January

Lawns:

• Keep off frosty or water logged lawns.

Flower Border:

• Dead head winter flowering Pansies.
• Examine Dahlia tubers and Chrysanthemum stores for mould.
• Hard prune tough deciduous hedges such as Hawthorn and Privet.
• Firm shrubs that may have been loosened by the wind and remove any dead or diseased shoots.
• Prune Wisteria sinensis.This will encourage it to produce flowers rather than too much leaf. Cut back side shoots to about 3-4 inches while the plant is dormant.

Vegetable Patch:

• Cover an area of the plot with fleece, cloches or plastic to help warm up the soil and dry up the surf
• Dig over the vegetable patch if it has not already been done.
• Choose seed Potatoes, Onions and Shallots.

Fruit Garden

• Feed trees and bushes.
• Continue winter pruning.

February

Flower Border:

• Split clumps of overcrowded Snowdrops and replant.
• Prune Clematis (depending on which type you have).
• Plant trees, shrubs and perennials.
• Mulch borders.
• Prune Hybrid Tree and Floribunda Roses.
• Sow bedding plant seeds in a heated propagator. 
• You can also sow Tomatoes.
• At the end of the month, water Pelargoniums to start them into growth then cut back the plant and repot once they have started growing.
• Cut Fuchsias back to about 6 inches, repot and water.
• Dead head winter Pansies and Primroses.
• Firm any Alpines that have been lifted by frost back into the soil.

Vegetable Patch:

• Sow Broad Beans, Carrots and Parsnips under cloches.
• Sow Onions, Peas, Leeks and Cabbage in a propagator.
• Sow Parsley in a seed tray.

Fruit Garden:

• Cut autumn fruiting Raspberry canes to the ground and others to a bud above the top wire.
• Continue to prune established fruit trees and burn the prunings.

March

Lawns:

• Grass will start to grow so give the lawn its first cut of the year. Set the blades high. 
• Rake (scarify) the lawn to get rid of debris, dead grass and moss
• Aerate badly drained areas of the lawn with a hollow tined fork

Roses:

• Prune Hybrid Tea (large flowered) and Floribunda (cluster flowered) Roses and then give them a feed. Shrub Roses and Ramblers should not be pruned in the spring as they flower on the previous years' wood. However, they still benefit from a feed.

Perennials:

• Herbaceous plants or cottage garden plants will start to grow if they have not done so already.
• Fork a general purpose plant food or some chicken pellets around them then apply a mulch such as garden compost, composted bark or bark chips to keep the moisture in and the weeds down.

Clematis:

• Finish pruning Clematis. How this should be done depends upon which group your Clematis falls into. Feed after pruning and mulch.

Summer Bulbs:

• Buy summer flowering bulbs, corms and tubers, such as Gladioli, Dahlias, Begonias, Crocosmia and Lilies. 
• Gladioli can be planted in the second half of the month.

Summer Bedding Plants/Patio Plants:

• Sow hardy annuals outside towards the end of March.
• Sow half hardy annuals in the greenhouse, on a window sill, in a conservatory or buy young plants to grown on.
• Pot Pelargoniums and Fuchsias into fresh compost.

Vegetable Patch:

• Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Parsnips, Peas, Radishes and Spinach can be sown outside and then covered with cloches.
• Plant Onion sets and Shallots.
• Put Seed Potatoes in a cool, light position to chit (sprout). Plant early varieties towards the end of the month. 

Fruit Garden:

• This is the last chance to plant bare root fruit trees into well prepared soil.
• Mulch trees and bushes to keep the soil moist and weed free.
• As Rhubarb pushes through cover with an up-turned bucket to exclude the light to encourage the plant to produce pink shoots.
• For an early crop, bring potted Strawberries into the greenhouse, water and feed.

April

Lawns:

• You can finally patch up with lawn seed now or lay new turf as long as your soil is not water logged.
• Towards the end of the month is a good time to feed and weed your lawn. I.e. lawn sand and liquid feed.

Flowers:

• Plant and support sweet peas. Wigwams can easily be made to support the sweet peas using bamboo canes with garden twine or use a sweet pea ring which we regularly stock.
• Plant summer flowering bulbs such as Gladiolus and Dahlias.
• Start filling up any old empty pots.
• Keep fighting the constant battle of the weeds in dry weather.
• Clematis can now be trained on walls fences and trellis. (be careful of young fragile shoots)
• Dead head bulbs but do not cut down the foliage as the bulbs need this to produce food for the bulb beneath the soil so that it flowers well next year. 
• Sow annual seeds in the open soil. 
• Divide large clump forming perennials such as Canna lilies and Crocosmia.
• Sow summer bedding in the greenhouse or on the kitchen window sill and prick out sowings made in March.
• Grow Basil from seed in a warm greenhouse or on a windowsill.

Vegetable Patch and Fruit garden:

• Plant second early Potatoes at the beginning of April and main crop varieties at the end of the month.
• Continue to plant out onion sets, leaving enough space for hoeing out weeds.
• Sow Leeks, Broad Beans, Beetroot, Lettuce, Parsnips, Peas, Mange Tout and Spinach outdoors under cloches.
• Sow cucumbers, melons and sweet corn in the greenhouse.
• Prune gooseberries, red and white currants. (Take off dead, damaged or diseased plant material.)

May

Lawns:

• Mow as required. Feed and weed as necessary.
• Dig out lawn weeds, such as daisies and Dandelions.
• Plant up summer containers, pots and hanging baskets. Use compost containing water storing granules and slow release fertilizer or add water storing gel and plant food.
• Pinch out Fuchsias to help them become bushy and produce more flowers.

Flowers:

• Plant up summer containers, pots and hanging baskets. Add water storing gel and plant food to your compost to help through the summer.
• Pinch out Fuchsias to help them become bushy and produce more flowers.
• Weed borders and prepare for summer bedding.
• Harden off summer bedding that has been grown under glass.  Start by placing them out during the day time only. They can be left out all the time once the danger of frost is over.

Shrubs:

• Prune early flowering shrubs such as Kerria japonica and Forsythia and Ribes after flowering.
• Plant out container-grown roses and shrubs.

Vegetable Patch and Fruit garden:

• Sow Bean, Marrow, Courgette and Squash seeds.
• Pick Rhubarb stems as they develop.
• Plant Tomatoes in growing bags or large pots.

June

Lawns:

• Continue to mow as necessary. If it is dry it is much better to keep the blades at a medium setting as shorter grass is less able to tolerate dry spells.
• There is still time to feed the lawn or apply a feed weed and moss killer, if you have not already done so.
• Finish planting.
• Water regularly, ideally once a day either early in the morning or in the evening when the sun is not shining on them.
• Feed frequently.

Flowers:

• Finish planting hanging baskets and tubs.(don’t forget to use water retaining crystals)
• Water containers regularly.
• Liquid feed once a week.
• Dead head any roses that have finished flowering to promote a second flush, and feed.
• Continue to plant out summer bedding.
• Pinch out the tips of the leading shoots of Dahlias.
• Support tall growing annuals.

 Vegetable Patch and Fruit Garden:

• Earth up potatoes when the foliage reaches approximately 6-9 inches in height. This stops any potatoes that grow near to the surface from turning green and inedible.
• Plant out Winter Cabbages, Sprouting Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts and young Leeks.
• Pick herbs in the morning before their essential oils are released by the heat of the day. 

July

Flowers:

• Dead head faded flowers of bedding plants and roses to encourage repeat flowering.
• Cut down stems of perennials that have already finished flowering such as Lupins and Delphiniums, and they may give you a second flush of flowers.  Feed after cutting back.
• Take semi hard cuttings of many shrubs such as Camellia, Ceanothus, Cistus, Potentilla and Viburnum.
• Water hanging baskets and tubs every day and feed once a week.

Vegetable Patch and Fruit Garden:

• Continue to sow salad crops outside.
• Water onions and weed around them.
• Continue to harvest herbs to dry or to freeze.
• Trim trained fruit trees, e.g. cordons, espaliers and fans of unwanted shoots.
• Harvest Blackcurrants, Strawberries and Raspberries.
• Tomatoes grown in the greenhouse may start fruiting. Keep the plants supported; regularly remove side shoots and feed.

August

Flowers:

• Dead head faded flowers of perennials and annuals to encourage a second flush of flowers.
• Trim Lavender bushes once they have finished flowering.
• Take cuttings of tender perennials such as Pelargonium’s, Fuchsias and Salvias.

Vegetable Patch and Fruit Garden:

• Sow Lettuce, spring Cabbage and winter Spinach.
• Pinch out the tips of Runner Beans.
• Pick Courgettes regularly.
• Take cuttings of woody herbs, e.g. Lavender, Rosemary and Sage.
• Cut down Raspberry canes that have fruited and support new canes.
• Plant Strawberry runners which have rooted.
• Continue to feed Tomato plants.

September

Lawns:

• Sow lawn seed in warn out patches and lay new turf.

Flowers:

• Spring flowering bulbs are now in stock. Buy early to ensure you get the variety you want. Check for large firm bulbs.
•  Plant Daffodil and Narcissi bulbs ready to flower in the spring.
• Pot up bulbs for indoor flowering such as Amaryllis and prepared Hyacinths.
• Clean up faded perennials.
• Dead head roses and tie in new shoots on climbers.
• Begin autumn planting of shrubs, trees and hardy plants.
• Water Dahlias when necessary and support.

Vegetable Patch and fruit gardens:

• Harvest Onions and Shallots and allow them to dry naturally.
• Pick French Beans and Runner Beans.
• Lift main crop Potatoes.
• Plant new fruit trees and pick Apples and Pears.
• Watch out for Peach leaf curl, burn any diseased leaves and treat the tree with copper fungicide.

October

Visit The Secret Garden for the APPLE TASTING DAY!

Lawns:

• Scarify by giving the lawn a good rake to remove dead material and encourage the grass to thicken by developing runners and side shoots.
• Aerate compacted areas using a garden fork.
• Apply an autumn lawn feed to promote root growth.

Flowers:

• Plant autumn hanging baskets and tubs.
• Plant Roses and deciduous trees and shrubs.
• Divide perennials that have outgrown their space after flowering.
• Lift and store Gladioli.
• Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs. 
• Divide clumps of Lilies that have become overgrown.
• Buy tulip bulbs now but hold out planting them till November.

Vegetable Patch and fruit garden:

• Prepare the vegetable patch for next year's planting.
• Dig over the area to open up the soil so that air and water may penetrate and incorporate garden compost or composted manure.
• Pot up some roots of mint and place on a sunny window sill for a winter supply.
• Gather any material ideal for burning on the bonfire in November.

November

Flowers:

• Plant tulips.
• Plant autumn hanging baskets and tubs.

Vegetable Patch and Fruit Garden:

• Dig over and add well rotted organic matter such as homemade compost or composted stable manure. ( leave in large clumps as the frost will break it down)
• Winter prune established bushes and fruit trees (not stone fruits such as plums and cherries)

December

• Dead head winter flowering Pansies.
• Protect Holly bushes that are carrying berries if you want to use the branches for Christmas decorations.
• Put high energy food out for the birds such as suit and peanuts. And make sure they have water. (defrost bird baths)
• Buy a real Christmas tree and decorations at The Secret Garden.