Gardening Calendar
December / Janurary
Shrubs & Trees:
- It’s not too late for landscaping projects. It may be cold to you, but from a shrub or tree’s perspective, this is a great time for transplanting.
- If you are planning to buy a live Christmas tree and plant it after Christmas, dig the hole now before the ground freezes, and store the dirt indoors in a wheelbarrow where it won’t freeze. Then, in January, you’ll be all set to plant your tree.
October / November
Shrubs & Trees:
- There is still plenty of time to plant shrubs.
- Prune summer blooming shrubs; Abelia, Clethra, Cotoneaster, Itea Sweetspire, Lavender, Potentilla, Pyracantha, Rose of Sharon & Weigela.
Perennials:
- Chrysanthemums, spring blooming bulbs.
September
Vegetables, Fruits, & Herbs:
- Plant fall vegetables. Planting in late summer allows the plants to mature in the cool fall weather. Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, spinach, swish chard, cabbage and other greens. Onions and garlic can also be planted.
Shrubs & Trees:
- You’ve heard it before and it really is true, Fall is for planting. This is the best time for planting trees & shrubs. In fall, plants naturally put their energy into their root systems, setting the stage for optimum performance in spring.
Perennials:
- Chrysanthemums, spring blooming bulbs.
August
Vegetables, Fruits, & Herbs:
- Many people don’t realize that vegetables can be grown in the fall. Planting in late summer allows the plants to mature in the cool fall weather. Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, spinach, swish chard, cabbage and other greens. Onions and garlic can also be planted.
Shrubs & Trees:
- Summer blooming shrubs are still available. Don’t forget to water any new transplant.
Perennials:
- Many perennials are still available. Don’t forget to water any new transplant.
July
Shrubs & Trees:
- Summer shrubs are in full bloom! Knock-Out Roses will are jam-packed with color.
- The single biggest question we get over summer; “Is it too late and too hot the plant?” The answer? “That depends.” The summer months are tougher for planting. You can’t drop a plant in the ground and go on vacation for two weeks. But if you have time to keep them watered and fertilized, you can transplant shrubs and small trees all summer long. Landscaping crews, including our own, work throughout the summer. It just takes a little more attention.
Perennials:
- Perennials are available all summer long.
- Don’t forget to weed your garden.
- Cut back any perennials that have finished blooming.
Annuals:
- Plant any area that’s not doing so well, or just fill in a few holes. We keep growing annuals, so you always have a fresh selection.
June
Vegetables, Fruits, & Herbs:
- Keep planting weather vegetables; cantaloupe, melons, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins, gourds & squash.
- Sweet potatoes are now available.
- Fruits such as blueberries, grapes, raspberries & strawberries can still be planted
- A large selection of herbs are still available to plant in June.
- Don’t forget to weed your garden. Untreated grass clipping can be used as mulch.
Shrubs & Trees:
- There is still plenty of time for planting and lots of color to choose from. Summer blooming varieties are just getting started. A large selection of roses are still available, including the very popular Knock-Out Rose.
Perennials:
- Keep planting perennials. There is still a great selection of perennials, with new varieties arriving weekly.
- Weed your garden if necessary; remember to mulch if you haven’t yet.
- Cut back spring blooming perennials when foliage begins to look unattractive.
Annuals:
- Keep planting annuals. We keep growing annuals, so you always have a fresh selection.
- Plant summer blooming bulbs; gladioli, tuberous begonias, caladiums & elephant ears.
May
Vegetables, Fruits, & Herbs:
- Warm weather vegetables must be protected from frost and cold temperatures. It’s best to wait until May 15th, the average last date of spring frost to plant. Please remember anytime you plant before this date you must cover or protect plants from frost! Some examples are cantaloupe, melons, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins, gourds & squash.
- Sweet potatoes are available at the end of the month.
- Plant fruits such as blueberries, grapes, raspberries & strawberries if you have not already.
- Tender herbs, such as basil and rosemary can safely be planted after May 15th.
Shrubs & Trees:
- All roses, trees and shrubs can be planted at this time.
- Prune early spring bloomers; Azaleas, Deutzia, Forsythia, Lilacs, Mock Oranges, Pieris japonica, Rhododoendron and Vibernum.
Perennials:
- Finish making any new landscape beds, or maybe your just getting started.
- Plant perennials! You will find the best selection of perennials at our garden center during May.
- Weed your garden if necessary; remember to mulch if you haven’t yet.
- Remove any dead foliage from spring blooming bulbs.
Annuals:
- Warm weather annuals can be planted at this time, although they must be protected from frost. It’s best to wait until May 15th, the average last date of spring frost to plant. Please remember anytime you plant before this date you must cover or protect plants from frost!
- Plant summer blooming bulbs; gladioli, tuberous begonias, caladiums & elephant ears. Make sure to protect from frost.
April
Vegetables, Fruits, & Herbs:
- Till or prepare the garden for planting if you haven’t done this yet, working fertilizer or manure into the soil.
- Plant leafy green vegetables that like the cold, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, spinach, swiss chard and other greens. Potatoes can be planted at this time.
- Also plant asparagus, onions & rhubarb if you haven’t already.
- Fruits such as blueberries, grapes, raspberries & strawberries can be planted at this time
- Many herbs can be planted at this time, such as oregano, thyme, sage, parsley, mint, lavender, chives & sorrel.
Shrubs & Trees:
- Many roses, trees and shrubs can be planted at this time. Our selection of early blooming varieties is at its peak in April. When planting in the spring, earlier is better – the earlier you plant, the more time the plant have to get established before summer.
- Prune roses in early April if you didn’t get it done in March.
- Continue applying dormant oil spray, if needed until trees begin to develop leaves.
Perennials:
- Start making the new landscape beds you have planned in February. Cultivate or till soil, remember to add peat moss for drainage and fertilizer if needed.
- Weed your garden and edge to keep grass from encroaching into your beds.
- Now is a great time to mulch your garden.
- Fertilize spring bulbs and perennials that are showing at least a few inches of growth.
- Now is a great time to start planting perennials. There are many early blooming perennials available at this time.
Annuals:
- Plant pansies, violas and english daisies if you did not last month.
- Cold tolerant annuals can now be safely planted with little or no protection. Some examples are petunias, snapdragons, alyssum, osteospurmums, nemesia, diascia & verbena.
March
Vegetables, Fruits, & Herbs:
- Start seeds indoor for tomatoes, peppers & eggplants.
- When soil is dry enough, till or prepare the garden for planting, working fertilizer or manure into the soil. You may want to consider having your soil tested at this time.
- Some vegetables are available to plant in a cold frame or other form of protection. Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower & onions are all available at this time.
- Asparagus, rhubarb and strawberries are usually available toward the end of the month.
Shrubs & Trees:
- Check out some of our very early blooming varieties like Witch Hazel, Forsythia and Willows. Bring in your ideas; we’ll help you plan your spring garden and show you what’s new and different this year.
- Remove mulch covers or winter protection from roses, crape myrtle and other tender shrubs.
- Cut Butterfly Bushes, Purple Beautyberries, Caryopteris & St. John’s Wort down to 6 to 12 inches from the ground. Roses can also be cut back in late March.
- Apply dormant oil spray to any trees (except blue spruce) that have scale or mites.
- Fertilize rhododendrons, azaleas, roses, ornamental trees & shrubs and fruit trees.
Perennials:
- Remove mulch covers from clematis and other tender perennials when overnight temps are above 30.
- Cut back any perennials that weren’t cleaned up last fall.
- Cut back ornamental grasses.
Annuals:
- Now is a great time to plant pansies, violas and english daisies.
- Other cold tolerant annuals are available and usually can be planted toward the end of March, although they may need some protection. Some examples are petunias, snapdragons, alyssum, osteospurmums, nemesia, diascia & verbena.
February
Time to kick back, feed the birds and plan for spring.
Vegetables, Fruits, & Herbs:
- Prune grapes while vines are dormant.
- Remove dead brush away from asparagus.
Shrubs & Trees:
- Prune any branches that have been damaged by winter storms.
Perennials:
- As long as the ground in not frozen, landscaping projects can continue. Some of our largest landscaping projects have been completed in January.
- Plan & design any new garden beds.
Annuals:
- Start seeds indoors for flowering annuals, such as petunias, impatiens, marigolds, alyssum, impatiens & verbena.