January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

General Care

Now is the time to build paths, walls, patios. Repair, paint, stain, preserve wooden structures such as decking, greenhouses, fences and seats. Deadhead plants as required.

Flower beds

Cut flowers and roses for indoor display as required. Remember to remove dead flowers to promote growth and cut back some plants. You must remove dead flowers from carnations and osteospermums to promote new flowers. Roses may benefit by being fed. Make sure plants like dahlias and gladioli are well supported as they grow.

Lawn

Aerate and water copiously. Mow as required. Mow often to help the grass grow thicker. Re-seed any poor areas but remember to keep these areas damp. Always mow before going on holiday.

Pond

Water levels may drop so you may have to top up your pond. Remember there may be water restrictions in place. These do not normally apply to wildlife ponds only to distinctly ornamental ponds but check with your authorities. Oxygenating plants grow rapidly so thin out as required.

Greenhouse

Remember to harvest any fruit and vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes as they ripen. Ventilate your greenhouse well and remember to keep things moist.

Vegetables

Your leeks, sprouts, cabbages, broccoli and swedes should be in by now. Remember to water shallow rooted vegetables during dry spells. Remove vegetables that have finished cropping.

Indoors

Clean leaves of plants if they become dirty or dusty. On a mild day some varieties benefit by being left out in light rain but remember to bring them in again. Remove dead flowers. Make sure plants are well watered during this hot dry time of year.