Month-by-Month Guide to Lawn & Garden

Great article in The Charlotte Observer this week, written by Nancy Brachey, providing a month-by-month list of lawn and garden activities for our area & climate. I'll summarize for a quick "to-do" list:

January

• Check flower beds to make sure no perennials have dislodged.
• As daffodil tips emerge, fertilize ground with 10-10-10.

February

• Prune evergreens (laurel, holly, boxwoods, etc. to improve shape & size.
• Cut back monkey grass w/ shears or lawn mower.
• Fertilize fescue grass.
• Prep garden area with organic fertilizer.

March

• Set out broccoli, cabbage, and sow seeds of cool weather peas.
  
• Cover young plants on very cool nights with a sheet or milk jug (bottom cut out)

April

• Sow seeds of green beans, melons, corn, cukes, and squash.
• Set out tomatoes and peppers mid-month. (Later if chilly)

May

• Plant flowers and vegetables in beds and containers.
  
• Okra, lima beans should be planted now.
• Plant grits.
• Just kidding about the grits. Wanted to see if you were paying attention.

June

• Pick ripe vegetables to keep plants productive. Keep careful watch!
• Deadhead annuals and perennials after first big flush of bloom.
• Plant summer annuals to fill in.

July

• Water regularly through hot dry weeks. (Avoid heat of the day for watering).

August

• Begin planning & planting fall vegetables (lettuce, spinach, beets, broccoli, collards)

September

• Renew your lawn. Rack, aerate, seed and fertilize.

October

• Plant bulbs for spring.
• Plant pansies, snapdragons, hardy perennials.
• Dig, divide and replant crowded daylilies, daisies, other perennials.

November

• Plant new shrubs and trees.
• Fertilize fescue.

December

• Use cuttings of evergreens in wreaths and flower arrangements.

Thanks for reading my blog! Leave comments for other lawn and gardening tasks, and I'll add them to the list. For more blogs about Lake Wylie living, gardening, Lake Wylie real estate, and Southern wisdom, please visit TheLakeWylieMan.com.