There is plenty to do in the garden all year round. This article tells you which gardening tasks to do in which month. Then nothing is forgotten and nothing stands in the way of a well-kept garden!

Every season brings different gardening tasks

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. gardening throughout the year
  3. gardening in spring
  4. gardening in summer
  5. Gardening in the fall
  6. gardening in winter
  7. frequently asked Questions

    8. the essentials in brief

    • If you sow in March/April, you can already harvest the first vegetables in May
    • Weeds are removed year-round
    • In the summer, you have to water a lot and mow the lawn more often
    • In autumn the compost heap is turned over, leaves are collected and trees are planted

    gardening throughout the year

    This article provides detailed advice on when specific gardening tasks should be done throughout the year. However, don't be too slavish in the implementation, because the actual weather conditions in your area have the greatest influence on when certain tasks can be done - or better yet, when you can wait. Planting out too early, for example, does not make sense if it is still frosty outside and your plants have no chance of surviving - not even when the calendar shows the first day of spring. Let yourself be guided by the weather conditions in your area and only see this garden calendar as a suggestion, then you have the best chance of success.

    gardening in spring

    In spring, the days are getting longer again, the temperatures are rising and the garden is coming to life again: the trees are showing new leaves and shoots and flower bulbs hidden in the ground bring out a vibrant blaze of color after the gray winter. Gardeners now have a lot to do, because it has to be sown and planted, cut and fertilized. But be careful: Don't be fooled by the early onset of spring, because in these changeable months Father Frost can report back again. Even if the weather seems kind enough for planting, it's best to keep paying attention to the forecast - a sudden late frost can kill young plants in one fell swoop.

    general tasks

    The following table shows what general gardening work awaits you in early spring:

    task execution
    Fertilize In winter, fertilize pruned plants and apply a generous layer of mulch.
    mulching Mulch borders and paths provided the soil is moist and weed free.
    digging up Prepare the soil for planting by digging.
    weeding Remove perennial weeds from the beds. Clean driveways and paths.
    Water When the weather warms up and there is no rain for a long time, you need to ensure adequate watering during this most important growth phase.

    March

    Roses are cut in March

    The garden year begins in March. Start the new season by tidying up the garden and tidying it up after the winter:

    • Cut back wilted and dead plant parts.
    • Rake the beds and borders vigorously.
    • Remove any leaves or mulch (€239.00) from the previous year.
    • Cut back plants such as roses and other flowering plants.
    • Perennials also receive a strong pruning.
    • Fruit trees can also be pruned now.
    • Shred the clippings and compost.
    • Check your garden plants for diseases and pests.
    • If necessary, treat them.
    • Replace damaged planters.

    The perfect time for pruning roses is traditionally the forythia blossom. Summer bloomers such as clematis, hydrangeas or lavender can also be pruned now. Be on the lookout for diseases, as plants weakened by the winter are now particularly vulnerable. Remove infected plant parts and dispose of them with household waste.

    If you haven't done it yet, prune your fruit trees now. Only peaches and sweet cherries are pruned in summer after harvest. Prepare everything for the coming harvest by growing frost-sensitive vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers on the windowsill. On the other hand, more robust plants such as early radishes, kohlrabi or radishes, which you sow or put in the ground as early plants, can be placed directly in the cold frame.

    You can also start growing annual summer flowers such as sweet peas or snapdragons and then place them in the bed as young plants from April. You can enjoy the pretty flowers all the more.

    Berry bushes such as gooseberries can now be planted, and the strawberry bed must be prepared for the new season. Remove wilted and dead plant parts (preferably with sharp scissors!), pull out weeds, loosen the soil and work in some composted manure as fertilizer. Alternatively, you can also use berry fertilizer (€3.94).

    The lawn is happy about this maintenance work in March:

    • Rake over bare or worn spots and reseed.
    • Lime if necessary.
    • Pull weeds, fertilize the lawn and apply moss killer if necessary.
    • As soon as the grass begins to grow on established lawns, you can mow.

    April

    Cold-tolerant vegetables are sown in the bed from April

    In April the preparatory work is done, now the gardening really starts. Fertilize all garden plants that need it - this applies above all to perennial shrubs and perennials, but also bulbs and vegetable plants. The plants need the fresh supply of nutrients because this is when they have the greatest growth spurt and need energy and nutrients accordingly. Plants that are malnourished in the spring will only develop stunted growth and a lack of flowers and few fruits.

    Sufficient watering is also important now, especially when there is little rain in April. But there can be many a hot day that puts the plants under stress. It is best to water early in the morning, which is particularly important in gardens that are increasingly threatened by snails - here you should never water in the evening, as this only attracts the animals.

    In addition, frost-resistant vegetables can be sown directly into the bed from April. However, make sure not to sow all the seeds at the same time, but to plant them in the soil at different times. This way you don't end up harvesting the vegetables all at once (and get inundated), but gradually. Robust perennials can now also be planted and summer flowers can be sown (provided they are not sensitive to frost). In any case, work in compost beforehand so that the plants have sufficient nutrients available.

    If you haven't finished your lawn by March, you should do it now at the latest

    • Lime and fertilize (of course with a time delay)
    • Scarify and remove felt and dead material
    • reseed bare spots

    May

    The first radishes can already be harvested in May

    In May you can look forward to the first harvest - provided, of course, that you have sowed and planted early enough. Radishes, spring onions, spinach, lettuce and chard can already be harvested. Also earlier kohlrabi and radish is already ready. Furthermore, May is wild garlic month: Do you have the spicy herb in your garden? If not, then it's high time to cultivate it!

    In May, the weather is often exciting again, because the ice saints often cause another cold snap in the middle of the month. However, if this is over, you can now bring cold-sensitive plants outside. This not only affects potted plants such as bougainvillea, oleander, geraniums and the like, but also many popular vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers. Beans, zucchini and cucumbers are also quite sensitive and are only allowed to go outside now. The same applies to many herbs that you have optimally preferred and that are now coming into the bed.

    However, even after the ice saints, make sure to protect sensitive plants from the cold and cover them with fleece, for example.
    Otherwise, you now have the same maintenance tasks as in April:

    • fertilize (if not already done)
    • ensure an adequate water supply
    • Weeding and prevention (e.g. by mulching)
    • Loosen the soil in the beds

    It is also important to check the garden plants carefully for aphids. These pests spread in the garden quite early in the year, which is why it makes sense to fight them early - so you don't have to worry about a real plague later on. Snails should also be collected regularly and the beds should be protected from the voracious animals by suitable measures.

    tips

    Don't forget to prick out your seedlings now, so the young plants have enough space to grow.

    gardening in summer

    As temperatures rise, the sparing use of water and the required watering of all plants becomes the primary concern of the gardener. Think about how your plants will survive your upcoming vacation. For example, place potted plants in the shade and, if possible, arrange mutual garden maintenance with a gardener.

    General activities

    Faded flowers should be cleaned off regularly

    In general, these tasks await you in summer:

    task execution
    plant tubs At the latest now you should plant your planters or put them outside.
    Remove faded Remove faded flowers regularly to encourage new blooms to grow and prevent disease.
    Water Water your plants regularly, especially during dry periods. Pay more attention to signs of drought stress, e.g. B. curled leaves, falling or wilting shoots and leaves.

    June

    Weeds must be removed regularly

    Even in June there is still a lot to do in the garden:

    • many plants need a second fertilization (organic or long-term fertilizer)
    • weed weed
    • watering plants
    • mow the lawn once a week
    • Harvest sweet cherries and then cut back the tree
    • Sow annual and biennial flowers
    • quickly create a herb bed (if not already done)
    • divide plants if necessary

    In addition, June is high season for many pests such as scale insects, gall mites, vine weevil, whiteflies and the dreaded box tree moth, as well as for fungal diseases. Check your plants regularly for signs and take countermeasures in good time. Attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs or lacewings to the garden by setting up an insect hotel (€11.33). Keep collecting snails regularly.

    digression

    When is the right time to take cuttings?

    Also, June is the perfect time to take cuttings - at least if the plants are to be propagated from soft or semi-lignified cuttings. Cut the logs and put them straight into nutrient-poor potting soil. The following year, the resulting plants can finally go outside.

    July

    In July, one thing is particularly important: water, water and water again. Preferably water your plants in the early hours of the morning, making sure to put the water directly on the soil. The leaves and flowers of the plants should not get wet if possible! Otherwise there is a risk of fungal diseases. Also, do not water in small doses every day, but rather vigorously every few days - this is the only way for plants to form deep roots and be less sensitive to drought.

    August

    In the warmest season, a lot has to be poured

    The most important work in August continues to be ensuring that the plants are adequately supplied with water, as well as regularly pulling weeds and mowing the lawn. August is also the month when you can harvest plenty of vegetables - so you have your hands full reaping the fruits of your labor.

    The harvested beds can either be sowed or planted with winter vegetables such as lamb's lettuce or short-term crops such as lettuce and radishes or - if further use is not desired - sowed with green manure plants. Various types of clover are particularly suitable for this, which not only provide insects with plenty of food in autumn, but also collect nitrogen in their roots and thus enrich the soil. Winter rye or phacelia are also very suitable for fallow vegetable beds.

    If possible, do not fertilize anymore or at the latest by mid-August with a potassium-rich fertilizer. This is intended to harden off the sensitive shoots of the roses in good time before winter. This way the flowers survive the cold season better. In addition, now is the right time to cut back the "queen of flowers" and thus prevent fungal diseases. With the so-called summer pruning, you remove above all diseased parts of the plant and wilted flowers.

    tips

    So that you can enjoy the splendor of their flowers in autumn, you should plant autumn crocuses and cyclamen in the beds now. They are also suitable for shady places.

    Gardening in the fall

    Even though the days are getting shorter and the plants in the garden are becoming fewer, autumn is in many ways a beginning and not the end of the gardening year. Planting bulbs, roses and shrubs is predictive work at a time when most gardening activities revolve around cleaning and removing dead or rotting plants.

    General activities

    "Garden doesn't just mean spring blossoms and summer splendor!"

    The most important work in autumn can be found in this table:

    task execution
    turn compost heap Turn the compost heap over to mix the individual components better.
    Distribute rotted compost Spread mature compost over beds and borders as winter protection.
    Digging up heavy clay soil Dig up heavy clay soil, leaving the clods uncrushed. The winter frost does this work and improves the soil structure.
    collect leaves Gather fall leaves to turn into leaf compost.
    Relocate sensitive plants to winter quarters Frost-sensitive plants belong in their winter quarters by October at the latest.
    Remove annual plants Withered annuals can now be removed. Collect their seeds for replanting next year.
    Plant trees and shrubs in late fall It is best to plant new shrubs shortly before winter dormancy.

    September

    September is zucchini time

    Cucumbers, courgettes, beans, salads, potatoes, leafy, root and tuber vegetables as well as numerous cabbage vegetables: you can still harvest plenty in the garden in September. Make sure that the vegetables - with the exception of a few species such as Brussels sprouts, which do not mind the cold - are stored or otherwise preserved or processed in good time before the first frost. You can also pick the last tomatoes - even if they are still green - and let them ripen in a fruit bowl embroidered with apples.

    Think about the next garden year and collect vegetable and flower seeds, which are best kept in small paper bags in an airy and dry place. Only cold-germinating plants need to be planted now, as they need a cold stimulus to germinate: day lilies, phlox, torch lilies, monkshood or lady's mantle need to be planted in autumn. Incidentally, this also applies to most early-flowering bulbs such as tulips, crocuses and daffodils. You should put these in the bed by October at the latest.

    Perennial garden perennials such as delphiniums, daisies and lupines are best propagated now by division, and many trees and shrubs can also be cut back from the end of September. The lawn continues to be mowed.

    October

    In October you harvest the last vegetables and late fruit such as quinces. In addition, you should now catch up on the work that may have been left undone in September:

    • dig up harvested beds
    • Sow green manure
    • plant flower bulbs
    • Sow cold germs
    • plant shrubs
    • Bring potted plants to winter quarters
    • Mulch beds and borders

    It is also important to remove leaves regularly. This is particularly important on lawns, as rot can develop under the thick layer of leaves. However, you do not have to dispose of the leaves, you can make valuable leaf humus out of them. To do this, simply pack the leaves on the compost, either alone or together with other garden waste.
    Now is also the right time to cut back faded perennial plants and grasses and to pile up the roses.

    This video shows the work that needs to be done in October very nicely:

    youtube

    November

    Even in November, you still clear away leaves so that the plants underneath don't suffocate. Finally, make the garden winter-proof by weeding one last time and then, at the latest, spreading compost and mulch in the beds and protecting sensitive plants from the cold. It is best to hibernate in potted plants in a frost-free, cool winter quarters.

    In November you can also plant many more fruit trees and shrubs and cut back existing fruit trees. You should also put glue rings around the trunks to prevent harmful insects from overwintering. This measure must not be neglected, especially with apple trees.

    digression

    What is the best way to prepare the garden pond for winter?

    In late fall, remove the water pump. Clean and maintain them, then store them in a frost-free place until next spring. Also, get rid of dead leaves. In winter you can float a plastic ball on the surface of the water to keep the area free of ice.

    gardening in winter

    Protection is the gardener's primary concern in winter. Frost, snowfall, storms and hail pose a threat to the plants in the garden. Make sure that they are adequately protected. Also use the time to plan for the coming year.

    Planning and preparations for the coming garden year are now pending, as the following video shows:

    youtube

    frequently asked Questions

    I suffer from back pain, which is why I find it difficult to work in the bed. How can I make gardening easier for myself?

    In this case, a raised bed (or several) at a suitable height is probably the best solution.

    Are there easier ways to remove root weeds from beds?

    Root weeds can be easily removed with a weed puller without even having to bend down.

    How can I stop weeds from growing so I no longer have to weed?

    You will probably not be able to ban weeds from the garden completely, but a weed fleece applied to the bed is very helpful. In addition, weeds rarely grow on mulched beds.

    tips

    You can also easily outsource unloved gardening work, such as weeding or mowing the lawn, to schoolchildren or students who want to earn some extra money.

Category:

Garden design