HORTICULTURAL ADVICE BY MONTH
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR SEPTEMBER:
· Sow cool season annuals this month.
· Divide and transplant irises and calla lilies.
· Plant fall vegetables and cool weather herbs.
· Set out bearded irises, marigolds and periwinkles.
· Begin giving poinsettias short days, long nights.
· Order spring bulbs or purchase from local retailers.
· Monitor rainfall and water thoroughly when necessary.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR OCTOBER
· Plant leafy vegetables (greens and lettuces) and onions.
· Plant, divide and move hardy perennials.
· Take cuttings from coleus, impatiens, copper plants, geraniums, and shrimp plants and pot for next year.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR NOVEMBER
· Plant pansies, calendula, carnations, delphinium, dianthus, gaillardia, ornamental cabbage & kale, pansy, petunia, phlox, snapdragon, stock, verbena, viola.
· Cut dead growth off all fading perennials. Remove plant debris from under plants to avoid attracting insects.
· Refrigerate tulip bulbs, and plant hyacinths and daffodils towards the end of month.
· Don’t send those leaves and pine needles to the landfill; add them to that compost heap you started in September.
· It is not too soon to be prepared for a freeze; be sure to water if a freeze is predicted (unless Mother Nature has taken care of this detail for you).
· Mulch your beds to get ready for colder weather.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR DECEMBER
· Fertilize camellias after they bloom and once a month for the next two months.
· Plant cyclamens, primroses, ornamental kale and pansies for instant color.
· When soil cools, plant anemones, ranunculus, daffodils, Dutch iris, amaryllis, tulips, and hyacinth bulbs.
· Apply dormant oil for scale on bushes and fruit trees. If you haven’t done your winter mulch, do it now!
· Minor pruning is OK, but wait until winter for the major pruning to avoid new budding.
· Put out food and water for the birds and squirrels.
· Plant sweet peas now for a charming, old- fashioned climber.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR JANUARY
· Plant (seeds or plants) alyssum, anemone, calendula, carnation, dianthus, delphiniums, hollyhocks, larkspur, phlox, petunias, poppy, ranunculus, snapdragons, and stocks.
· Take cuttings of vines and hardwood plants for propagation.
· Check junipers and other evergreens for bagworms.
· Prune established trees while dormant.
· Feed low nitrogen fertilizer to established fruit trees and growing beds (1/2 cup per square yard).
· Prune roses between January 15 and February 15.
· Start preparing soil for spring planting.
· Aerate the lawn and fill in low spots.
· Clean your pruning shears in Clorox and water (1/2 and 1/2)
· Plant bare-root pecan, walnuts, shed trees.
· Good month to transplant trees and shrubs.
· Put out food and water for the birds and squirrels.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR FEBRUARY
· Plant new roses.
· Prune all roses except climbers and one-time bloomers. The traditional date for planting is 2/14. Begin spraying program.
· DO NOT PRUNE blooming trees and shrubs.
· Fertilize trees and shrubs (except azaleas and related shrubs) with a balanced slow-release fertilizer.
· Finish transplanting trees and shrubs. Last month to plant bare-rooted trees
· Rake and de-thatch your lawn. Apply fertilizer high nitrogen (27-3-3).
· Divide and transplant perennials. Replant divisions immediately. Fertilize with a granular slow-release fertilizer.
· Prepare beds for spring planting. Turn soil and work in 4-6 inches of organic matter.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR MARCH
· Don’t prune off freeze-damaged limbs or remove what looks like freeze-killed plants yet. Wait until April.
· Plant annuals and perennials except heat lovers like zinnias, caladiums, coleus, basil, etc.
· Feed, fertilize, and prune existing azalea bushes after they have finished blooming. Feed monthly for the next 3 months.
· It’s time to plant tomatoes.
· Purchase summer flowering bulbs to plant in April and May.
· Fertilize roses with a long lasting slow release fertilizer. Begin spraying program for insect and disease control.
· Hydrangeas: Apply aluminum sulfate around the roots to turn them blue.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR APRIL
· Plant heat-loving spring annuals. Choose short, compact plants for transplanting.
· Plant caladium bulbs, dahlias, bearded iris, gladiolus, and amaryllis.
· Re-pot those houseplants. They’ll love you for it.
· Plant some perennials for years of pleasure. Be sure that you are aware of the mature sizes of the perennials so that you don’t have to move them later.
· Don’t mow lawns too short. Use the highest setting on your mower.
· Fertilize the lawn with a 3-2-1 fertilizer.
· Use iron/sulfur additives if leaves on the new growth start yellowing.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR MAY
· Remove old blossoms to encourage new flowers.
· If you have an area that tends to bake, plant some oleander.
· Water lawns and beds deeply but not too often. You want to encourage deep root growth.
· Watch for early blight on tomatoes (large yellow and browning leaf blotches). Treat with fungicide (Daconil).
· Use blood meal to get bigger caladiums.
· May is a good month for planting tropicals (cannas, gingers, elephant ears, etc.).
· Clean out cool-weather annuals and weeds. Turn soil, add compost, and replant with warm-season annuals. Fertilize with a long lasting slow release fertilizer. Water and don’t forget to add mulch.
· Be a good neighbor. Remove any tree branches hanging too low over public sidewalks or street.
· Stop and smell the roses!
Got a Plant Question? Want an answer from an expert?
Aggie Horticulture is the quick and easy way using:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu
· Sow cool season annuals this month.
· Divide and transplant irises and calla lilies.
· Plant fall vegetables and cool weather herbs.
· Set out bearded irises, marigolds and periwinkles.
· Begin giving poinsettias short days, long nights.
· Order spring bulbs or purchase from local retailers.
· Monitor rainfall and water thoroughly when necessary.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR OCTOBER
· Plant leafy vegetables (greens and lettuces) and onions.
· Plant, divide and move hardy perennials.
· Take cuttings from coleus, impatiens, copper plants, geraniums, and shrimp plants and pot for next year.
- Winterize your lawn. Feed with low nitrogen fertilizer.
- If you haven’t started planting your spring bulbs, do it now. Most bulbs (not tulips or hyacinths) need to be planted this month.
- Stop feeding your roses but keep watering if there is not enough rain.
- Bedding plants to set out: calendula, ornamental cabbage & kale, petunia, phlox, snapdragon, stock, verbena, viola.
- Begin giving Christmas cactus short days, long nights.
- Please remember that we are in a drought and follow watering guidelines for your area.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR NOVEMBER
· Plant pansies, calendula, carnations, delphinium, dianthus, gaillardia, ornamental cabbage & kale, pansy, petunia, phlox, snapdragon, stock, verbena, viola.
· Cut dead growth off all fading perennials. Remove plant debris from under plants to avoid attracting insects.
· Refrigerate tulip bulbs, and plant hyacinths and daffodils towards the end of month.
· Don’t send those leaves and pine needles to the landfill; add them to that compost heap you started in September.
· It is not too soon to be prepared for a freeze; be sure to water if a freeze is predicted (unless Mother Nature has taken care of this detail for you).
· Mulch your beds to get ready for colder weather.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR DECEMBER
· Fertilize camellias after they bloom and once a month for the next two months.
· Plant cyclamens, primroses, ornamental kale and pansies for instant color.
· When soil cools, plant anemones, ranunculus, daffodils, Dutch iris, amaryllis, tulips, and hyacinth bulbs.
· Apply dormant oil for scale on bushes and fruit trees. If you haven’t done your winter mulch, do it now!
· Minor pruning is OK, but wait until winter for the major pruning to avoid new budding.
· Put out food and water for the birds and squirrels.
· Plant sweet peas now for a charming, old- fashioned climber.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR JANUARY
· Plant (seeds or plants) alyssum, anemone, calendula, carnation, dianthus, delphiniums, hollyhocks, larkspur, phlox, petunias, poppy, ranunculus, snapdragons, and stocks.
· Take cuttings of vines and hardwood plants for propagation.
· Check junipers and other evergreens for bagworms.
· Prune established trees while dormant.
· Feed low nitrogen fertilizer to established fruit trees and growing beds (1/2 cup per square yard).
· Prune roses between January 15 and February 15.
· Start preparing soil for spring planting.
· Aerate the lawn and fill in low spots.
· Clean your pruning shears in Clorox and water (1/2 and 1/2)
· Plant bare-root pecan, walnuts, shed trees.
· Good month to transplant trees and shrubs.
· Put out food and water for the birds and squirrels.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR FEBRUARY
· Plant new roses.
· Prune all roses except climbers and one-time bloomers. The traditional date for planting is 2/14. Begin spraying program.
· DO NOT PRUNE blooming trees and shrubs.
· Fertilize trees and shrubs (except azaleas and related shrubs) with a balanced slow-release fertilizer.
· Finish transplanting trees and shrubs. Last month to plant bare-rooted trees
· Rake and de-thatch your lawn. Apply fertilizer high nitrogen (27-3-3).
· Divide and transplant perennials. Replant divisions immediately. Fertilize with a granular slow-release fertilizer.
· Prepare beds for spring planting. Turn soil and work in 4-6 inches of organic matter.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR MARCH
- Clean out all those beds you didn’t clean out last month.
· Don’t prune off freeze-damaged limbs or remove what looks like freeze-killed plants yet. Wait until April.
· Plant annuals and perennials except heat lovers like zinnias, caladiums, coleus, basil, etc.
· Feed, fertilize, and prune existing azalea bushes after they have finished blooming. Feed monthly for the next 3 months.
· It’s time to plant tomatoes.
· Purchase summer flowering bulbs to plant in April and May.
· Fertilize roses with a long lasting slow release fertilizer. Begin spraying program for insect and disease control.
· Hydrangeas: Apply aluminum sulfate around the roots to turn them blue.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR APRIL
· Plant heat-loving spring annuals. Choose short, compact plants for transplanting.
· Plant caladium bulbs, dahlias, bearded iris, gladiolus, and amaryllis.
· Re-pot those houseplants. They’ll love you for it.
· Plant some perennials for years of pleasure. Be sure that you are aware of the mature sizes of the perennials so that you don’t have to move them later.
· Don’t mow lawns too short. Use the highest setting on your mower.
· Fertilize the lawn with a 3-2-1 fertilizer.
· Use iron/sulfur additives if leaves on the new growth start yellowing.
HORTICULTURAL REMINDERS FOR MAY
· Remove old blossoms to encourage new flowers.
· If you have an area that tends to bake, plant some oleander.
· Water lawns and beds deeply but not too often. You want to encourage deep root growth.
· Watch for early blight on tomatoes (large yellow and browning leaf blotches). Treat with fungicide (Daconil).
· Use blood meal to get bigger caladiums.
· May is a good month for planting tropicals (cannas, gingers, elephant ears, etc.).
· Clean out cool-weather annuals and weeds. Turn soil, add compost, and replant with warm-season annuals. Fertilize with a long lasting slow release fertilizer. Water and don’t forget to add mulch.
· Be a good neighbor. Remove any tree branches hanging too low over public sidewalks or street.
· Stop and smell the roses!
Got a Plant Question? Want an answer from an expert?
Aggie Horticulture is the quick and easy way using:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu