A beautiful garden is a year-round commitment. Staying on top of key tasks throughout the seasons will keep your plants healthy, your beds tidy, and prevent small problems from becoming big ones. Following a monthly maintenance schedule helps you prioritize your time and ensures no crucial task is forgotten.
🌱 Early Spring (March-April)
As the garden wakes up, it's time for prep work.
Spring Tasks:
- Perform spring cleanup: clear debris, cut back perennials, and edge beds.
- Amend soil with compost.
- Prune summer-flowering shrubs.
- Divide crowded perennials.
- Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weed seeds from germinating.
🌸 Late Spring (May)
This is the prime planting and growing season.
Late Spring Tasks:
- Plant summer annuals after the last frost date.
- Apply a fresh layer of mulch to all garden beds.
- Begin regular weeding.
- Stake tall perennials before they get too big.
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs right after they finish blooming.
☀️ Summer (June-August)
Maintenance is key during the hot months.
Summer Tasks:
- Water deeply and regularly, especially during dry spells.
- Continue weeding.
- "Deadhead" spent flowers to encourage reblooming.
- Monitor for pests and diseases and treat as needed.
- Fertilize annuals and container plants.
🍂 Fall (September-November)
Time to clean up and prepare for winter.
Fall Tasks:
- Plant spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils.
- Divide fall-blooming perennials.
- Begin cutting back perennials after the first frost, or leave for winter interest.
- Remove spent annuals.
- Rake leaves from beds to prevent them from smothering plants.
❄️ Winter (December-February)
The garden rests, but there are still a few things to do.
Winter Tasks:
- Plan next year's garden and order seeds.
- Clean and sharpen your garden tools.
- Apply dormant oil spray to fruit trees to control overwintering pests.
- Gently brush heavy snow off evergreen branches to prevent breakage.
A consistent maintenance plan is the secret to a stunning garden. The Box Advantage Group offers comprehensive garden and landscape maintenance programs to handle all these tasks for you. Contact us to create a customized care plan for your property.
Author
Groundskeeper Team