In some parts of the country, gardening season is a year-round undertaking. Where you live will determine how often you’ll need to get certain tasks done.
once or twice a day
□Clean your tools at the end of each day’s use.
□Water outdoor potted plants, including hanging baskets and window boxes.
once or twice a week
□Mow the lawn.
□Check for fading flowers, and deadhead.
□Remove spent annuals from garden bed, as needed.
□Harvest fresh herbs.
□Stay on top of weeds!
□Water garden beds and lawn (or more as needed).
□Fertilize and water houseplants (or as needed); check for pests.
ONCE OR TWICE A month
□Clean and sharpen lawn edger (especially if you use it often).
□Rotate houseplants a quarter turn.
□Clean houseplants.
ONCE OR TWICE A season
□Sharpen and oil garden tools.
□Fertilize trees, shrubs, and garden beds.
□Prune perennials and shrubs.
once or twice a YEAR
□Repot houseplants, or replenish with new potting soil.
□Organize potting supplies.
□Service lawn mower and weeder.
□Seed and aerate lawn.
□Use spade to edge garden beds (keeping grass from migrating in and mulch from washing out).
□Fertilize the lawn.
□Prune trees.
□Divide and plant perennials.
□Mulch garden beds and around trees and shrubs.
planting vegetables
Many crops—peas, green beans, carrots, radishes, spinach, lettuces, cucumbers, and squashes—can be direct-sown as soon as the soil has warmed (meaning always in more temperate regions, where you can grow the vegetables listed below in the ground, too). In northern regions, the following crops fare better when started as seeds indoors, as specified before the date of the last frost.
8 to 12 weeks before: Eggplants, artichokes, celery, and onions.
4 to 8 weeks before: Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, and tomatoes.
