First quarter

January

• A time of frost, wind, rain and possibly snow. The garden is resting.
• During periods when the ground is soft (not frozen) take the opportunity to dig over borders.
• Lay compost and manure on the top of prepared ground to allow the rain and frost to break it down.
• Repair fences and trellises while garden foliage is at a minimum.
• Prune some trees and shrubs to shape them, according to their variety and before new growth.
• Aerate the lawn.
• Keep ponds free of ice.
• Sow early crops according to variety and instructions.
• Make preparations to protect fruit trees from birds.
• Plan ahead and arrange the booking of contractors before the busy periods.

February

• Keep bird feeders supplied with food, and make sure that there is always drinking water available.
• New trees and shrubs can be planted into prepared ground.
• Prune summer shrubs back to new growth.
• Almost the last chance to cut back garden bushes and hedges before the bird nesting season starts.
• Closely examine gardening tools and machinery for needed repairs, and carry out required maintenance to ensure reliability during the season and beat the rush at service centres.
• Prepare for the sowing of tubers according to instructions.
• Plan for the early laying of new turfs on ground which has been prepared.
• Plan ahead for the preparation of sowing grass seed once the ground has started to warm up.
• Prepare seed beds and cover with cloches.
• Investigate and plan a diversity of plants to naturally fight against bugs and disease. This problem can be fought naturally.

March

• Mulch the border planting areas.
• Prune Shrub and Bush roses.
• Plant summer flowering bulbs.
• Sow hardy annuals.
• Repair lawn patches by re-seeding or turf.
• Harden off young plants.
• Sow vegetables.
• Continue to protect fruit blossum against late frosts.
• Deadhead daffodils but leave the foliage.
• Cut the grass at a high setting initially.
• Keep weeds down by regular hoeing.

Second quarter

April

• Pests with the warmer weather – keep on top of them.
• Slugs and snails. Encourage hedgehogs, frogs, toads and Thrushes into the garden who will feed on them.
• Tidy up borders.
• Remove frost damaged shoots.
• Spray roses to control Blackspot.
• Control aphids on roses.
• Trim winter heathers back to new growth.
• Cut back Lavender to keep them bushy and compact.
• Increase conifers by taking cuttings.
• Deadhead remaining daffodils, but leave the foliage for 6 weeks after the flower has died to build energy for next year.
• Consider cleaning out any ponds with due consideration for any pond life. This will be an opportunity to thin out overcrowding of plants.
• Regular mowing of lawns.
• Continue to repair and renovate established lawns.
• Feed and fertilize lawns.
• Start sowing vegetables and herbs under cover.
• Continue to frost protect fruit buds.
• Watch for pests.
• Don’t let newly planted trees and shrubs dry out.
• Protect new plants from slugs and snails.
• Keep weeding.

May

• Monitor forecasts and be prepared to protect plants against frosts.
• Start watering as required.
• Attend to early flowering plants which have now ceased flowering.
• Protect endangered plants against slugs.
• Feed and continue to weed lawns to encourage good growth.
• Mow lawns regularly.
• Turfing and lawn seeding should now be completed.
• Encourage beneficial insects such as Lady Birds, which prey on garden pests.

June

• Time now to be enjoying the garden, but don’t let up on essential tasks.
• Maintain a routine of weeding and deadheading to encourage renewed flowering in beds, borders and displays.
• Keep up the watering during dry weather. Surface mulch will help to retain moisture for plants and trees.
• Plan ahead and sow Winter and Spring plants.
• Thin any pond plants to prevent overcrowding and clogging.
• Keep up grass cutting.

Third quarter

July

• Deadhead all the first flowerings.
• With rising outdoor temperatures, closely monitor glass house and conservatory temperatures .
• Don’t forget to look after yourself while working in and around the garden. Protect yourself against the direct sun and heat. Keep your fluid levels up.
• Keep water levels up in bird baths, for their bathing and drinking.
• Water young plants and baskets.
• Keep conifer hedges trimmed and take any required cuttings now.
• Plant Autumn flowering bulbs.
• Prepare to lift your new potatoes and onions.
• Control the upward growth of runner beans by pinching out the top.
• Control tomato plants by removing their side shoots.
• This can be the month for the start of berry picking.
• Plant Autumn vegetables.
• If you plan to go away for a break, start to make your holiday plans for the garden, to cover watering and grass cutting.
• Plant Spring flowering bulbs.
• Watch for pest infestations and plan plant diversity to combat the pests in a natural way.
• Pond plants will be thriving at this time of year. Keep these under control.
• Don’t be tempted to cut the grass at too low a setting.
• Any lawn areas marked for re-seeding can be prepared now and allowed to settle.

August

• This will possible be the hottest month.
• Also a popular month for going on holiday. Activate your plans for the garden while you are away.
• Collect all your ripening seeds.
• Keep ponds and bird baths topped up.
• Continue with the hedge trimming.
• Continue with the dead heading of flowers and prune plants as you go to stimulate new growth.
• Don’t forget your hanging baskets. Keep them watered.
• Support the limbs of fruit trees where the weight of ripening fruit is increasing.
• This is also the month for you to be sitting back and enjoying all your hard work, and resting for that which lies ahead.
• Plans should be made soon if you like Christmas flowering Hyacinths.
• Plant Spring bulbs and daffodils.
• Continue with the ground preparation for new lawns.
• Continue to be vigilent of garden pests and plant diseases. Destroy infected leaves.
• Control slugs by encouraging birds and frogs.
• Continue with summer pruning.
• Continue with lots of watering.
• Watch night time air temperatures. If the drop is significant then close glass house ventilation systems.

September

• Clear Autumn plant rubbish to minimise the risk of pests and diseases living through the winter.
• Consider planting new trees and shrubs.
• Take all the required rose cuttings now.
• All your Spring bulbs should planted by now.
• Monitor weather forecasts and retrieve frost sensitive plants as the night air temperatures start to drop.
• New lawns can now be sown or turfed.
• Scarify and aerate lawns.
• Mesh ponds to prevent leaf debris falling in.
• Collect in marrows and courgettes, and dig up potatoes.
• Continue to harvest fruits.
• Last chance to prepare Christmas flowering Hyacinths.
• Continue with garden pruning.
• Start to dig over areas of the garden.

Forth quarter

October

• Significant drops in temperatures start to be felt.
• We start to see increases in wind strengths.
• Hours of sunshine become limited.
• Rain fall generally increases.
• High ground starts to see the first falls of snow.
• Garden leaves should be raked up and used for valuable leafmould.
• Continue to clean up the garden making sure to destroy signs of plant infection and disease.
• This should be the last month for planting evergreen plants.
• Take any fruit and shrub cuttings.
• Last month for trimming conifer hedges as required.
• Collect tree and shrub berries for seeding.
• Plant any climbers and perennials.
• Thin out overgrown perennials.
• Protect alpine plants.
• Lift and store summer bulbs.
• Plant tulip bulbs.
• Maintain pond plant life and remove any pumps for winter storage.
• Repair lawns with grass seed or lay news turfs as required.
• Thin out rhubarb plants.
• Grease fruit trees to catch crawling pests.
• Check and repair greenhouse insulation and heating systems.
• Spring bedding plants should be in this month.
• Lift at-risk perennials.
• Lift and store potatoes and carrots.

November

• We will be having more frequent and widespread frosts.
• Temperatures sontinue to drop with strong, cold easterly winds
• Sun will be minimal.
• Rain fall continues to rise.
• Snow fall still mostly restricted to high ground.
• Continue with the garden clearup.
• Clean out and repair garden bird boxes.
• Keep bird tables supplied with food.
• Check bondfires for wintering animals before burning.
• Continue to dig over the garden.
• New plantings of trees, shrubs and new roses.
• Protect vulnerable plants from frosts.
• Avoid walking on frosted grass to minimise damage.
• Service and sharpen the mower and other garden machinery.
• Protect roots of potted plants from frost.
• Plant any new fruit trees and bushes.
• Continue to thin out rhubarb plants.
• Prune back fruit trees and bushes.
• Lift and store Dahlias now.
• Start off Amaryllis bulbs for Christmas flowering.
• Plant spring bedding.
• Collect seed catalogues for next years planting.

December

• Frequent cold windy days, essential for killing off pests and diseases.
• There is now an increasing risk of snow.
• Keep bird feeders full and drinking water unfrozen.
• Try and keep ponds free of ice.
• Continue to dig over the soil, digging in mulch and compost.
• Undertake garden maintenance and repair of paths, fences and outbuildings.
• Keep tree tar freshly applied.
• Watch for snow weighing heavily on trees, shrubs and hedges.
• Continue with harvesting cuttings.
• Restrict watering to over-wintering plants to minimise the risk of rotting.
• Check garden hoses are empty of water and that outside taps and water pipes are protected against heavy frosts.
• Consider emptying or insulating, water butts.
• Bring in Christmas bulbs for flowering.
• Prepare and sow early crops under cover