Garden Calendar

43 tasks

Seasonal tasks for the garden, month by month.

January

○ Collect ripening seeds for plants you wish to propagate
○ Cut and dry herbs for winter use
○ Divide perennials towards the end of the month, or if in drought, leave till March
○ Feed citrus trees, and top up mulch (use compost or old manure) over roots, keeping clear of trunk
○ Last chance to sow warm season green manure crops, such as Buckwheat, Cowpea, Japanese Millet, Mung Bean, Mustard, Soybean.
○ Propagation of semi‐hardwood (semi‐ripe) cuttings is done in mid‐late summer. link
○ Prune summer fruiting raspberries – after fruit is picked, cut out old canes and tie new canes (that have grown this year) to supports.
○ Sow cool season green manure crops, such as Broad Beans, Fenugreek, Linseed, Lupins, Mustard, Oats and Vetch, then dug in during autumn before flowering.
○ Summer pruning of fruit trees, cut new green growth by half to maintain size

○ Collect perennial seeds and divide overgrown perennial plants.
○ Compost autumn leaves.
○ Cut down asparagus foliage as it starts turning yellow and mulch the plants generously
○ Finish pruning canes that have fruited from summer fruiting raspberries
○ Harvest autumn bearing raspberries, but leave canes unpruned till late winter‐early spring
○ Net trees to protect fruit from birds
○ Plant new strawberries
○ Plant new trees, shrubs, climbers, annuals and perennials
○ Prune blackcurrants and other brambleberries untill winter (after they finish fruiting) – cut out the canes that fruited, and tie in the newly grown canes to the support wires on the berry trellises.
○ Relocate evergreen shrubs (can be done either in autumn and early spring).
○ Sow cool season green manure crops, such as rapeseed, broad beans, fenugreek, linseed, lupins, mustard, oats, subclover and vetch, then dug in during autumn before flowering.
○ Start planting new trees, shrubs, climbers, annuals and perennials – remember to water them regularly until they establish.
○ Stop feeding container plants

○ Collect and sow seeds from berry producing trees and shrubs.
○ Continue planting garlic, strawberry runners and shallot bulbs.
○ Dig in cool season green manures that were sown in early autumn (such as rapeseed, broad beans, fenugreek, linseed, lupins, mustard, oats, subclover, and vetch) before they flower.
○ Divide overgrown perennials, collect their seeds, prune those that have finished flowering
○ Empty compost bins into the garden to prepare soil for next season.
○ Gather and compost autumn leaves
○ Harvest and store root crops - continue lifting beetroot and carrots and finish lifting potatoes. Leave parsnips in ground, they need some cold to taste the best.
○ Propagation of hardwood cuttings is done in autumn link
○ Prune brambleberries after they finish fruiting – cut out the canes that fruited, and tie in the newly grown canes to the support wires on the berry trellises.
○ Prune tall shrubs to reduce their height to better resist winter winds.