A year of tips from the Southern Living garden experts.
January
Turf
A dry winter day is a good time to mow a dormant, warm-season lawn.
This grooms the lawn and removes fallen leaves and pine needles.
Credit: Getty Images
It also allows you to inspect your yard for winter weeds.
Control them by spraying when the weather warms in spring.
Planting
This is a good time to plant new shrubs and trees.
Evaluate your landscape, remove unattractive plants, and replace them with others that you prefer.
February
Pruning
Except for maples and birches, now is a good time to prune trees.
If limbs are more than an inch in diameter, use the three-step method for removing branches.
Make the first cut on the underside of the limb around six to eight inches away from the trunk.
Cut about half the thickness of the branch.
The resulting stub should then be cut within a half inch of the trunk.
Lawns
Winter weeds are evident in dormant warm-season turf now.
Apply spot applications of post-emergence herbicides or hand pull to control.
Otherwise you may injure or kill it.
Cut branches, taking care not to destroy the natural shape of the plant.
They should be in full bloom several days after you place them in a vase of water indoors.
If your soil is acid, it’s crucial that you do this every couple of years.
Pelletized lime is less messy and easier to apply than the white-powdered kind.
For maximum impact, group azaleas in masses of one color or in layers of color.
It is okay to move them while they are blooming.
If you think disease or insects are not a problem, just freshen your mulch.
It’s time to start cutting warm-season turf such as Bermuda, St. Augustine, and centipede.
Be careful not to scalp your lawn.
During periods of fast growth, venture to cut your lawn at least once a week.
Herbs
Once the frost period has passed, it’s time to plant herbs.
May
Once your brown turf has turned green, it is time tofertilize on a regular basis.
Some warm-season grasses, such as hybrid Bermuda and Zoysia types, like high-nitrogen-based lawn fertilizers.
Some turf, such as centipede, needs little or no fertilizer and minimal amounts of nitrogen.
Remember high-nitrogen fertilizers always have a large first number in the ratio listed on the bag.
Be sure to apply according to label directions to prevent burning your lawn.
Once plants have leafed out, it is time to make a final pruning to remove winter damage.
Always cut the limb or shoot back to live wood.
If the damage to the plant is severe, you might consider replacing it.
If they are, gently tease the roots apart.
Irrigate plants at dawn and dusk to reduce water loss from evaporation.
As you make additions to your garden, you will need to water them more than established areas.
House Plants
Place houseplants outside in a shady location to enjoy the fresh air and rejuvenate.
Water regularly, and feed with an all-purpose (20-20-20) water-soluble fertilizer to encourage growth.
The extra mulch will reduce water loss and heat stress to the new roots.
Tall turf shades the soil, slows evaporation, and reduces weeds.
Birdbaths
Relocate birdbaths to a shaded spot to slow evaporation and keep water from becoming too hot.
Placing the bath near a small tree or large shrub provides shelter for the birds and encourages use.
August
Vegetables
It’s time to plant fall vegetables in the Upper South.
Set out transplants of broccoli, cauliflower, and collards.
Sow seeds of beets, lettuce, English peas, spinach, turnips, and mustard.
If your grass is dry, do not mow until you have watered or until it rains.
Iris and Daylilies
Now is a good time to divide these spring-blooming perennials.
Dig clumps that have become crowded and that have not been blooming as fully as in past years.
Divide tubers and roots, and trim dead portions.
Use younger, vigorous sections for replanting.
September
Fall Panting
Begin planting trees and shrubs this month.
Planting in autumn allows them time to grow roots and transition into the garden.
As temperatures begin to cool, plants need less water.
Adjust your watering schedule for lawns, borders, and containers.
Pay close attention to containers as they tend to become waterlogged.
Color Beds
Remove spent summer annuals, prepare the soil, and plant cool-weather annuals now.
In the Upper and Middle South you may want to use transplants of lettuce for best results.
November
Compost
Cleaning up the garden will yield plenty of fallen leaves and plant debris for compost.
Sprinkle with water weekly if there is no rain.
You’ll have compost by spring, sooner if you turn the pile.
It will continuously feed your lawn until time for a spring feeding.
Broadcast using a fertilizer spreader, or apply by hand.
Always wear gloves and distribute evenly.
Because lime takes a long time to react with the soil, winter applications help the spring garden.
Apply at the rate of 5 pounds per 100 square feet.
If you are unsure of how much lime your soil needs, have a soil test performed.
Many dormant plants require lower amounts of water in colder months.
Turn the system off in rainy periods to reduce costs and prevent overwatering.
