January -
Take some time to clean up before plants get growing.
This is a good time to rake leaves, pull weeds, and get
your tools in good repair. Yes, you can do some planting
now. Once the ground has thawed, you may begin
planting bare-root trees and shrubs as well as bare root
roses. This is also an ideal time for planting blueberries.
Be careful not to plant container-grown trees, shrubs,
perennials, and ground covers prior to last frost date. Fill
in bare spots with cool-season annuals such as pansies
and snapdragons. Pruning roses, trees and shrubs can
be done at this time. Be careful not to trim off the
developing buds of flowering varieties. Start seeds
indoors for warm season annuals, such as, tomatoes,
marigolds, peppers, cosmos, zucchini, impatiens, salvia,
and basil, to name a few. Don’t forget to fertilize the lawn.
February-
Continue clean up and bare root planting. Wait to plant
warm- season annual flowers and vegetable until after
the last frost. Start your plant hunting now. If you haven't
already, prune deciduous fruit trees and roses. Spray
them both to prevent insect problems later. Keep an eye
on the seed starts indoors; ensuring they are provided
adequate light and moisture.
March -
Continue cleaning. Remove winter mulch from
perennials. Use slug bait as bulbs begin to show signs of
new growth. Continue bare-root planting and container
planting. Deadhead spent flowers on faded spring
blooming bulbs so that the energy may be directed back
to their roots for next year’s growth. Now is the time when
you can plant potatoes and perennials, fruits and
vegetables such as rhubarb, strawberries, and
asparagus. Dividing perennials after they bloom is a
great way to keep them blooming beautifully (by avoiding
overcrowding) and provide yourself with more plants.
Prune evergreens from now until late summer. Prune
raspberries. Clean out debris from water gardens and
add to compost.
April -
Keep dividing those perennials as long as they are not
spring bloomers and the foliage isn't taller than several
inches. If the last frost is safely past, plant your warm-
season annual flowers, herbs and vegetables, such as
tomatoes, peppers, basil, marigolds, petunias, etc.
Beautify patios, porches, window boxes and walkways
with containers of color. Now is the time to get excited
about the Clark County Home and Garden Idea Fair. You
will find the Northwest’s largest selection of plant
materials for planting now. Continue planting bare-root
and container trees, shrubs, perennials, herbs, ground
covers and flowers. Renovate weak lawns and reseed if
necessary. Dead-heading rhododendrons and azaleas
will neaten the appearance as well as encourage future
blooms. After they are completely done blooming, you
may prune them along with your other spring blooming
shrubs. Finish up any other pruning this month with the
exception of evergreens. Fertilize roses and decide how
you will control or eliminate insects and disease
throughout the season.
May-
Lots to do and enjoy in the garden. After last frost; plant
warm-season annul flowers, herbs and vegetables such
as tomatoes, peppers, basil, marigolds, petunias, etc.
This includes container gardeners. Be sure to fertilize
and water consistently. Containers tend to dry out
quickly, requiring frequent water, which in turn, effects
the greater need for fertilizer applications. Planting
continues throughout the garden as does cleaning and
dead-heading. Continue to feed roses and be sure all
new plantings are well watered.
Take some time to clean up before plants get growing.
This is a good time to rake leaves, pull weeds, and get
your tools in good repair. Yes, you can do some planting
now. Once the ground has thawed, you may begin
planting bare-root trees and shrubs as well as bare root
roses. This is also an ideal time for planting blueberries.
Be careful not to plant container-grown trees, shrubs,
perennials, and ground covers prior to last frost date. Fill
in bare spots with cool-season annuals such as pansies
and snapdragons. Pruning roses, trees and shrubs can
be done at this time. Be careful not to trim off the
developing buds of flowering varieties. Start seeds
indoors for warm season annuals, such as, tomatoes,
marigolds, peppers, cosmos, zucchini, impatiens, salvia,
and basil, to name a few. Don’t forget to fertilize the lawn.
February-
Continue clean up and bare root planting. Wait to plant
warm- season annual flowers and vegetable until after
the last frost. Start your plant hunting now. If you haven't
already, prune deciduous fruit trees and roses. Spray
them both to prevent insect problems later. Keep an eye
on the seed starts indoors; ensuring they are provided
adequate light and moisture.
March -
Continue cleaning. Remove winter mulch from
perennials. Use slug bait as bulbs begin to show signs of
new growth. Continue bare-root planting and container
planting. Deadhead spent flowers on faded spring
blooming bulbs so that the energy may be directed back
to their roots for next year’s growth. Now is the time when
you can plant potatoes and perennials, fruits and
vegetables such as rhubarb, strawberries, and
asparagus. Dividing perennials after they bloom is a
great way to keep them blooming beautifully (by avoiding
overcrowding) and provide yourself with more plants.
Prune evergreens from now until late summer. Prune
raspberries. Clean out debris from water gardens and
add to compost.
April -
Keep dividing those perennials as long as they are not
spring bloomers and the foliage isn't taller than several
inches. If the last frost is safely past, plant your warm-
season annual flowers, herbs and vegetables, such as
tomatoes, peppers, basil, marigolds, petunias, etc.
Beautify patios, porches, window boxes and walkways
with containers of color. Now is the time to get excited
about the Clark County Home and Garden Idea Fair. You
will find the Northwest’s largest selection of plant
materials for planting now. Continue planting bare-root
and container trees, shrubs, perennials, herbs, ground
covers and flowers. Renovate weak lawns and reseed if
necessary. Dead-heading rhododendrons and azaleas
will neaten the appearance as well as encourage future
blooms. After they are completely done blooming, you
may prune them along with your other spring blooming
shrubs. Finish up any other pruning this month with the
exception of evergreens. Fertilize roses and decide how
you will control or eliminate insects and disease
throughout the season.
May-
Lots to do and enjoy in the garden. After last frost; plant
warm-season annul flowers, herbs and vegetables such
as tomatoes, peppers, basil, marigolds, petunias, etc.
This includes container gardeners. Be sure to fertilize
and water consistently. Containers tend to dry out
quickly, requiring frequent water, which in turn, effects
the greater need for fertilizer applications. Planting
continues throughout the garden as does cleaning and
dead-heading. Continue to feed roses and be sure all
new plantings are well watered.
June -
Head to the garden for a few minutes; dead-heading
promotes longer bloom season and a more beautiful
garden. Prune spring blooming trees and shrubs such
as lilacs, forsythia and crab apples as soon as possible
after bloom. Once the soil has warmed, apply a layer of
mulch on flower beds and around trees. This will reduce
weeds and prevent disease. Continue fertilizing and
monitoring insects and disease prone areas.
July -
Harvest your vegetable garden daily. Water all areas as
needed. Containers may need water as much as twice
daily. Lawns require approx. one inch per week. Water
deep rather than often. Start weeding and stay up on it.
To avoid heat stress on you and your plants, plant on
overcast or drizzly days. Continue the dead-heading and
fertilizer program.
August -
Your focus now becomes watering. Water early in the
morning. Keep up on your vegetable garden - pick small
amounts daily. You may need to replenish mulch, it
should be 1 - 3 inches thick. Plan your maintenance
weeding for after a rainy day when it is easier and more
effective. Deadhead and fertilize throughout the
summer.
September -
Take a break and
enjoy the fruits of
your labor. By mid-
month the rain is
watering for you.
Think of what you
would like your
garden to look like
next year and plan
now. Fall is THE
best time for planting
trees and shrubs.
October -
The return of rain to our area provides the perfect time
for planting, transplanting and getting your garden in
shape. This month is ideal for planting spring-blooming
bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Think of
how happy you will be in the spring. Rake up leaves and
use for compost. Consider planting a cover crop in your
vegetable garden, it is an ideal way to improve soil and
feed your vegetables. Don’t forget to weed flower beds
and add more mulch. If the fall is dry, be sure to water as
needed.
November -
Finish planting and cleaning in preparation for the onset
of cold, wet weather. Pull out dead foliage. Keep up on
raking, this can be a fun chore for kids. As long as the
ground has not frozen, you can still plant spring-
blooming bulbs. Prepare roses for winter by adding
several inches of mulch to the base. Cut back leggy
canes. Protect potted plants to prevent roots from
freezing.
December -
Use natural resources this holiday by filling your home
with evergreens, holly and other materials from your own
garden. If you bring a live tree inside to enjoy during the
holidays, pay close attention to keep it well watered.
Make note of how to care for holiday plants that are
given this time of year. Consider giving gift certificates
from local nurseries or garden centers this year. Garden
tools, books, catalogs and magazines are great gift
ideas as well. After the holidays you can recycle your live
tree by cutting off the branches and laying them around
the base of roses and
other plants.
Head to the garden for a few minutes; dead-heading
promotes longer bloom season and a more beautiful
garden. Prune spring blooming trees and shrubs such
as lilacs, forsythia and crab apples as soon as possible
after bloom. Once the soil has warmed, apply a layer of
mulch on flower beds and around trees. This will reduce
weeds and prevent disease. Continue fertilizing and
monitoring insects and disease prone areas.
July -
Harvest your vegetable garden daily. Water all areas as
needed. Containers may need water as much as twice
daily. Lawns require approx. one inch per week. Water
deep rather than often. Start weeding and stay up on it.
To avoid heat stress on you and your plants, plant on
overcast or drizzly days. Continue the dead-heading and
fertilizer program.
August -
Your focus now becomes watering. Water early in the
morning. Keep up on your vegetable garden - pick small
amounts daily. You may need to replenish mulch, it
should be 1 - 3 inches thick. Plan your maintenance
weeding for after a rainy day when it is easier and more
effective. Deadhead and fertilize throughout the
summer.
September -
Take a break and
enjoy the fruits of
your labor. By mid-
month the rain is
watering for you.
Think of what you
would like your
garden to look like
next year and plan
now. Fall is THE
best time for planting
trees and shrubs.
October -
The return of rain to our area provides the perfect time
for planting, transplanting and getting your garden in
shape. This month is ideal for planting spring-blooming
bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Think of
how happy you will be in the spring. Rake up leaves and
use for compost. Consider planting a cover crop in your
vegetable garden, it is an ideal way to improve soil and
feed your vegetables. Don’t forget to weed flower beds
and add more mulch. If the fall is dry, be sure to water as
needed.
November -
Finish planting and cleaning in preparation for the onset
of cold, wet weather. Pull out dead foliage. Keep up on
raking, this can be a fun chore for kids. As long as the
ground has not frozen, you can still plant spring-
blooming bulbs. Prepare roses for winter by adding
several inches of mulch to the base. Cut back leggy
canes. Protect potted plants to prevent roots from
freezing.
December -
Use natural resources this holiday by filling your home
with evergreens, holly and other materials from your own
garden. If you bring a live tree inside to enjoy during the
holidays, pay close attention to keep it well watered.
Make note of how to care for holiday plants that are
given this time of year. Consider giving gift certificates
from local nurseries or garden centers this year. Garden
tools, books, catalogs and magazines are great gift
ideas as well. After the holidays you can recycle your live
tree by cutting off the branches and laying them around
the base of roses and
other plants.
| P.O. Box 326, La Center, WA 98629 Phone: 360.263.8890 Email: snaccmail@specialtynursery.org |
| Specialty Nursery Association of Clark County |
| www.specialtynursery.org |
|
Here are some helpful tips for planning out your garden tasks throughout the year.