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12 Month Outdoor Gardening Guide
January:
-
Research plants and approach for upcoming season
in Herb, Vegetable, Perennial and Annual color gardening.
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Send soil samples to Texas A&M Agricultural
Extension Service to determine pH, nutrient content and availability.
-
It's cold and the animals are hungry. Feed the birds
regularly to keep a lively environment around your home.
-
Plant shade trees and deciduous shrubs. Time now
for transplanting!
February:
-
Prune Roses on Valentine's Day, the time you receive
them. Use selective pruning techniques shown by our great selection
of rose books to encourage new growth, better color and more production
in the summer months.
-
Prune fruit trees and apply dormant or horticultural
oil to protect fruit producing trees and shade trees from unwanted
insects and problems for the upcoming season.
-
Apply humates to lawns and flowerbeds in preparation
for healthy spring color.
March:
-
In early March apply Betasan and Portrate for warm
season weed control for the upcoming year.
-
Corn Gluten Meal can be used for a natural control
of fine seed weed such as clover and henbit in common warm season
turf grasses.
-
Add organic composts such as Back to Earth as well
as Rock Powders like lava sand to flowerbeds in preparation for
spring annual color.
April:
-
Plant annual color such as Begonias, Petunias, Alyssum,
Dusty Miller and other spring color to brighten up the landscape.
-
Begin selecting hybrid roses, floribunda and grandiflora
roses along with perennial flowering plants such as Ruellias,
Salvias and Hostas for shade gardening.
-
Begin the fertilization schedule with the first
application for the year when the grass begins to green. Use a
balanced slow release fertilizer such as the North Haven 21-7-14
or a natural organic fertilizer such as Texas Tee derived from
various types of meals such as feather meal, bone meal, fish meal
and blood meal, to attain healthy roots and vegetation.
May:
-
Fertilize annual flowers with the synthetically
derived BR - 61 or the organic Super Plus or Hasta Gro. This will
encourage root production which in turn will intensify the blooms
of the plant.
-
Mulch flower beds as thick as possible using hardwood
mulches or pine bark mulches. This will ensure root moisture and
excellent summer weed control.
June:
-
Continue fertilizing and remove spent blooms on
plants and roses for continuous blooming.
-
Keep close watch for warm season problems such as
spidermite, aphids and bagworms on landscape plants and flowers.
-
Watch for powdery mildew and black spot.
-
Use Daconil or Copper fungicides for control of
these problems.
July:
-
Continue keeping plants moist to prevent wilting
and stress on your plants. Stress invites pests and diseases to
cause further problems for the landscape.
-
Plant summer flowers such as lantana and periwinkles
to continue the intensity of color into the fall months.
-
Add several inches of mulch to beds in which mulches
have washed away or have broken down into the soil.
-
The second application of Pre-emergent can be applied
to ensure weed seed from germinating. Second application of fertilizer
can now be applied.
August:
September:
-
The final necessary applications of the Pre-emergent
must be made late in the month to deep cool season weeds from
popping up in the fall and winter.
-
Continue planting perennial plants which will provide
moderate color up until the fall season.
October:
-
Begin preparation for fall bulb plantings.
-
Plant bulbs such as Daffodils and bare root Iris
for added brilliant color.
-
The use of bone meal is vital for quick root growth
which in turn increases the blooming ability of your plants.
-
Apply lawn fertilizers for the final time of the
year.
-
Plant Pansies and Primroses along with winter ornamental
Kale and Cabbage.
November:
-
Rye grass and Fescue can be planted at this time
to give the landscape a "wintergreen".
-
Cut back perennials as they begin to die back to
the ground.
-
Use pine bark mulch to insulate the root systems
of the plants as the temperature begin to drop.
-
The use of fish and seaweed spray will also help
keep the roots hardy as well as acting as a food source for the
plants.
December:
Obviously, this calendar offers only general guidelines. For a more
detailed schedule based on your specific garden, please
contact our knowledgeable staff. We'd be happy to help keep your
landscape colorful and healthy all year round!
COPYRIGHT 1996.
NORTH HAVEN GARDENS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE.
Revised: May 5, 1997
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