What to Do in the Garden Each Month
Find out which jobs to tackle over the course of a year in this handy compilation guide
Victoria Harrison
2 March 2022
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
Looking for seasonal gardening tips and professional advice? In this collection of garden articles, Houzz professional Claudia de Yong highlights what to do in your outside space month by month, which will not only get your garden into great shape, but give you the chance to spend time outdoors year-round.
Click through to read each monthly guide in more depth, and bookmark this article for quick reference.
Click through to read each monthly guide in more depth, and bookmark this article for quick reference.
January
It may be cold at this time of year, but wrap up and get out to admire the frosty garden and enjoy the seasonal plants that are at their best this month – or, if you don’t have any yet, plant some for next year. Now’s the time to finish winter pruning, feed the birds, protect fruit from frost and sow sweet peas.
Read more What to do in the garden in January.
It may be cold at this time of year, but wrap up and get out to admire the frosty garden and enjoy the seasonal plants that are at their best this month – or, if you don’t have any yet, plant some for next year. Now’s the time to finish winter pruning, feed the birds, protect fruit from frost and sow sweet peas.
Read more What to do in the garden in January.
February
February can be much colder than January, and yet the sap is beginning to rise and the daylight hours are increasing – there’s a definite sense of gardeners’ anticipation in the air as a new season beckons. It’s a good time to check plants are well protected and surviving the tougher months, and to begin sowing some seeds and planting trees.
You can also start getting plant supports in, sow early vegetables, protect soft fruit trees and clear out your shed.
Read more What to do in the garden in February.
February can be much colder than January, and yet the sap is beginning to rise and the daylight hours are increasing – there’s a definite sense of gardeners’ anticipation in the air as a new season beckons. It’s a good time to check plants are well protected and surviving the tougher months, and to begin sowing some seeds and planting trees.
You can also start getting plant supports in, sow early vegetables, protect soft fruit trees and clear out your shed.
Read more What to do in the garden in February.
March
The weather may be changeable this month, but March sees the start of the gardening year roll in, come rain or shine. That means it’s time to get going with all those jobs you couldn’t do in the colder months – weeding, mulching and digging organic matter into the soil, as well as planting herbaceous perennials.
It’s also the perfect time to give your garden a good spring clean. Prep your borders, spruce your lawn, deadhead your daffodils and air greenhouses and you’ll reap rewards later in the season.
Read more What to do in the garden in March.
The weather may be changeable this month, but March sees the start of the gardening year roll in, come rain or shine. That means it’s time to get going with all those jobs you couldn’t do in the colder months – weeding, mulching and digging organic matter into the soil, as well as planting herbaceous perennials.
It’s also the perfect time to give your garden a good spring clean. Prep your borders, spruce your lawn, deadhead your daffodils and air greenhouses and you’ll reap rewards later in the season.
Read more What to do in the garden in March.
April
The April garden is transformed and fully awake after the quiet months of winter, and while the weather can still be changeable, as the saying goes, ‘April showers bring May flowers.’ So enjoy any rain that comes your way with confidence, and also soak up the blooming spring blossom and fragrance of many flowering trees, shrubs and plants.
In terms of work on your patch this month, it’s a season for sowing, pruning, replanting and reorganising. Jobs include sowing spring vegetables, tying in rambling roses and clematis, planting out strawberries and dividing Agapanthus plants.
Read more What to do in the garden in April.
The April garden is transformed and fully awake after the quiet months of winter, and while the weather can still be changeable, as the saying goes, ‘April showers bring May flowers.’ So enjoy any rain that comes your way with confidence, and also soak up the blooming spring blossom and fragrance of many flowering trees, shrubs and plants.
In terms of work on your patch this month, it’s a season for sowing, pruning, replanting and reorganising. Jobs include sowing spring vegetables, tying in rambling roses and clematis, planting out strawberries and dividing Agapanthus plants.
Read more What to do in the garden in April.
May
Many consider May to be the best month in the gardening calendar – a time when wonderful spring plants and bulbs suddenly emerge from dormancy and burst into life. Chelsea Flower Show, of course, is a major highlight this month, while out in the woods there’s a sea of bluebells, and gardens everywhere are showing signs of promise for the year ahead.
It’s time to plant dahlias, arrange hanging baskets, stake perennials, weed the vegetable patch and do the Chelsea chop.
Read more What to do in the garden in May.
Many consider May to be the best month in the gardening calendar – a time when wonderful spring plants and bulbs suddenly emerge from dormancy and burst into life. Chelsea Flower Show, of course, is a major highlight this month, while out in the woods there’s a sea of bluebells, and gardens everywhere are showing signs of promise for the year ahead.
It’s time to plant dahlias, arrange hanging baskets, stake perennials, weed the vegetable patch and do the Chelsea chop.
Read more What to do in the garden in May.
June
Your borders are filling out rapidly, the roses are blooming, trees are beginning to bear small fruits and insects are busy collecting nectar. June is a busy time in the garden, and the longer days and warmer weather make it a wonderful time to be outdoors – especially as now you can start to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Tend to your sweet peas this month, mow the lawn, make compost, harvest herbs and nurture soft fruits.
Read more What to do in the garden in June.
Your borders are filling out rapidly, the roses are blooming, trees are beginning to bear small fruits and insects are busy collecting nectar. June is a busy time in the garden, and the longer days and warmer weather make it a wonderful time to be outdoors – especially as now you can start to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Tend to your sweet peas this month, mow the lawn, make compost, harvest herbs and nurture soft fruits.
Read more What to do in the garden in June.
July
The garden should now be at its peak and looking its best. The borders will be filled with vibrant colours and the vegetable garden will be producing wonderful crops. Enjoy alfresco dining and longer summer evenings, appreciating all your hard work and entertaining friends in your sweet-scented haven.
Jobs this month include dead-heading roses, cutting back perennials, picking seasonal produce and planting autumn-flowering bulbs.
Read more What to do in the garden in July.
The garden should now be at its peak and looking its best. The borders will be filled with vibrant colours and the vegetable garden will be producing wonderful crops. Enjoy alfresco dining and longer summer evenings, appreciating all your hard work and entertaining friends in your sweet-scented haven.
Jobs this month include dead-heading roses, cutting back perennials, picking seasonal produce and planting autumn-flowering bulbs.
Read more What to do in the garden in July.
August
August is the traditional month for holidays and a well-earned break. But whether you decide to go away or stay at home, make sure your garden can cope with the summer heat, as everything can quickly become overgrown this month.
Keep on top of summer pruning and watering, sow now for an autumn harvest, collect seeds from perennials and annuals and mow summer-flowering meadows
Read more What to do in the garden in August.
August is the traditional month for holidays and a well-earned break. But whether you decide to go away or stay at home, make sure your garden can cope with the summer heat, as everything can quickly become overgrown this month.
Keep on top of summer pruning and watering, sow now for an autumn harvest, collect seeds from perennials and annuals and mow summer-flowering meadows
Read more What to do in the garden in August.
September
As the nights start to draw in and the morning dew becomes heavier, the garden has a hint of autumn about it, but this month is one of the busiest in the gardening calendar. The abundance of apples, pears and vegetables heralds gathering the harvest and storing the produce for the winter months.
It’s time to pick fruit, plant spring bulbs, lift root vegetables and prune climbing roses.
Read more What to do in the garden in September.
As the nights start to draw in and the morning dew becomes heavier, the garden has a hint of autumn about it, but this month is one of the busiest in the gardening calendar. The abundance of apples, pears and vegetables heralds gathering the harvest and storing the produce for the winter months.
It’s time to pick fruit, plant spring bulbs, lift root vegetables and prune climbing roses.
Read more What to do in the garden in September.
October
October sees night frosts and beautiful hazy mornings giving way to a richness of colour not seen in any other month. The intensity of leaf colour is breathtaking, so make the most of crisp autumnal days in the garden as the evenings draw in.
Cut back shrubs, tidy your flowerbeds and prepare the soil for the onset of winter. You can also sow sweat peas, lift dahlias and clean the greenhouse this month.
Read more What to do in the garden in October.
October sees night frosts and beautiful hazy mornings giving way to a richness of colour not seen in any other month. The intensity of leaf colour is breathtaking, so make the most of crisp autumnal days in the garden as the evenings draw in.
Cut back shrubs, tidy your flowerbeds and prepare the soil for the onset of winter. You can also sow sweat peas, lift dahlias and clean the greenhouse this month.
Read more What to do in the garden in October.
November
As the temperature drops and the nights draw in, the garden starts to hibernate in November, but it still has much to offer. Apart from doing a good garden tidy, cleaning tools, ordering seeds and general housekeeping, you can still plant plenty, including shrubs, bulbs and winter vegetables. A walk through deciduous woods or an arboretum is so uplifting and there is still much to enjoy outdoors.
Take time this month to plant roses, mulch leaves, protect outdoor pots and consider planting trees and hedges.
Read more What to do in the garden in November.
As the temperature drops and the nights draw in, the garden starts to hibernate in November, but it still has much to offer. Apart from doing a good garden tidy, cleaning tools, ordering seeds and general housekeeping, you can still plant plenty, including shrubs, bulbs and winter vegetables. A walk through deciduous woods or an arboretum is so uplifting and there is still much to enjoy outdoors.
Take time this month to plant roses, mulch leaves, protect outdoor pots and consider planting trees and hedges.
Read more What to do in the garden in November.
December
Too cold to garden? Think again. The temperature may have dropped, but wrap up warm, as there’s still so much to enjoy outdoors, and a great deal you can bring indoors to prolong the season.
Now is the time to arrange seasonal foliage, do a spot of winter pruning, check water sources aren’t frozen and plant hedging and bare root trees.
Read more What to do in the garden in December.
Tell us…
Which of these seasonal gardening tips will you follow? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Too cold to garden? Think again. The temperature may have dropped, but wrap up warm, as there’s still so much to enjoy outdoors, and a great deal you can bring indoors to prolong the season.
Now is the time to arrange seasonal foliage, do a spot of winter pruning, check water sources aren’t frozen and plant hedging and bare root trees.
Read more What to do in the garden in December.
Tell us…
Which of these seasonal gardening tips will you follow? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Related Stories
Gardening
How Do I Create a Drought-tolerant Garden?
By Kate Burt
As summers heat up, plants that need less water are increasingly desirable. Luckily, there are lots of beautiful options
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
5 Inspiring Before and After Garden Transformations
Check out what a difference designers have made to these once dull plots, visually expanding spaces and creating privacy
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
How to Disguise Rubbish and Recycling Bins Outside Your Home
Need to hide unsightly bins in your garden or driveway? Take a look at these clever ideas for inspiration
Full Story
Garden Tours
Garden Tour: A Bare Roof Terrace Becomes a Pretty, Sociable Space
By Kate Burt
A retired couple got help transforming their large rooftop into a gorgeous, welcoming, multi-functional retreat
Full Story
Garden Planning
Can I Have a Lawn-free Garden That’s Kind to the Environment?
Try these tips to help you plan a garden without grass that’s still leafy and eco-friendly
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
7 Things People Don’t Tell You About Designing a Garden
Uncover some of the more surprising elements of planning a garden redesign
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
9 Ways to Create a More Sustainable Garden
Simple, effective ideas for reducing your environmental footprint and creating a beautiful garden
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
18 Soul-soothing Green Roofs
By Kate Burt
Whether you choose sedum, wildflowers, or a mix, a living roof can be a beautiful and biodiverse addition to your home
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
9 Ways to Enjoy Colour in Your Garden All Year Round
By Kate Burt
However your garden grows, you can add colour with hardscaping, furniture and accessories
Full Story
Garden Planning
How to Identify Your Garden Design Style
Before starting an outdoor renovation, take the time to determine which garden style suits your taste and site
Full Story
Don’t rake up leaves and tidy up too early - insects hibernate in debris in the garden. On the same note dont remove dandelions until the flowers have gone, its a vital food for bees. The main food for baby birds is caterpillars so dont eradicate them!