Seasonal To Do’s
A Helpful Guide for all your landscaping needs…
Spring
o Roses, if covered with mulch from the late fall needs to be uncovered, any dead branches pruned out, and fertilized with products like Espoma’s RoseTone (NPK of 4-3-2).
o Crab Grass pre emergent treatment with fertilizer for the lawn
o Cleanup of garden beds to remove diseased leaves
o Cleanup of broken branches on the lawn and make a brush pile to be burned or removed.
o Divide perennials that bloom in the summer and fall
o Prune spring blooming shrubs
o Weed, Edge, and Mulch gardens
o Set up Peony Hoops for Peonies and other tall heavy flowering perennials
o Divide Ornamental Grasses if need be
o Do a spring cleanup on the lawn from leaves to prevent spotting; can be mulched up with lawn mower or bagged in large areas.
o Still be aware of frost warnings and cover plants with light blankets or fruit cloth
o Plant perennials when you can for best root growth.
o Late Spring (a week before or right after Memorial Day weekend) plant annuals in the gardens or containers. Most vegetables can be planted as well.
Summer
o Deadhead perennials and annuals.
o Shear Hedges, Topiaries, Shrubs that are shaped
o Support climbing plants and tall perennials either tying them or adding stakes or trellis’s
o Look out for pests and diseases, research how to rid of it if any are found
o Cut back the foliage of spring bulbs and bloomers
o Water new plantings deeply twice a week. Water perennials up till November. Annuals up to mid September or October.
o Water Tomatoes evenly to prevent blossom end rot
o Fertilize annuals once a week
o Prune dead branches out of shrubs and ornamental trees
o Post emergent weed control with fertilizer the lawn
o Assess what is working and not working in the gardens. Take notes to look back on in the winter
o Cut lawn at 3”, let clippings go back on lawn instead of bagging to help lawn health
Fall
o Plant trees and shrubs, water thoroughly till November two to three times a week.
o Plant spring blooming bulbs and fertilize existing bulbs. Tip, add crush stone to hole to prevent digging up from voles, squirrels, and chipmunks.
o Remove summer annuals
o Plant Fall annuals in containers or garden beds
o Cut back perennials, leave any seed bearing perennials that you wish for winter interest
o Move any large summer foliage plants indoors
o Plant bare rooted Peonies in the fall
o Prune Roses, fertilize, and cover base up to 2”-3” with mulch
o Cleanup gardens and lawn from leaves
o Set up plow stakes on driveway
o Dig up any tender summer bulbs like Dahlias, Gladiolas, Canna Lilies, and Elephant Ears. Store in a paper bag with newspaper in a cool, dark, dry space.
o Put Deer Fencing around Shrubs like Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas, Hemlocks, Hollies, and Dogwoods since they are first to be nibbled on in the winter.
o Burlap any broadleaf evergreens from sun and wind
Winter
o Prune fruiting trees and ornamental trees and shrubs like Smokebush (Cotinus corryiga) Dogwoods (Cornus servicea) and Panicle & Smooth Leaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborscens)
o Read back on your season notes and plan for the following season!
