowering can be moved to a cool greenhouse; reduce watering
but don’t let the plants dry out completely;
|
| Poinsettias should be
watered as normal until March if they are going to be kept for future
years;
|
| Take hardwood cuttings
of cornus (dogwood), salix, forsythia, weigela, escallonia, ribes and
roses;
|
| Prune the sideshoots on
wisteria back to 2 or 3 buds of the main stems to encourage flowering
spurs for the coming season;
|
| Prune deciduous woody
plants such as beech, hazel and Virginia creeper;
|
| Start chitting early
potato varieties in a cool but frost-free, dry, bright place indoors; egg
boxes or seed trays are useful receptacles for this task;
|
| Water and feed
overwintering fuchsias and keep temperatures above 5 degrees Celsius to
encourage them gently back into growth. |
|
|
Jobs for the Month –
February
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
| In mid-February, sow
tomato and cucumber seeds for plants to be grown in the greenhouse; sow in
a heated propagator or warm windowsill and grow on at a slightly lower
temperature;
|
| Autumn fruiting
raspberries can be pruned now; cut the fruited shoots right down to ground
level, remove any weeds and give the canes a good mulch covering;
|
| Apply a general purpose
fertiliser such as Growmore to tree, bush and cane fruit and apply a thick
mulch around the stems;
|
| In late February, cut
back ornamental grasses to allow the fresh leaves to grow on unimpeded
|
| Topdress beds and
borders with Growmore or Blood, Fish & Bone fertiliser in late February to
promote growth for the coming season
|
| Start dahlia tubers in
pots into growth by watering more frequently and applying a weak liquid
fertiliser weekly;
|
| Begonia and gloxinia
tubers can be potted up now
|
| Now is the time to prune
Buddleia shrubs hard back to promote good strong growth for flowering
later in the year;
|
| Late-summer and autumn
flowering clematis (Group 3) can be pruned now
|
| Prune Mahonia bushes
back after flowering to promote branching and to keep the shrubs compact;
|
| Prune back shrubs that
are grown for their coloured winter stems such as dogwoods and willows;
most of these shrubs can be cut hard back to ensure a good display of
young colourful stems next winter;
|
| Prune the winter
flowering jasmine (Jasmium nudiflorum) after flowering; cut flowered stems
back to a couple of buds from the main stem and remove any brown dead
material to enhance the appearance of the shrub;
|
| Hostas can be divided
now when the new growth is just starting to come through but before the
leaves emerge fully. |
|
|
Jobs for the Month –
March
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
| Complete the pruning of gooseberries and autumn
raspberries before the end of the month
|
| Plant shallots, garlic and onion sets if conditions
allow
|
| Apply a general purpose fertiliser and mulch to beds and borders to
boost plants and shrubs and lock in the moisture from winter rains
|
| Renovate overgrown climbers such as honeysuckle by cutting hard back and
feeding with a general purpose fertiliser such as Growmore or Blood, Fish
and Bone
|
| Plant and divide herbaceous perennials
|
| Top dress container grown plants with fresh compost; remove the top
couple of inches of old compost
|
| Start canna lilies into growth by watering more frequently and applying
a weak liquid feed such as Phostrogen at each watering
|
| Cut back over-wintered pelargoniums, fuchsias and other tender
perennials
|
| Plant out first early potatoes
|
| Pot up begonia tubers
|
| Stop watering poinsettias; wait for the leaves to drop then shorten the
stems to 3 or 4 buds; keep at 13°C
|
| Trim ornamental grasses : festuca, Pampas and stipa grasses can be cut
to ground level; Miscanthus should be cut to 8 – 10cm
|
| Sow hardy annuals in pots or modules
|
| Pot up cuttings of tender perennials taken last summer |
|
|
Jobs for the Month –
April
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
| Sow herbs such as basil, parsley and chives now
|
| Vegetables for growing under cover such as sweet
peppers, cucumbers and aubergines can be sown indoors now
|
| Plant asparagus crowns
|
| Apply a general purpose fertiliser such as blood, fish
and bone or Growmore to borders and beds to boost growth of plants and
shrubs
|
| Put supports in place for tall perennials that require
staking; it is better to get these in place now rather than struggle to
insert them amongst unwieldy growth later in the season
|
| Divide clumps of herbaceous perennials and replant in
soil invigorated with well rotted compost or manure
|
| Sow sweet peas outdoors where they are to flower
|
| Top up pots and tubs with fresh compost
|
| Re-pot house plants and topdress large containers
adding some slow-release fertiliser
|
| Increase the watering and feeding of indoor plants
|
| Propagate fuchsias from softwood or stem-tip cuttings
|
| Prune evergreen shrubs such as choisya or laurel
|
| Divide overgrown clumps of bamboo
|
| Divide and replant overcrowded waterlilies
|
| Take softwood cuttings of verbena, salvia, diascia and
osteospermum
|
| Apply Growmore or blood, fish and bone to strawberries,
raspberries and fruit trees at a rate of 70g per square metre
|
| Cut penstemons to 10 – 15cm from the ground and apply a
handful of well balanced fertiliser |
|
|
Jobs for the Month –
May
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
| Start removing side-shoots from indoor tomatoes
|
| Place straw beneath strawberry plants to keep the fruit
clean
|
| Complete mulching beneath fruit trees; keep the area
just around the trunk clear to avoid rotting
|
| Harvest asparagus spears from established plants
|
| Sow cauliflowers, sprouting broccoli and leeks outside
in seed beds
|
| Earth-up potatoes
|
| Stake peas and prepare supports for runner beans
|
| Plant out canna lilies and dahlias after the last
frosts
|
| Complete the planting of summer-flowering bulbs
|
| Sow biennials such as wallflowers for transplanting in
the autumn
|
| Put supports in place for tall perennials such as
lupins, delphiniums and monkshood
|
| Deadhead and divide crowded clumps of spring-flowering
bulbs
|
| Re-pot house plants and increase watering rates
gradually
|
| Trim winter-flowering heathers as the flowers fade
|
| Divide and transplant bamboos
|
| Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as forsythia, ribes
and spiraea after flowering
|
| Hang pheromone traps in apple trees to reduce codling
moth numbers
|
| Check for lily beetle on fritillarias and lilies
|
| Check roses for blackspot, aphids and leaf-rolling
sawfly, taking measures where appropriate. |
|
|
Jobs for the Month – June
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
| Place straw beneath strawberry plants to keep the fruit
clean
|
| Complete mulching beneath fruit trees; keep the area
just around the trunk clear to avoid rotting
|
| Harvest asparagus spears from established plants
|
| Sow cauliflowers, sprouting broccoli and leeks outside
in seed beds
|
| Earth-up potatoes
|
| Stake peas and prepare supports for runner beans
|
| Plant out canna lilies and dahlias after the last
frosts
|
| Complete the planting of summer-flowering bulbs
|
| Sow biennials such as wallflowers for transplanting in
the autumn
|
| Put supports in place for tall perennials such as
lupins, delphiniums and monkshood
|
| Deadhead and divide crowded clumps of spring-flowering
bulbs
|
| Re-pot house plants and increase watering rates
gradually
|
| Trim winter-flowering heathers as the flowers fade
|
| Divide and transplant bamboos
|
| Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as forsythia, ribes
and spiraea after flowering
|
| Hang pheromone traps in apple trees to reduce codling
moth numbers
|
| Check for lily beetle on fritillarias and lilies |
|
|
Jobs for the Month – July
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
|
Thin out apples after the “June drop” to
ensure good sized fruit for harvesting later in the year; leaving a
multitude of apples in clusters will lead to smaller, inferior crops
|
|
Cut out the fruited stems of summer
raspberries to encourage new shoots which will carry next year’s crop
|
|
Cut back sideshoots of gooseberries,
redcurrants and whitecurrants
|
|
Now is the last opportunity to sow crops of
runner and French beans
|
|
Plant out leeks and winter brassicas in
their final cropping positions
|
|
Sow seeds of biennial flowers such as
foxgloves, sweet Williams and wallflowers
|
|
Regularly clip fast-growing hedges such as
Leyland cypress, privet etc
|
|
Start pruning the excess growth on wisteria
|
|
Prune deciduous magnolias if required
|
|
Trim overgrown clematis Montana
|
|
Cut out the reverted green foliage on
variegated shrubs
|
|
Large blackish spots on apple and pear
leaves indicates scab; remove and burn affected leaves
|
|
Re-pot cyclamen that have been left out for
summer
|
|
Trim lavender after flowering
|
|
Watch out for gooseberry sawfly damage on
gooseberry leaves and stems
|
|
Divide bearded iris after flowering |
|
|
Jobs for the Month –
August
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
| Lift onions, shallots and garlic when the leaves turn
yellow and fall over; do not bend the leaves over to pre-empt this as
storage problems may result from damaged necks
|
| Transplant summer-sown cabbage, broccoli and kale
plants
|
| Sow green manures on vacant ground
|
| Tie in new canes on raspberries and blackberries
|
| Complete summer pruning of trained fruit trees
|
| Prepare new strawberry beds
|
| Clip over lavenders after flowering
|
| Cut back hardy geraniums to encourage fresh foliage and
a second flush of flowers
|
| Complete division of bearded irises
|
| Take cuttings of fuchsias, pelargoniums, osteospermums
and penstemons
|
| Continue summer pruning of wisteria
|
| Prune rambling roses after flowering
|
| Lightly trim hebes
|
| Give hedges a final trim
|
| Take cuttings of Buddleia, Holly, Hydrangeas and
Pyracantha
|
| Remove fruit affected with brown rot
|
| Spray apples with calcium nitrate if bitter pit has
been a problem
|
| Cut back summer fruiting raspberries |
|
Jobs for the Month – September
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
| Take cuttings of pelargoniums and osteospermums
|
| Sow turnips, spinach, winter lettuce, oriental
vegetables and onions
|
| Plant out onion sets and spring cabbage plants
|
| Cut down asparagus foliage then mulch beds with
organic matter
|
| Prune out diseased shoots on fruit trees
|
| Pot up hippeastrum bulbs; plant up containers of
prepared hyacinths
|
| Plant evergreen trees and shrubs
|
| Take semi-ripe cuttings of evergreen shrubs
|
| Give evergreen hedges a final trim
|
| Scarify, aerate and top dress lawns; apply autumn
lawn food
|
| Thin out submerged oxygenating plants
|
| Divide cool-climate grasses and evergreen sedges
|
| Plant daffodils by mid-September to ensure a good
spring show
|
| Cut out the fruited canes of summer raspberries
|
| Plant out perennials and divide existing clumps
|
| Keep camellias and rhododendrons well watered |
|
Jobs for the Month – October
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
| Sow green manures to retain nutrients in the soil
over winter and avoid the winter rains leaching them out
|
| Sow Broad Beans for an early spring crop
|
| Lift and divide rhubarb crowns
|
| Cut out the fruited canes of hybrid berries and tie
in the new canes for next years crop
|
| Plant out spring bedding plants such as wallflowers,
forget-me-nots and polyanthas
|
| Complete the potting up of prepared hyacinths for
Christmas displays
|
| Prune climbing and bush roses
|
| Take hardwood cuttings of roses, dogwoods and willow
|
| Plant hedges, trees and move trees and shrubs
|
| Lay turf if weather conditions allow
|
| Apply autumn lawn feed
|
| Apply grease bands to fruit trees to trap winter moth
infestation
|
| Sow sweet peas for an earlier display and hardier
plants next summer
|
| Finish planting autumn onion sets
|
| Plant garlic
|
| Tidy up old foliage and runners on strawberry plants |
|
Jobs for the Month – November
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
| Plant cane, bush and tree fruits
|
| Plant garlic cloves
|
| Start winter pruning of apple and pear trees
|
| Sow winter rye as a green manure
|
| Complete the potting up of lily bulbs
|
| Plant tulips
|
| Take root cuttings of poppies, verbascum, phlox and
eryngium
|
| Plant bare root deciduous trees and shrubs
|
| Prune deciduous trees and shrubs after leaf fall
|
| Complete pruning of climbing roses
|
| Prune out shoots infected with canker on fruit trees
|
| Complete dividing and replanting perennials and
grasses
|
| Mulch borderline-hardy plants for protection against
winter cold (e.g. agapanthus, kniphofia, phygelius
|
| Apply grease bands to fruit trees
|
| Prune bush roses to reduce wind rock
|
| Renovate deciduous hedges |
|
Jobs for the Month – December
(courtesy Trevor Hearn)
Download Printable Version
| Pick budded stems of Christmas Box (Sarcococca),
Viburnum, Wintersweet and Witch Hazel for fragrant winter flowers
indoors
|
| Create a Christmas wreath using cut winter stems,
berries, seed heads and seasonal foliage
|
| Continue to dig new planting areas
|
| Prune overgrown deciduous hedges such as hornbeam and
beech
|
| Take hardwood cuttings of climbers such as wisteria,
vines and Virginia creeper
|
| Continue to remove fallen leaves from borders and
rock gardens where small plants may be smothered
|
| Protect vulnerable garden plants with bark mulches or
straw and fleece if freezing conditions threaten
|
| Clear away old crops in the vegetable garden and dig
in bulky organic matter such as garden compost or well-rotted horse
manure
|
| Harvest celery, beetroot, turnips, sprouts and
carrots
|
| Earth-up tall Brussels sprout stems to support them
against winds
|
| Heel-in bare root fruit trees or bushes in a spare
corner of the garden if they arrive when conditions are not suitable
for planting
|
| Browse seed catalogues and send off orders to ensure
your desired varieties do not sell out
|
| Continue to prune apple and pear trees providing
frosty conditons are not forecast
|
| Put your feet up and enjoy a mince pie and a glass of
mulled wine whilst reflecting on another successful gardening year
|
| Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
Problems with this website - please email
|
|
