January Gardening Chores

Available This Month

Roses, fruit trees and ornamental trees

Planning

Now is a good time to plan your garden for spring and summer. Browse design books, magazines, Pinterest and seed catalogs for ideas. Sketch out a plan for a new border or ideas to spruce up an existing one.

Planting

Generally October through March is the best time to plant potted and burlapped trees and shrubs. Plant bare root roses and fruit trees in January as long as the ground is not saturated.

Pruning

• The dormant season is a good time to prune trees and shrubs. Bare branches allow you to see the structure of the plant which makes it easy to see what needs to be removed. Not only can you shape trees and shrubs, but you should remove dead, damaged and diseased wood. Read this helpful article for more information. Winter Pruning
• Cut back old growth on perennials.
• Deadhead pansies and primroses to encourage more blooming.

Disease and Insect  & Pest Prevention

• Apply dormant oil spray to fruit trees and ornamentals around New Year’s Day and then every 2-3 weeks weather permitting until bud break. 
  Dormant oil or horticultural oil paired with liquid copper fungicide is the best defense against insects and fungal issues. Mix 1 ounce liquid copper (Liqui-Cop) with 2 ounces of horticultural oil in 1 gallon of  water. We recommend Monterey Horticultural Oil and Liqui-Cop.
• Begin slug control now and monitor throughout the year. Controlling slugs early will prevent them from damaging new plant growth in the spring.  We recommend Cory’s Snail & Slug Killer or Sluggo.

Lawns

• Add Pelletized Lime to your lawn. The soil in this area is acidic. Lime will balance the pH to keep your lawn healthy.
• Apply Six-Iron fertilizer. This will green up your lawn and provide needed iron and nitrogen.

Recycle

• Recycle your Christmas tree or place it outside near bird feeders.
• Get your garden tools ready for the season. Clean and sharpen your pruners, trowels, shovels, spades and forks.

February

Available This Month

Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries
Summer flowering bulbs, asparagus, onions and garlic

Planting

As long as the ground is not saturated, you can plant trees, shrubs, roses, bare-root plants, primroses and pansies. Plant available perennials such as hellebores, groundcovers and evergreen ferns.       

Start Seeds Indoors

• Warm weather annuals such as petunias and salvia
• Vegetables: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, kale, lettuce, choi,  peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, celery and chives

Pruning

• Prune roses after Presidents Day. Remove canes and branches that are dead, diseased, damaged and too thin.  Also remove branches growing inward to achieve an open vase shape. This is good for air circulation which reduces the risk of disease. Prune entire shrub to about 12-18”.  Click here for Rose Pruning Instructions
• Cut back dead growth on ornamental grasses to about 6 inches.
• Remove dead branches or old growth from perennials.
• Remove dead, diseased or damaged branches on trees and shrubs. See our article on Winter Pruning.

Disease, Insect & Pest Prevention

• Continue to apply dormant spray (mix of liquid copper and horticultural oil) to fruit trees and ornamentals every 2-3 weeks until bud break. We recommend Monterey Horticultural Oil and Liqui-Cop.
• Start slug control early and monitor them throughout the year. Early control will prevent them from damaging plants as they emerge in the spring. We recommend Cory’s Snail & Slug Killer or Sluggo.

Weed Prevention

Now is a good time to apply a weed pre-emergent to lawns and garden areas. You can use Preen for gardens and Hi Yield Weed & Grass Stopper for lawns.

March Gardening Chores

Available This Month:

Rhododendrons, azaleas, seed potatoes, onions and summer flowering bulbs

Planting 

Early spring is one of the best times to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, summer flowering bulbs and groundcovers. Our nursery is receiving new inventories of plants every week.

Start Seeds Indoors

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, chard, kale, greens, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and lettuce

Start Seeds Outdoors

Arugula, chard, cilantro, choi, fava beans, garlic cloves, kale, peas, potatoes, spinach

Plant Vegetable Starts

Artichoke, arugula, broccoli, cabbage, chard, choi, onions, kale, lettuce, peas, spinach and greens

Pruning

• Remove old blossoms from hydrangeas.
• Finish cutting back perennials before new growth emerges.

Fertilizing

• It’s time to feed trees, shrubs, roses and perennials. We have a large selection of fertilizers including organics. 
• Add compost to garden soil. See our available Soil Mixes and Amendments.

Lawns

• Fertilize your lawn with Pro Spring Plus fertilizer.
• Apply Hi-Yield Grub Control to lawns.

Slug Control

Continue to watch for slugs. Apply slug control as necessary.  

Mason Bees

Set out mason bees when day time temperature is at least 55 degrees consistently and flowers are blooming. Click here for information about Mason Bees.

April Gardening Chores

Available This Month:

Hanging baskets and containers, many vegetable starts, and some annuals will be available mid to late April.

Rototilling

• Till the soil in your garden.
• Till cover crops into the soil.

Planting

• You can plant trees, shrubs, perennials, summer flowering bulbs and annuals. * Annuals may need protection from frost until the nights are warmer.
• Begin to set out the seedlings you started in winter.

Start Seeds Indoors

Basil, cucumber, melon, pumpkin and squash

Start Seeds Outdoors

Arugula, beets, broccoli, brussels, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, choi, cilantro, dill, fennel, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes and spinach

Plant Vegetable Starts

Artichokes, broccoli, brussels, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chard, choi, cilantro, dill, fennel, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, peas, greens

Pruning

Prune shrubs that bloom on old wood after they have finished blooming. Early bloomers include daphne, forsythia, early blooming camelias and early blooming rhodies and azaleas.

Fertilizing

If you have not fertilized early spring flowering shrubs yet this year, do so after the blooms have faded.

Lawns

• Now is a good time to dethatch, aerate and overseed your lawn. Click here for more information  Lawn Care.
• Apply moss control such as Moss Out and a weed and crabgrass control such as Hi-Yield Weed and Crabgrass Killer. You can also apply a weed spot spray such as Weed Whacker.
• Apply Hi-Yield Grub Control to lawns.

Disease, Insect & Pest Prevention

• Apply treatments as needed. Talk to us about specific problems. 
• Add ladybugs and praying mantids to control unwanted insects from damaging your plants. We carry beneficial insects!
• Continue to watch for slugs. Apply slug control as necessary.

May Gardening Chores

Available This Month

Hanging baskets, vegetables and annuals 

* Mother’s Day is this month. A hanging basket is a popular gift for Mom.

Planting

It’s time to plant annuals, vegetable starts, perennials, shrubs and trees. Some nights may still be cold so make sure to protect your annuals, hanging baskets and heat loving vegetables (beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and melons) from the cold.

Start Seeds Outdoors

Basil, beans, beets, broccoli, brussels, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, choi, cilantro, dill, fennel, kale, lettuce, potatoes, pumpkin, radish, salad greens, spinach and squash

Fertilizing

Fertilize plants as needed, especially annuals to keep them blooming throughout the summer.

Disease and Insect Prevention

• Watch out for and control pests and diseases such as aphids, mites, slugs, leaf spot, mildew and rust. Talk to us for specific solutions.
• Monitor roses for black spot or mildew. A good product to use on roses is Bayer Advanced Rose & Flower Care. It fertilizes and protects against diseases and insects.

Weeding

Weeds will be growing rapidly. Keep on top of them.

Lawns

Apply weed control such as Weed and Feed or spot spray with Weed Whacker.

June Gardening Chores

Planting

Plant annuals, warm weather vegetables (beans, cucumbers, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, melon and squash), perennials, shrubs and trees.

Watering

Water newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials weekly throughout the summer. They need about one inch per week.

Fertilizing

• Fertilize your annuals frequently throughout the summer to keep them blooming.
• Fertilize roses a few times over the summer to keep them healthy.

Pruning

Deadhead and prune rhododendrons, azaleas, camelias and other spring blooming shrubs when the blooms have faded.

Disease, Insect and Pest Prevention

Continue to monitor your plants for diseases, insects and slugs.

Lawns

• Apply Five-Iron fertilizer over the summer. Avoid fertilizing on hot days. 
• Give lawns one inch of water per week. It is best to water deeply once a week.
• Apply weed control

July Gardening Chores

Watering

Watering is the most important chore during the hot, dry months of summer. Continue to water newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials weekly. Remember one inch per week or more if needed.

Fertilizing

• Continue to fertilize annuals and hanging baskets on a regular basis to keep them blooming. The frequency depends on the type of fertilizer you use.
• Feed flowering perennials as needed. 

Pruning

• Deadhead spent flowers on annuals to keep them going.
• Deadhead faded flowers on perennials. Some perennials, such as salvia, will continue to rebloom if old blooms are removed.
• Shear faded flowers on lavender to maintain shape. Some varieties, such as Hidcote, will rebloom later in the summer if deadheaded.

Lawns

• Avoid fertilizing on hot days but add Five-Iron fertilizer if needed.
• Continue to give your lawn one inch of water per week.

Disease, Insect and Prevention

Continue to monitor for slugs, insects and diseases. Apply control as needed.

August Gardening Chores

Ornamental grasses are at their peak this month. Check out the large selection of grasses in our greenhouse.

Watering

Watering is the most important chore during the hot, dry months of summer. Continue to water newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials weekly. Remember one inch per week or more often if needed.

Planting

• Plant seeds for fall vegetables – carrots, cilantro, lettuce, onions, radishes, spinach and swiss chard
• Cool weather vegetable starts will be coming in soon. Remove finished vegetable plants and replenish the soil with compost to prepare for September planting.
• Divide and replant bearded iris.

Pruning

Prune trees and shrubs no later than mid-August. New growth brought on by pruning may not harden off in time for the winter.

Fertilizing

• Fertilize roses before mid-month.
• Continue to fertilize annuals to keep them blooming until frost.

Weeding

Continue to monitor and pull weeds.

Disease, Insect & Pest Prevention

Continue to monitor for slugs, insects and diseases. Apply control as needed.

Lawns

• Avoid fertilizing lawns during the hot days of summer. 
• Keep the lawn watered, one inch per week.

September Gardening Chores

Available This Month:

Pansies, fall vegetables, ornamental kale and cabbage, spring flowering bulbs, onions and garlic

Planting

• Plant pansies and ornamental kale and cabbage.
• Plant cool season vegetables such as kale, peas, greens, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage.
• Plant spring blooming bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinth. 

Start Seeds Outdoors

Arugula, beets, cabbage, fava beans, garlic and lettuce

Lawns

• Apply Six-Iron fertilizer once between September and November.
• This month you can repair or plant a new lawn. See information on Lawn Care.

Pruning

• Pinch back any faded flowers or tired foliage on perennials.
• Remove any weak or damaged branches from trees and shrubs. Avoid major pruning until winter.

Fertilizing

Do not fertilize shrubs, trees or perennials until next spring.

October Gardening Chores

Available This Month:

Pumpkins, gourds, straw bales, corn stalks, ornamental cabbage and kale, pansies, fall containers

Planting

• Plant spring blooming bulbs, onions and garlic. See our posts: Planting Bulbs and Planting Garlic.
• Remove spent summer annuals from your containers and replant with hellebores, pansies, ferns and small conifers.
• Divide and replant perennials.
• The fall is a good time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. Make sure to water thoroughly at planting and to provide one inch of water per week until the cool, rainy weather arrives. More information here: Planting & Watering Instructions.
• Sew cover crops to replenish the nitrogen in your garden soil.

Pruning

You can cut back ornamental grasses or leave them as is until late winter for visual interest.

Lawn

• Plant a new lawn with seed or sod. Make sure to keep watered until the cool, rainy weather arrives. 
• This is a good time to aerate, dethatch and overseed the lawn.
• For more information see Lawn Care page.
• Apply Six-Iron fertilizer once between September and November.
• This may be the last of the warm weather, so repair and reseed lawns now.

Clean-up

• Rake leaves, leave some to mulch beds and borders.
• Pull weeds.

Decorate

Display pumpkins, corn stalks, hay bales and fall décor.

Slug Control

Continue to watch for slugs. Apply slug control as necessary.

November Gardening Chores

Available This  Month

Living Christmas trees, cut green and flocked Christmas trees, wreaths, cut greens and garlands

Winterizing

• Protect tender perennials and container plants by placing them in sheltered areas.
• Mulch around roses, fuchsias and tender perennials.
• Finish raking leaves and yard clean-up.
• Use leaves as compost in beds, borders and unplanted areas.

Lawns

• Apply Six-Iron fertilizer once between September and November.
• To protect the health of your lawn, avoid walking on soggy areas.

December Gardening Chores

Available This Month

Living Christmas trees, cut green and flocked Christmas trees, wreaths, cut greens and garlands. Hellebores, pansies and primroses

Decorate

• Put up and decorate your Christmas tree
• Decorate your home with lights, wreaths and garlands

Plant

Create a colorful front porch container with wintergreen, cyclamen, hellebores, evergreen ferns, pansies and cut branches.

Slug Control

Continue to watch for slugs. Apply slug control as necessary.