Year-Round Garden Maintenance: Keep Your Outdoor Oasis Flourishing

Regardless of the shifting seasons, one constant remains for gardeners: the perpetual demand for yard maintenance. From uprooting weeds to mowing the grass, and hastening the planting of perennials, the to-do list is never-ending.

Throughout the year, a monthly to-do list serves as a valuable guide to keeping your garden in optimal condition. Receive guidance on the best times to plant, proper pruning techniques, and lawn care tips with this useful guide. It will help you maintain a beautiful yard and garden throughout the year.

January

Lawn Care: Take advantage of dry winter days to mow your dormant, warm-season lawn. Cleaning the lawn by removing leaves and pine needles also helps to find and deal with winter weeds. Prepare for spring by spraying to control them when the weather warms up.

Planting: Consider planting new shrubs and trees during this period. Assess your landscape, removing any undesirable plants, and replacing them with ones that better suit your preferences.

February 

Tree Pruning: With the exception of maples and birches, February marks a suitable time for tree pruning. For branches exceeding an inch in diameter, employ the three-step method for removal.

Start by cutting underneath the branch about 6-8 inches from the trunk, halfway through the branch's thickness. Proceed to the top of the limb, cutting it halfway between the initial cut and the trunk. Finally, trim the resulting stub to within a half inch of the trunk.

Lawn Care: As dormant warm-season turf begins to reveal winter weeds, it's time to take action. Employ spot applications of post-emergence herbicides or manually remove the weeds. Choose a post-emergence herbicide like Weed-Stop or Weed-B-Gon that is safe for your grass type. Follow label instructions carefully to protect your lawn from harm.

Branch Cutting: When buds on forsythia, quince, star magnolia, and saucer magnolia start displaying hints of color, it's ideal for forcing them to bloom indoors. Carefully cut branches, preserving the natural shape of the plant. Placed in a vase of water indoors, these branches should be in full bloom within several days.

March

Lawn Maintenance: With warm-season turf starting to rejuvenate, it's time to consider applying lime to your grass. If your soil tends to be acidic, this should be done every couple of years. Conduct a soil test to determine the exact lime requirement, but if testing isn't feasible, a general rule of thumb is to apply 15 to 20 pounds of lime per 100 square feet of lawn area. Pelletized lime offers a cleaner and simpler application compared to powdered lime.

Azaleas: As the iconic Southern azaleas burst into bloom, it's advisable to mark the color of each plant if they haven't been organized by color. For optimal visual impact, arrange azaleas either in clusters of a single color or in layers of complementary colors. Wait until the flowers are done blooming before moving, pruning, or shaping them for best results next year. You can still move them while blooming.

April

Mulching: With winter behind us, consider replacing the mulch around plants like azaleas, roses, and camellias. Overwintered disease spores and insects may lurk within the existing mulch, necessitating its removal. If disease or insect issues are not a concern, simply refreshing the mulch suffices.

Lawn Care: As warm-season turf, including Bermuda, St. Augustine, and centipede, begins to thrive, it's time to start mowing. Take care not to cut too low, avoiding scalp marks on the lawn. Adjust the blade height to achieve a neatly trimmed appearance without exposing soil patches.

When the grass is growing quickly, mow it once a week. Only cut off a third of the grass each time.

Herb Planting: After the frost period has passed, seize the opportunity to plant herbs. Culinary herbs are generally low-maintenance, but ensure you've planted enough of the ones you frequently use. Keep in mind that it takes twice as many fresh herbs as dried ones to impart the same flavor in cooking.

May 

Lawn Care: As your dormant turf transitions to lush green, it's crucial to establish a regular fertilizing schedule. Certain warm-season grasses, like hybrid Bermuda and Zoysia varieties, thrive with high-nitrogen lawn fertilizers. However, grasses such as centipede require minimal or no fertilizer and only modest amounts of nitrogen.

Choose fertilizers with high nitrogen content, which are indicated by a high first number on the bag's ratio. Apply fertilizers in accordance with label instructions to prevent lawn burn.

Pruning: With plants fully leafed out, it's time for a final pruning to address any winter damage. Always trim limbs or shoots back to live wood. In cases of severe plant damage, consider replacement as an option.

Annual Planting: Complete your summer annual planting, including varieties like petunias, marigolds, salvia, and impatiens. Make sure the roots of potted or tray-grown plants are not tangled, so they can grow outward into the soil. If necessary, gently loosen tangled roots to promote healthy growth.

June 

Watering: With warmer temperatures, be vigilant about watering hanging baskets and containers as they tend to dry out more rapidly. Optimal watering times are at dawn and dusk to minimize water loss through evaporation. Newly added plants will require more frequent watering compared to established areas.

Houseplant Care: Take advantage of the warmer weather by placing houseplants outdoors in a shaded spot to benefit from fresh air and revitalization. Ensure regular watering and feed them with a balanced (20-20-20) water-soluble fertilizer to promote healthy growth.

Mulching: Enhance the establishment of newly planted trees and shrubs by applying additional pine straw or shredded bark mulch. This extra layer of mulch aids in reducing water loss and alleviating heat stress on the developing roots.

July 

Lawn Care: To aid your grass in enduring drought and high temperatures, adjust your lawnmower's cutting height to one to one and a half inches higher. Taller turf provides shade to the soil, slows evaporation, and suppresses weed growth.

Birdbaths: Prevent water evaporation and overheating by relocating birdbaths to shaded areas. Situating them near small trees or large shrubs not only offers shelter to birds but also encourages their usage of the bath.

August

Vegetable Gardening: In the Upper South, seize the opportunity to plant fall vegetables. Plant broccoli, cauliflower, and collards. Also plant seeds for beets, lettuce, peas, spinach, turnips, and mustard.

Lawn Care: Avoid mowing dry grass to prevent further stress on the turf and exposure to the dehydrating effects of wind and sun. Prioritize watering before mowing if your lawn appears parched or wait for rainfall. 

Iris and Daylilies: This month presents an ideal time to divide spring-blooming perennials like iris and daylilies. Identify crowded clumps and those exhibiting reduced bloom. Divide tubers and roots, discarding dead portions and retaining younger, vigorous sections for replanting. Prepare new beds by incorporating composted pine bark and sphagnum peat moss into the soil to a depth of eight to 10 inches.

September 

Autumn Planting: Kick off your tree and shrub planting endeavors this month. Autumn planting provides ample time for plants to establish roots and adapt to their new environment.

Watering: With cooling temperatures, plants typically require less water. Adjust your watering regimen accordingly for lawns, borders, and containers. Be especially vigilant with containers to prevent waterlogging.

October

Lawn Care: Enhance the appearance of your lawn during the winter months by overseeding warm-season grasses like centipede or Bermuda with annual ryegrass.

Flower Beds: Revitalize your flower beds by clearing out spent summer annuals, prepping the soil, and introducing cool-weather annuals. Incorporate balanced slow-release fertilizer and organic matter such as composted pine bark before tilling the soil for planting.

Autumn Vegetables: Take advantage of the season by sowing seeds of mustard, collards, turnips, and lettuce for a bountiful fall garden. In regions like the Upper and Middle South, consider using lettuce transplants for optimal results.

November

Composting: As you tidy up the garden, gather fallen leaves and plant debris to create compost. Mix green and dry materials with soil and optional fertilizer in a garden corner, excluding weed-and-feed products. If there's no rainfall, lightly sprinkle the compost with water weekly. By spring, or sooner with periodic turning, you'll have nutrient-rich compost ready for use.

Lawn Care: For cool-season lawns like tall fescue in the Middle and Upper South, apply a high-quality lawn fertilizer containing timed-release nitrogen, such as 30-2-4 or 29-3-4. This fertilizer will prevent burning and provide continuous nourishment until spring.

December 

Soil Treatment: Assess your soil's acidity level and consider applying lime if it's deemed acidic. Utilize a fertilizer spreader or distribute by hand, ensuring even coverage while wearing gloves. Winter applications allow lime to gradually react with the soil, benefiting the spring garden. Apply at a rate of 5 pounds per 100 square feet or conduct a soil test for precise lime requirements.

Water Management: Adjust your automatic watering system to accommodate the changing needs of dormant plants during the colder months. Reduce watering duration by half when night temperatures drop to the 40s or below. In rainy periods, deactivate the system to save on costs and prevent overwatering.

Bottom Line

Maintaining a beautiful garden requires consistent care and attention throughout the year. From January to December, gardeners have many tasks to keep their outdoor spaces healthy and growing. Whether it's mowing lawns, planting flowers, or adjusting watering schedules, each month presents unique challenges and opportunities.

By using a monthly to-do list, you can keep your garden in good shape all year round. So, roll up your sleeves, dig in the soil, and let the rhythm of the seasons guide you towards a flourishing yard and garden all year long.

Sources:
https://www.southernliving.com/garden/garden-lawn-care-checklist