MAY
Attract Hummingbirds to your garden by planting red flowers.
Repot any root-bound houseplants prior to setting outside.
Remember to harden off houseplants.
Seed new lawns (early May) while nights are still cool and spring precipitation is on the way.
Do not apply weed control to seeded areas. (Crabgrass control containing Tupersan will allow grass seed to germinate. Always read the product label for proper usage.)
Control dandelions and creeping charlie by applying herbicide when these weeds are coming into bloom.
Prune forsythia, azaleas, rhododendrons, lilacs and spring-flowering spireas after they have flowered.
Fertilize roses and begin preventive maintenance program against black spot and powdery mildew.
Plant tender bedding plants and vegetables after danger of frost is over.
Do not remove foliage from tulips and daffodils until the foliage is dry and easily pulls off. Green foliage is producing and storing energy in the bulb for next years bloom.
Remove pansies and johnny jump-ups and replant summer bedding plants.
Newly planted trees and shrubs should be watered as needed. A covering of mulch will conserve soil moisture and hinder weed growth. Mulch flower gardens for the same reasons. Many gardeners prefer Coco Bean Mulch. At years end this mulch may be rototilled in to improve the soil.
SEPTEMBER
Divide Peonies, Iris, Hosta, Daylilies, and other spring blooming perennials.
Use metal or copper plant stakes where bulbs and late emerging perennials have been planted.
Bring houseplants in before night time temps dip below 40 degrees.
Remove tired annuals and refresh your garden with colorful mums, asters, and ornamental kale.
Get a jump on spring; plant trees, shrubs, and evergreens now!
Keep newly seeded lawns watered.
OCTOBER
Wrap all young trees with tree wrap.
Tip tender garden roses by mid-October.
Water all trees, shrubs, and evergreens thoroughly before ground freezes.
Prep garden for next spring by adding peat, compost, and other soil amendments.
Keep mowing your lawn to prevent snow mold next spring.
Empty clay and concrete pots to prevent frost cracking and store in dry spot.
Store pesticides and herbicides in airtight containers and keep in a spot that will not freeze.
Collect and recycle fall leaves to avoid excess phosphorous from being introduced into our lakes and rivers.
NOVEMBER
Get a jump on your spring landscaping by taking measurements and a site analysis before the snow flies.
Plant your pots and window boxes with spruce tips and other greenery before the ground freezes.
DECEMBER
Protect your perennials this winter.
Perennials are generally shallow rooted plants that need winter protection. The covering put on perennials is not to keep the plants warm, it is to keep them frozen! You should cover your perennial garden once the ground has about 2-3 of frost in it. This process will keep the soil from the freeze-thaw action in winters with no snow cover. Marsh hay is one of the best covering materials because it does not pack down and cause root rot. Don't be in a hurry to uncover in the spring! Wait until the ground is completely thawed and you begin to see some plant growth.
