Men's Village Garden Club

    GARDENERS MAINTENANCE GUIDE

 

 

JAN:  

• Remulch areas that need protection

• If ground isn’t frozen, plant trees and shrubs that are dormant

• Clean out bird houses

 

FEB:  

• Prune ornamentals

• Crape myrtles (ONLY IF REQUIRED, DO NOT MURDER)

• Roses to height of 8-18”, to outward facing bud

• Rose of Sharon

• Ornamental grasses:  monkey grass, pampa, miscanthus, muhly, Liriope, Mondo grass

• Remove dead wood and damaged limbs from trees

• Prune non blooming evergreens:  Photenias, boxwoods, holly

• Prune tropicals inside, fertilize and start watering more often

  • Hibiscus

  • Mandevilla

  • Bougainvillea

• Apply dormant sprays to trees, shrubs, and perennial beds

• Apply pre-emergent for summer weeds

 

MAR:  

• Control aphids with insecticidal soap

•  Black spot on roses last year – spray weekly with Funginex

•  Photinias leaf spot – spray with Daconil 2787 – 2 week intervals

•  Hedges – Trim overgrown or uneven; base wider than top

•  Cut back English ivy

•  Fertilize pansies

•  Fertilize boxwoods and camellias—camelias after they bloomed

•  Mid March – apply super phosphate to iris, peonies & flower perennials

•  Apply handful of aluminum sulfate per foot of plant around hydrangeas

•  Add 1 cup of lime around each clematis

 

APR:  

• Prune spring blooming shrubs after bloom

• Forsythia – remove 1/3 older, woodier canes at ground

• Flowering quince

• Spirea

• Fertilize lawn 2-3 weeks after it turns green with slow release fertilizer

 

MAY:

• Prune Azaleas after bloom and make first application fertilizer

• Fertilize roses with ½ cup of 12-6-8 every 4-6 weeks

• Fertilize spring bulbs after they bloom

• Plant summer blooms, like caladium and gladiolas

 

JUN:  

• Prune dead wood or weak branches from crepe myrtles

• Cut back privet, photinia as needed

• Feed azalea, camellia & gardenia with acid forming fertilizer, 11-5-5

• Dig and divide overcrowded daffodils

• Plant daylilies and nasturtium

• Plant second crop of tomatoes for fall supply

 

JUL:  

• Raise blade on lawn mower to shade roots

• Dead head roses and fertilize after each cycle of bloom  

 

AUG:  

• Plant mums

• Check azaleas for lace bugs – insecticidal soap top and undersides

• Check gardenias for whiteflies – Orthene, diazinon, malathion

• Euonymus – scale insects – spray with Orthene

• Prune evergreens so new growth matures before frost.

• Fertilize rhodendendron, azaleas and camellias w/aluminum phosphate

 

SEP:  

• Divide iris

• Start planting daffodils

 

OCT:  

• Divide and transplant perennials that bloom in spring & summer

• Camellia sasanqua bloom Oct – Jan

• Apply pre-emergent herbicide to lawn to prevent winter weeds

• Dig and store tender bulbs such as caladium, canna, elephant ears

 

NOV:

• Transplant trees and shrubs

• Plant pansies

 

DEC:  

• Plant spring bulbs:  daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, tulips

• Prune holly, cedars, magnolias and other evergreens