Monthly Landscaping Tips
March
Plant- Plant pansies in ground or pots
- Seed annuals indoors
- Remove leaves and debris from ponds
- Apply dormant spray to fruit trees before new growth appears
- Prune winter-damaged hedges. Trim more at top than bottom to allow light to reach the lower branches
- Prune young trees before they leaf out. Remove dead and crossing branches
- Clean up and mulch all existing beds
- Trim yews, junipers, arborvitae, hemlock
- When weather permits, mow lawn short to remove dead grass
- Cut back perennials and ornamental grasses before new growth appears
- Trim back summer bloomers like spirea and potentillas. Get rid of last season's blooms and trim back so they are not so fluffy
- Thin and trim the wind growth on the inside of flowering trees before the leaves come out
April
Plant- Plant potatoes, cabbage, and broccoli early in month.
- Plant asparagus crowns, horseradish, and rhubarb this month.
- Begin planting perennials, trees and shrubs.
- Fertilize established perennials and ground covers.
- Fertilize evergreens, trees, and shrubs.
- Fertilize lawn.
- Fertilize clematis, irises, and peonies.
- Gradually remove winter protection around roses as new growth appears.
- Prune rose canes that are weak, crossed, or damaged.
- Divide and transplant crowded summer and fall blooming perennials.
- Clean and aerate lawn.
- Apply pre-emergent weed control in mid-April to mid-May.
- Treat ash and birch trees for borers.
- Spray pines for diseases.
- Spray fruit trees when blossoms fall.
- When new leaves appear, spray crab trees with fungicide to prevent rust and scab.
- Prune spring flowering shrubs after blooming.
- Prune or mow winter-damaged ground covers.
- Clean out ponds before water temperature reaches 55 degrees (later cleaning could delay the establishment of a balanced pond ecosystem).
- Start running pumps and filters.
- Add beneficial bacteria.
May
Plant- Trees, shrubs and perennials
- When transplanting trees, shrubs, and perennials, always use a root stimulator
- Sow cool and warm season vegetables and herbs when soil temperature reaches 60 degrees
- Plant most annual flowers and tender perennials such as cannas, gladiolus, dahlias, tuberous begonias, and caladiums after frost-free date (usually after May 10)
- Plant tomatoes and vegetables mid-month
- Transplant vegetable and herb seedlings to garden
- After last spring frost, sow annual flower seeds
- If not completed in April, fertilize evergreens with evergreen fertilizer
- Fertilize roses with rose fertilizer
- Apply Weed and Feed to lawn mid-month
- Fertilize young trees and shrubs to encourage growth
- Spray weeds in landscape beds with Round-Up every month rather than waiting until the weed problem is too large
- Spray second application for tip blight on pines
- Complete pruning of spring-flowering trees and shrubs after flowers fade
- Deadhead bulb blooms, but leave foliage to mature and turn yellow before removing to aid in nourishing bulbs
- Prune flowering shrubs after flowering
- Start fruit tree spray schedule
- Apply merit for grub control anytime through mid-July
- Use Round-Up along fence line and landscape bed edges to eliminate trimming
- Start fungicide spray on roses
- Protect hostas from slugs by sprinkling diatomaceous earth or slug bait around the plant
- Pinch out growing tips of mums when plants are 6" tall
- Stake delphiniums, peonies, and other tall or floppy perennials when plants are half grown
- Perform annual spring cleanout before water temperature reaches 55 degrees
- Use Microbe-Lift Spring/Summer cleaner to help "jump-start" your pond
- Use AquaSafe Water Conditioner for newly added water
- Add barley bales early to help reduce algae and clarify water
- Start running pumps and filters
- When water temperature reaches 55 degrees, begin feeding fish with high carbohydrate / low protein food
- Add oxygenators and hardy rushes. Dormant plants in pond can be raised later
- Begin UV filtration
- Add beneficial bacterial inoculants to seed pond filter (e.g. AquaScape's Aquaclearer, Microbe-Lift PL or Tetra AquaZyme)
June
Plant- Plant balled/burlapped and container-grown trees, shrubs, ground covers, and annuals.
- Plant perennials all summer long.
- Plant annuals and herbs in containers.
- Fertilize annuals and container plants with water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks.
- Feed roses with rose fertilizer.
- Water newly planted trees and shrubs deeply every 7-10 days when rain is lacking.
- Apply fungicides to lawns to prevent disease.
- Apply Merit for grub control if it wasn't applied in May.
- Spray junipers and spruce for mites.
- Pinch back mums and annuals.
- Prune maple and birch trees as needed.
- Prune deciduous and evergreen hedges, and spring-flowering trees and shrubs after bloom. (Do not prune summer or fall bloomers now or flower buds will be lost).
- Watch for bagworms on evergreens.
- Watch for insects on roses, vegetables and flowers.
- Water lawn at least one inch per week.
- Use low-temperature fish foods until water temperature reaches 60 degrees.
- Keep algae in check by continuing to add bacterial inoculant - but less frequently as weather gets warmer.
- Add aquatic plants to act as natural filter. Taller plants use up nutrients that algae need to grow.
July/August
- Discontinue pinching mums by July 4.
- Continue to fertilize every two weeks using water-soluble fertilizer.
- Remove spent blooms and yellowed leaves. Give prolific bloomers such as cosmos and coreopsis a light shearing. Remove daylily bloom stalks as soon as flowers fade.
- Use Fung-Onil or Immunox on powdery mildew.
- If deep rooted tree seedlings refuse to budge from perennial beds, cut each "weed tree" to within a few inches above ground. Treat the stump with brush killer.
- Dislodge aphids and spider mites with strong spray of water from garden hose.
- Shear catmint by half after their blooms fade.
- Add fresh mulch to rose beds to help control blackspot fungus disease.
- Late August - divide iris, peonies, fall bulbs.
- Control insects on roses, flowers, and vegetables as needed.
- Watch for grub damage in lawn. Continue to plant shrubs, vines, perennials, and container and balled/burlapped trees.
September
Plant- Plant perennials, vines, and ground covers
- Plant peonies and iris
- Buy spring blooming bulbs after Labor Day
- Begin planting spring blooming bulbs (end of month)
- Plant trees and shrubs
- Plant needle-leaved evergreens
- Seed lawns early in September
- Fertilize peonies with bone meal
- Apply starter fertilizer to newly seeded areas
- Divide and replant summer and fall blooming perennials after blooming
- Aerate lawn and remove heavy thatch
- Water lawns one inch per week
- Kill broadleaf weeds in lawn now with Trimec
- Continue to fertilize plants once a month
- Watch oxygen levels
November/December
Plant- Plant deciduous trees and shrubs, evergreens and spring flowering bulbs until the ground freezes.
- Plant an amaryllis bulb in early November for Christmas bloom.
- Fertilize deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, bulb beds, and perennials to promote winter root development (after a hard frost of 27 degrees or cooler).
- Spray rhododendrons, boxwoods and yews with Wiltpruf (when temperatures are cool, but not freezing).
- Apply fungicide to areas prone to snow mold mid-to-late November.
- Rake and compost leaves.
- Protect young trees (under 4" in diameter) with tree wrap or trunk protectors.
- Protect roses for winter with rose collar and fill with mulch or compost at end of November.
- Mulch rhododendrons and azaleas with cypress, cedar or hardwood mulch.
- Mulch perennial and bulb beds for winter protection.
- In November, submerge hardy water lilies 3" deep in pond to prevent freezing.
- Leave fish in pond, remove and discard tropical lilies.
