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Garden Calendar
January: As there is very little outdoor gardening in January, this would be a good opportunity to check your houseplants for insects, pests or diseases. Brush heavy snow off your evergreens, hedges and shrubs. Plan your spring garden and determine what type of bulbs, flowers, perennials, herbs or vegetables you will purchase. You may acquire seed flats and pick up a Seed Guide to assist in your selection.
February: Repot pot bound foliage houseplants and check ferns for scale insects. Start feeding houseplants with liquid plant food. Clean and sharpen garden tools and oil wooden handles with linseed oil. Start your Geranium and Begonia seeds. Utilize this month to repair garden furniture. Check forced bulbs and bring out of the cold storage if tips have sprouted 2" or more.
March: Prune fruit trees to open centers and remove weak growth. Kill overwintering insects and diseases on fruit trees and deciduous ornamentals with organic dormant spray. Increase the feeding of houseplants as the days lengthen. Check the yard for winter damage, heaved plants and broken branches. Plant annual flower seeds: Petunias, Snapdragons, Calendula, Verbena and Dahlia. Sow Pansies, Coleus and Geraniums under lights at the first of the month.
April: Rake out dead grass from lawns and seed bare patches. Give your lawn it's first and most important fertilizer feeding of the year. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air while doing your Spring Clean Up. Apply Crabgrass Control if crabgrass was present last fall. Plant Sweet Peas and Larkspur seeds outdoors for summer bouquets. Prune Clematis varieties that bloom on this year's stems. Plant deciduous trees, shrubs and evergreens. Put in supports for Delphiniums, Peonies and other tall perennials. Plant beets, carrots, lettuce and radishes. Seed a few every two weeks until July for a continuous harvest. Sow potato and onion sets outdoors. Start tomato, melon, cucumber and squash seeds indoors.
May: Fertilize and weed your lawns. Prune and plant rose bushes. Plant flowering annuals the last week of May. Plant evergreen hedges and container-grown shrubs. Plant Holland spring bulbs. Plant new and divide old perennials. Fill outdoor containers and baskets with fresh potting soil and suitable plants for the appropriate chosen locations. Check your roses, trees and shrubs for any pests and spray if necessary. Sow new lawn until the end of the month.
June: Plant tomatoes, potatoes and celery. Plant Dahlias, Begonias, Gladiolas and other tender bulbs. Preserve moisture in gardens by applying mulch. Treat lawns for insects if present. Chinch bugs may be active in late June. Apply Fruit Tree Spray to fruit trees. Be sure to remove flower heads from Lilacs and Rhododendrons and then fertilize for next year's blooms. For blooms next year, start perennials from seed; Delphiniums, Lupins, Gaillardias, etc. Fertilize your roses and spray with Funginex if weather is wet and humid. Prune Forsythia and other early spring flowering shrubs after they have completed flowering. Prune evergreens for shape in mid-June. Fertilizing evergreens, lawns, gardens and hedges is still important. Don't forget your hanging baskets and containers. Remove persistent lawn weeds.
July: Pinch back Chrysanthemums and Fall Asters for masses of fall blooms. Prune shade trees. Give a final feeding to roses, shrubs and perennials. Check your vegetable garden daily for pests and diseases. Basil repels flies and mosquitoes. Try it in pots placed strategically around your outdoor living area.
August: Pinch seed heads off Lilies and faded flowers from perennials. Divide and transplant overgrown early flowering perennials. Use bonemeal in planting hole to encourage root growth. Seed new lawns and overseed damaged lawns. Keep your lawn moist in hot dry weather. Be vigilant with garden hygiene. Remove any diseased plant material and discard.
September: Plant spring flowering bulbs. Daffodils do better if planted early. Transplant and divide midsummer blooming perennials. Move Hibiscus, Oleander and Geraniums indoors before frost for winter blooms and cuttings. Save your favourite annuals by taking cuttings and potting up indoors. This is an ideal planting time for trees, shrubs and evergreens. Use a transplant fertilizer for best results. Lift bulbs and corms of frost-sensitive plants (Dahlia, Gladiolus and Canna Lilies, etc.). Dry, and dust with fungicide and store. Purchase Mums, Fall Asters and Ornamental Kale to replace annual flowers.
October: It's fall clean-up time. Clear annual beds after heavy frost. If you have not already done so, mark the locations of perennials with names on stakes in your garden or begin a gardening guide. You can sketch your gardens and insert the names of all items. This will be an invaluable asset as you can quickly flip pages to identify plants and their locations. Clean and store summer flowering bulbs such as Dahlias, Canna and Gladiolas. Clean up the leaves and garden refuse. Shut off outdoor faucets and disconnect hoses.
November: Wrap evergreens if snow might break the branches or if wind will cause dehydration. Use tree guards to protect bark from rodents. Reduce houseplant feeding as winter approaches. Clean, oil and repair tools before storing.
December: Purchase and plant Amaryllis and Paperwhite bulbs for indoor winter blooms. Put protective boards over shrubs near buildings to deflect snow sliding from roof. Protect Poinsettias from drying out by keeping them in a bright cool room. Choose from large selections of excellent Christmas plants and flowers, they make wonderful hostess gifts.
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