Month-by-Month Garden Guide
Keeping on top of your garden can be a challenging job for some and if it’s not carefully planned out and cared for, your garden can easily be overwhelmed. Whether it’s keeping your plants safe through the harsh months of winter or making sure they have enough nutrients and minerals in the spring and summer, this monthly garden planner should help make sure your garden is in the best shape all through the calendar year.
Alsoils+ has been servicing domestic and trade customers for over 35 years with the highest quality garden supplies, leaving you safe in the knowledge that we can help you decide on what to do in the garden whatever month you’re in. We have also created specific guides for vegetable patches, garden lawns and flower beds so that you know what to do to ensure the health of your pride and joy.
What to do in the Garden in Winter
During the winter months of December, January and February, many plants and flowers are dormant, meaning there’s less weeding and watering to be done in your garden. Some of the jobs that need to be done in winter can be interchangeable
month to month, so you can take the below as a rough guide. If you’re still looking for jobs to do in Winter, then there are normally fences to fix, wildlife shelters to build and compost bins to maintain.
December
December can be a difficult month to navigate when it comes to gardening as the weather can be harsh on your shrubbery, but there are things you can do in December.
Flowers
Bring plants indoors or into a greenhouse
Prune roses
Keep snow off flowers and plants
Look for diseases and fungal growth
Fruit and Vegetables
Place straw around the base of root vegetables
Prune large fruit trees
Start to plan next year’s crops
Place netting over winter vegetables
Garden Maintenance
Bring watering equipment inside or cover it up
Rake and scoop fallen leaves from autumn
Order well-rotted manure or mushroom compost
Repair fences and sheds
January
Still in the height of winter, January is very similar to December but it does offer a chance to prepare for the transition into spring.
Flowers
Start to order organic manure
Purchase seeds and bulbs
Plant bare-root roses, shrubs and hedges
Remove snow from flowers and plants
Fruit and Vegetables
Prepare the ground for early crops
Clear old crops and weeds
Plan the year’s crop rotation
Harvest winter vegetables
Garden Maintenance
Brush snow off shed roofs and other garden structures
Feed wildlife and birds
Order well-rotted manure or mushroom compost
Start to order mulch and chippings
February
Slowly transitioning into spring is a welcome sight for gardeners across the UK and February marks the beginning of a busy few months ahead.
Flowers
Prune late-summer flowering plants
Transplant deciduous shrubs whilst they are dormant
Place organic manure on flower beds
Sow early seeds
Fruit and Vegetables
Chit potatoes
Place well-rotted manure on vegetable patches
Protect blossom on top and soft fruit
Remove overwintering snails
Garden Maintenance
Clean and service garden equipment
Firm back down loosened plants
General repairs and fixes
Winter Garden Supplies
We are able to offer those on the south coast of the UK a range of products suitable for the winter months.
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Organic Manure£55.00 exc VAT -
Bark Mulch£65.00 exc VAT -
Multi-Purpose Topsoil£45.00 exc VAT -
Mushroom Compost£65.00 exc VAT
What to do in the Garden in Spring
The busiest period of the year is upon us and this is when you start to see the rewards of your hard work throughout the year. Spring is the time of year that the temperature starts to increase, wildlife is teaming and flowers bloom into their full form. Some of the jobs that need to be done in spring can be interchangeable month to month, so you can take the below as a rough guide.
March
March is the first month of spring, and gardens are alive with the colour of spring flowers and plants. The weather can still be unpredictable, so some jobs may be left to do in April.
Flowers
Finish pruning roses
Continue deadheading spring flowers
Place topsoil in flower beds and borders
Top dress flower beds with mulch
Fruit and Vegetables
Plant shallots and onions
Plant early potatoes
Sow tomatoes, chillies and sweet peppers
Start hoeing vegetable patches
Garden Maintenance
Protect new shoots from slugs
Start mowing garden lawns
Create and repair pathways
April
April is when the weather starts to take a turn for the better and you can plan your to-do list a bit better.
Flowers
Place topsoil in flower beds and borders
Plant early-blooming flowers
Keep bedding plants frost free
Prune late-blooming flowers and shrubs
Fruit and Vegetables
Plant second-early and maincrop potatoes
Replant hardy herbs
Sow easy salad leaves and rocket
Sow fast-growing crops
Garden Maintenance
Hoe between rows of vegetable seedlings
Remove weeds and moss
Look out for clusters of aphids on new shoots
May
May is the month of days getting warmer and longer. Summer is on its way and it’s time to tidy up your garden ready for the better weather!
Flowers
Prune spring shrubs
Plant up hanging baskets
Pinch out the shoot tips of bedding plants
Top dress flower beds with mulch
Fruit and Vegetables
Earth up potatoes
Sow batches of salad leaves
Remove all strawberry runners
Plant a range of beans and other root vegetables
Garden Maintenance
Apply nitrogen-rich summer lawn feed and topsoil
Hoe bare soil and hand-weed beds weekly
Start to increase the frequency of mowing your lawn
General repairs and fixes
Spring Garden Supplies
We are able to offer those on the south coast of the UK a range of products suitable for the spring months.
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Border Blend Topsoil£55.00 exc VAT -
Organic Manure£55.00 exc VAT
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Turf and Lawn Topsoil£55.00 exc VAT -
Vegetable and Fruit Topsoil£60.00 exc VAT
What to do in the Garden in Summer
Early summer is a busy time for gardeners up and down the country. The weather is now significantly warmer and plantings are filling in and looking plush.
For the average gardener, the emphasis has shifted from planting to maintaining as a dry spell can ruin your hard work in the previous months.
June
June marks the longest daylight month of the year, with extra sunlight and warmer temperatures setting the tone for the coming months.
Flowers
Place hanging baskets in final positions
Regularly water flower beds
Place topsoil in flower beds and borders
Fruit and Vegetables
Plant out sweetcorn
Water vegetable patches frequently
Harvest berries
Harvest salad crops
Garden Maintenance
Regularly mow your lawn
Weed and keep your turf healthy
Water your garden lawn
Create sharp edges on your lawn
July
July is frequently the hottest month of the year and marks a great time to sit out in the garden and reap the rewards.
Flowers
Deadhead bedding plants
Plant autumn bulbs
Continue to tie in and train new growth on climbing plants
Regularly water flower beds
Fruit and Vegetables
Water vegetable patches frequently
Harvest salad crops
Harvest beans
Apply general-purpose fertiliser
Garden Maintenance
Weed and keep your turf healthy
Try and use water butts instead of the mains
Keep an eye out for aphids and other bugs
Regularly mow your lawn
August
August is the last official month of summer and it’s the perfect time to enjoy your garden while it’s still in peak condition.
Flowers
Regularly water flower beds and containers
Dead-head annual bedding plants
Cut back herbs
Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once they’ve finished flowering
Fruit and Vegetables
Harvest carrots and beetroot
Continue to harvest second early potatoes
Harvest sweetcorn and courgettes
Lift and dry onions, shallots and garlic
Garden Maintenance
Water your garden lawn
Trim hedges and bushes
Clear weeds from cracks in paving and driveways
Prepare soil for levelling a lawn or laying turf
Summer Garden Supplies
We are able to offer those on the south coast of the UK a range of products suitable for the summer months.
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Premium Topsoil£50.00 exc VAT -
Border Blend Topsoil£55.00 exc VAT
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Soil Conditioner£50.00 exc VAT -
Sports Rootzone£70.00 exc VAT
What to do in the Garden in Autumn
Autumn presents the perfect opportunity to get rid of dead vegetation left over from the warmer summer months, tidy your borders, clear out your gutters, and much more.
The next 3 months are all about picking up and packing down before the arrival of colder months.
September
September is still warm, but the tide will turn come the end of the month. Harvesting crops will keep gardeners busy for the majority of this month.
Flowers
Feed and deadhead hanging baskets and containers
Prune any late-summer flowering shrubs
Bring any houseplants that you moved outside over summer back indoors
Plant spring bulbs in pots and borders
Fruit and Vegetables
Sow hardy greens for winter harvesting
Cut away any leaves covering the fruits of pumpkins, squash and marrows
Harvest apples and pears
Dig up the remaining potatoes
Garden Maintenance
Rake thatch from garden lawns
Collect fallen leaves
Check roses for signs of fungal diseases
Clean out water butts
October
October is when nights get darker and the temperature starts to drop, but there’s still plenty to do in the garden.
Flowers
Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs
Clear up fallen rose leaves
Clear overhanging plants and shrubs from pathways
After tidying borders, mulch with bark chips and well-rotted manure
Fruit and Vegetables
Finish harvesting peas and beans
Harvest pumpkins and squashes before the first frosts
Divide large clumps of herbs and replant
Clear away old crops,
Garden Maintenance
Collect fallen leaves
Apply an autumn lawn feed
Go on regular snail hunts
Fork up perennial weeds
November
Winter is fast approaching and the weather is taking a turn for the worse. Plants and gardens need protecting in November as they may be susceptible to frost.
Flowers
Plant tulip bulbs
Mix organic manure into flower beds
Bring plants indoors
Top dress flower beds with mulch
Fruit and Vegetables
Plant garlic, shallots and onions
Tidy up strawberry beds
Spread well-rotted manure across the surface of your vegetable beds
Check stored potatoes and remove any that are rotting
Garden Maintenance
Clean and maintain your greenhouse
Be careful not to overwater plants as the winter approaches
Collect fallen leaves
Continue to mow the lawn in mild spells
Autumn Garden Supplies
We are able to offer those on the south coast of the UK a range of products suitable for the autumn months.
-
Organic Manure£55.00 exc VAT
-
Bark Mulch£65.00 exc VAT
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Multi-Purpose Topsoil£45.00 exc VAT
-
Mushroom Compost£65.00 exc VAT
Further reading
- How to Improve Soil – 5 Ways to Enrich Soil
- Which Topsoil is Best? Gardener’s Purchasing Guide
- Can Vegans Eat Vegetables Grown in Manure?
- Can you Lay Artificial Grass on Topsoil?
- Is Horse Manure Good for Roses?
- How to Build a Raised Bed
- Can you Lay Topsoil Over Membrane?
- Can you Use Topsoil in Pots?
