Jobs for the month

Courtesy of Trevor Hearn

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Jobs for the Month – January

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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.

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Jobs for the Month – February

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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.

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Jobs for the Month – March

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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

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Jobs for the Month – April

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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

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Jobs for the Month – May

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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.

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Jobs for the Month – June

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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

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Jobs for the Month – July

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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

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Jobs for the Month – August

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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

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Jobs for the Month – September

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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

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Jobs for the Month – October

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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

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Jobs for the Month – November

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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

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Jobs for the Month – December

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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!

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