Monthly Garden Checklists

PRUNING

• Prune rose bushes by 30-50% around Valentine’s Day. Make each cut just above a bud.
• Prune shrubs: first remove any dead or damaged branches, then thin out by removing 1/3 of the oldest stems at ground level, and shape the rest of the plant following its natural form.

PLANTING

• Plant cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and potatoes.

SUPPORTING WILDLIFE

• Feed the birds. Don’t forget fresh water!

MISCELLANEOUS

• Begin clean-up in the garden and landscape. Remove weeds and debris, prune out dead foliage and cut back perennials.

PRUNING

• Begin pruning to shape spring flowering shrubs and vines as they finish blooming throughout the season.
• Pruning of evergreens and summer flowering trees should be completed by early March.

PLANTING

• Begin planting shrubs, perennials and annuals.
• Late in March, begin planting warm season vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn, cucumbers and squash.

WATERING WISELY

• Perform an audit of the irrigation system.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Dig and divide summer and fall flowering perennials just before they initiate their spring growth.

PLANTING

• Install sod.
• Plant warm season annuals such as angelonia, begonias, coleus, fountain grass, pentas.

SUPPORTING WILDLIFE

• Hummingbirds are arriving. Hang feeders filled with 1 part cane sugar to 4 parts water. Boil to dissolve sugar and cool. May be refrigerated for 2 weeks.
• Plant dill, fennel and parsley as host plants for swallowtail butterflies.

CONTAINER GARDENING

• Plant spring containers with good quality potting mix. Choose plants that share the same water and light requirements. Water root balls slowly. Use a good quality, time-released fertilizer once a month and water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks to keep plants in containers healthy.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Fertilize shrubs and perennials with slow-release fertilizer.
• Stay on top of weeds; don’t make new plants compete for space and nutrients.

PESTS

• Check plants for insects and diseases.

PLANTING

• Plant caladiums and hot season annuals such as hibiscus, lantana, moss rose and periwinkles.

SUPPORTING WILDLIFE

• Plant butterfly-attracting plants like milkweed, Gregg's mistflower, buddleia and salvia.  Butterflies and other pollinators are very beneficial for your garden.

MISCELLANEOUS

• All gardens and landscape beds should have a 3” layer of hardwood mulch to maintain moisture, reduce weeds and lower soil temperatures.
• Allow foliage of spring flowering bulbs to mature and yellow before removing.
• Pinch back the terminal growth on newly planted annual and perennial plants for well-branched plants with more flowers.
• Take a good look at your spring gardens and landscape. Do you have the ‘right plant in the right place?' Note plants that have done well or need to be replaced.

PRUNING

• Prune to shape established shrubs, and deadhead spent flower stalks from spring blooming perennials.

PLANTING

• Plant colorful, heat-tolerant summer annuals such as purslane, periwinkle, marigolds and salvia. Water transplants as needed until roots are established.

CONTAINER GARDENING

• Begin fertilizing hanging baskets and containers with a water-soluble fertilizer weekly.
• Check containers. Plants may need to be replaced with warm season plants.

SUPPORTING WILDLIFE

• Hummingbird feeders need to be rinsed with very hot water and refilled every 1-2 days.

WATERING WISELY

• Water lawn and garden thoroughly and deeply (without over-watering) using the Cycle-and-Soak method.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Dig and divide crowded spring bulbs.
• Deadhead and trim leggy plants as needed.
• Remove faded flowers from plants before they set seed to keep plants growing and producing flowers.

HARVESTING

• Harvest and remove non-performing vegetables from the garden. Harvest figs.

PRUNING

• Prune re-blooming salvias periodically throughout the summer. Remove only the flower and a few inches of the stem below. Fall-blooming perennials, such as Mexican Mint Marigold, mums and Mexican Bush Sage should be pruned in the same manner during the summer to keep them compact. This pruning needs to be completed by September 1st when buds begin to form.

CONTAINER GARDENING

• Keep watering and fertilizing containers and hanging baskets. Use your finger to check moisture levels around the roots.

WATERING WISELY

• Continue watering lawn and garden thoroughly and deeply (without over-watering) using the Cycle-and-Soak method.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Deadhead perennials to encourage additional bloom.
• Trim groundcover.

PLANTING

• Late in the month, plant bluebonnet and other spring wildflower seeds in well-prepared soil, ½” deep and water thoroughly.

PRUNING

• Prune out dead or diseased wood from trees and shrubs. Hold off on major pruning until mid-winter.

CONTAINER GARDENING

• Give your containers a "haircut." A trim now will encourage good new growth for the fall.

WATERING WISELY

• Water deeply during the summer’s heat using the Cycle-and-Soak method to prevent water waste as runoff.
• Caladiums will require plenty of water if they are to remain lush and active into the fall.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Divide fall bulbs: crocus, oxblood lilies, spider lilies and rain lilies.
• Make your selections and place orders for spring-flowering bulbs.
• Take a critical/good look at your summer gardens and landscape. Do you have the ‘right plant in the right place?' Note plants that have done well or need to be replaced.

PRUNING

• Remove weak, unproductive growth and old seed heads from crape myrtles to stimulate new growth for fall beauty. Hold off on major pruning until mid-winter.

PLANTING

• Plant cold season vegetables such as: artichoke, beans, cabbage, chard, greens, kale, onions, carrots.

SUPPORTING WILDLIFE

• Watch for monarch butterflies as they begin migrating south through our area.
• Keep maintaining your hummingbird feeders. Most hummers migrate to South Texas during the last weeks in September.

WATERING WISELY

• Don’t allow plants with green fruit or berries to suffer from lack of moisture. Hollies will drop their fruit under drought conditions.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Establish a new compost pile to accommodate the fall leaf accumulation.
• Prepare beds for spring-flowering bulbs. Cultivate the soil and add generous amounts of compost to improve water drainage.
• Divide spring flowering perennials such as: iris, Shasta daisy, rudbekias, cannas, daylilies, violets, lirope and ajuga.

PLANTING

• Sow milkweed seeds so they will cold stratify over the winter and sprout in the spring.
• Continue planting cold season vegetables such as: arugula, beets, chives, cilantro, bok choy, dill, and garlic.
• Plant bulbs in well-prepared beds so the base of the bulb is at a depth that is three times the diameter of the bulb.
• Plant perennials and shrubs. Fall provides ideal conditions for establishing good root growth.

HARVESTING

• To save seeds from your favorite plants, allow them to air dry then place in a labeled envelope.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Divide and reset perennials such as: phlox, irises, daylilies.
• Take a critical/good look at your summer gardens and landscape. Do you have the ‘right plant in the right place?' Note plants that have done well or need to be replaced.

PLANTING

• November through March is an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs.
• Continue planting cool season vegetables with provisions to cover if needed.
• Set out cool weather bedding plants such as: pansies, violas, stock, snapdragons and dianthus.

CONTAINER GARDENING

• Dwarf curly kale grows well in a pot. Start now and enjoy all winter. Frosty nights improve flavor but bring in during deep freeze.
• Empty annual containers, clean with a 10% bleach solution and store upside down for winter.

WATERING WISELY

• Turn off irrigation system.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Make plans to move tender container plants indoors, plant your perennial container plants in the ground or treat them as annuals and dispose of them in the compost bin.

SUPPORTING WILDLIFE

• Feed the birds.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Take advantage of good weather to prepare garden beds for spring.
• Have your soil tested in preparation for next season.
• Watch the weather and cover freeze-sensitive plants with old sheets, row cover, freeze cloth or boxes. Never use plastic to cover plants.
• Mow, shred, mulch or compost those leaves.
• Using your ‘the right plant in the right place’ garden and landscape notes made throughout the year, begin planning your gardens for next year.