Most of the questions received by us each week relate to when certain tasks need to take place during the gardening year.

To help you, we have produced a gardening calendar; month by month The Gardening Year lists the jobs to be carried out in the garden and the greenhouse.

For more information on how to carry out specific tasks visit our Articles section or see if your question has been answered previously in our Questions and Answers section.

If your question can't be answered here send it to us using our Questions Form.

Click on a month below to find out which tasks are due this month:

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

• Plants for Winter Colour - I have chosen six plants which you should be able to easily find in your local garden centre and that are easy to grow. Most need little attention throughout the year but keep the Dogwoods well pruned to maintain the lovely coloured stems and prune the winter flowering jasmineafter flowering to ensure flowers for the ...
• Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs - Bulb is a general term used for plants which have a food storage organ which allows them to grow and flower quickly once the ideal conditions are available. There are four types of “bulb”: true bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes. The Gardener can find a huge and colourful selection of bulbs for every season of the ...
• How to Prune Wisteria - To ensure a good display of flowers Wisteria needs to be pruned twice a year. Make sure that your secateurs are sharp to avoid crushing or tearing the stems, which may lead to die-back. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Produce a colourful display in just a few weeks - Now in early July the bed is full of colour. Orange, yellow and pink californian poppies and blue and white cornflowers and there are still lots of plants not yet in flower. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Plant of the Month for June - Our Plant of the Month Papaver orientale or Oriental Poppy produces delicate flowers from May to July above bristly, grey-green leaves. The flower colours vary from white, through pink to red. They are a fast-growing plant and easy to grow, the pale papery flowers contrast especially well with purple foliage plants such as Heuchera. Share and ...

Flower/Plants

• Prune rambling roses
• Cut back perennials once they have finished flowering
• Collect seed from perennials and store in a cool place
• Take cuttings of lavender
• Cut everlasting flowers and seed heads for use in indoor arrangements

Fruit/Vegetables

• Plant out rooted strawberry runners into new beds
• Sow outdoors: hardy spring onions, lettuces, salads and Chinese cabbages
• Sow parsley in pots for picking in winter
• Plant out Japanese onion sets and garlic
• Cut down raspberry canes once they have finished cropping

Greenhouse

• Pick off the lower leaves from tomatoes to allow light and air to reach the fruits
• Keep poinsettias in the dark for 14 hours a day to encourage colourful bract formation
• Close vents at night as the weather turns cooler
• Keep grow bags well watered
• Start watering indoor cyclamen to promote new growth

General

• Hoe borders to keep weeds down
• Prepare areas for sowing new lawns during showery weather
• Trim hedges and topiary into shape
• Buy spring bulbs
• Order sweet-pea seed for autumn planting

• Make your own Leafmould - Autumn can be a lovely time of year but the work involved in clearing up all the dropped leaves can be a chore each year. However, there is a benefit to be had – they make a fabulous free source of organic matter. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Calamondin Marmalade - Calamondine is probably the most hardy citrus tree available in the UK and due to it’s small size makes an ideal citrus tree for any home. They also make great Christmas present particularly if they are in fruit. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Looking after your lawn in Autumn - Autumn is an important season for taking care of your lawn. It is important to use the last months of the growing season to strengthen and prepare the lawn for the rigours of winter. The effort put into a lawn in autumn will improve the quality and health of the lawn right through into the ...
• Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs - Bulb is a general term used for plants which have a food storage organ which allows them to grow and flower quickly once the ideal conditions are available. There are four types of “bulb”: true bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes. The Gardener can find a huge and colourful selection of bulbs for every season of the ...
• Plant your Spring Flowering Bulbs - Spring Flowering Bulbs come in lots of shapes, sizes and colours but the one thing they have in common is the ability to turn a dull late winter, early spring garden into an oasis of light and colour. No garden is complete without the good old daffodil or tulip but there are many other spring ...

You can eat your produce immediately or keep it to eat throughout the autumn and winter or you can dress them up and hand them to friends for Christmas presents.

The best time to gather your fruit is on a dry day and choose berries which are just under-ripe.

Lakeland have all you need to harvest, prepare and preserve your produce. Everything from the new Berry Picker through to an electric Jam Maker and the humble Jam Jar.

Harvesting and Preparation made easy

Berry Picker	Berry Sieve	Berry Press	Apple Master

Preserving Products

Electric Jam Maker	Maslin Pan	Silicone Jam Funnel	Muslin Squares

more preserving products from Lakeland .....

Do you have a glut of apples or pears? If so you may want to consider pressing, or juicing, your fruit for either drinking, making cider or for freezing for another day.

Harrold Horticulture have a great range of crushes and attractive traditional fruit presses from just £229.95. They are very easy to use and come with an instruction booklet to get you started.

Take a look at this short video to find out more.

• Preserving your Garden Produce - I recently made marmalade from the fruit on my Calamondine plant; click here for the details, but at this time of the year there are lots of produce in your garden which can be preserved. Here are a few recipes to get you going: Share and Enjoy: ...
• Calamondin Marmalade - Calamondine is probably the most hardy citrus tree available in the UK and due to it’s small size makes an ideal citrus tree for any home. They also make great Christmas present particularly if they are in fruit. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Feeding Garden Birds - A beautiful, well maintained garden is a wonderful thing but what makes it special is the birds. You can attract birds to your garden throughout the year with very little effort. Share and Enjoy: ...
• The Pretty way to Compost your Kitchen Waste - Composting is a great way to recycle kitchen scraps that would normally be thrown away with the normal household waste. You can, of course, put your scraps in bowl or bag and transfer them to your compost heap or green bin but the prettier way is to use one of these Compost Crocks from Lakeland. Share ...
• Jobs to do in July - Flower/Plants Sow biennials Divide flag irises Feed baskets and patio pots each week with liquid fertiliser Take cuttings from climbers Pinch out the tips of chrysanthemum shoots to encourage flowers Fruit/Vegetables Water early potatoes if the weather is dry Prune cordon gooseberry plants Sow outside: lettuces, radishes, spring cabbages, endives, kohl rabi, French and runner beans, spinach, ...

Flower/Plants

• Keep camellias well watered to avoid flower buds dropping off next spring due to drought
• Prune wisteria; shorten long side shoots back to five or six leaves
• Deadhead roses; unless they produce hips
• Trim lavender after flowering to stop it going woody
• Plant bulbs: nerines, autumn crocuses, and autumn daffodils

Fruit/Vegetables

• Continue to sow outside: lettuces, endives, kohl rabi, spring cabbages, French and runner beans, and beetroots
• Peg down strawberry runners into the soil or pots of compost for more plants
• Ensure crops are all well watered during hot weather
• Prune old fruited stems of cane fruits down to soil level
• Spray potato foliage with a copper fungicide to avoid blight

Greenhouse

• Treat container plants with nematodes if vine weevil damage is visible
• Continue taking cuttings from tender plants
• Keep the greenhouse well ventilated
• Pinch out any side shoots on tomato plants and tie in stems as they grow
• Feed plants regularly with a liquid feed

General

• Order flower bulbs for autumn planting
• Prune early flowering shrubs
• Trim lawns and edges regularly
• Deadhead border plants after flowering
• Hoe regularly to avoid weeds

• Jobs to do in July - Flower/Plants Sow biennials Divide flag irises Feed baskets and patio pots each week with liquid fertiliser Take cuttings from climbers Pinch out the tips of chrysanthemum shoots to encourage flowers Fruit/Vegetables Water early potatoes if the weather is dry Prune cordon gooseberry plants Sow outside: lettuces, radishes, spring cabbages, endives, kohl rabi, French and runner beans, spinach, ...
• Jobs to do in June - Flower/Plants Plant out dahlias and gladioli Sow wallflowers for next spring Tie in sweet peas Feed spring bulbs Plant up summer pots Fruit/Vegetables Sow outside: peas, mangetout, French and runner beans, lettuces, carrots, spinach and herbs Plant out tender crops once all threat of frost has passed Thin out plants sown earlier in the year Thin out ...
• Plant of the Month for June - Our Plant of the Month Papaver orientale or Oriental Poppy produces delicate flowers from May to July above bristly, grey-green leaves. The flower colours vary from white, through pink to red. They are a fast-growing plant and easy to grow, the pale papery flowers contrast especially well with purple foliage plants such as Heuchera. Share and ...
• Looking after your lawn in Summer - Mowing As temperatures hot up and we move into summer the growth of your lawn may actually start to slow down, mow as and when necessary never taking more than one third of the length of the plant off in any one cut. As always a sharp mower is essential. If temperatures become very hot your ...

I dug out the roots and added some fertiliser and waited until the weather warmed up.

Over the last year or so I had accumulated a number of annual seed packets so in early June I took a small bucket, added some sharp sand and mixed all all the seeds.

Then, after watering, I scattered the seeds/sand mixture over the prepared area and covered it with garden netting to keep the birds away.

Within a couple of weeks the seedlings germinated and after another couple of weeks I was able to "prick out" the more densely sown areas.

Now in early July the bed is full of colour. Orange, yellow and pink Californian poppies and blue and white cornflowers and there are still lots of plants not yet in flower.

I would recommend this way of gardening to everyone; it's easy, cheap and very rewarding.

I'll post an update in a couple of weeks time when more flowers should be open.

• Our Plant of the Month – Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) - One of the most spectacular plants in January and February is Hamamelis or Witch Hazel with the added bonus of brightly coloured leaves during the Autumn Share and Enjoy: ...
• The Butterfly Year - In most parts of the country the butterfly season runs from March to November. Share and Enjoy: ...
• How to Grow Fragrant Sweet Peas - Sweet Peas are one of the most popular plants for UK gardens. They are annuals so only last the one summer but the display they give is always amazing; lots and lots of colourful, usually fragrant, flowers growing on bright green stems up to 6-7ft in height. Wonderful! Share and Enjoy: ...
• Plants for Butterflies - Shrubs are used to add structure to a garden and can provide interest all year round. The shrub most loved by butterflies is Buddleia but they also like Choisya, Ceanothus, Ceratostigma, Hebe and Lavender. For acid soil try Hydrangea. Share and Enjoy: ...
• What’s the difference between Chinese Wisteria and Japanese Wisteria? - Wisteria is a wonderful, colourful climber which is very easy to grow and has hanging, fragrant clusters of flowers during May and June Share and Enjoy: ...

Flower/Plants

• Sow biennials
• Divide flag irises
• Feed baskets and patio pots each week with liquid fertiliser
• Take cuttings from climbers
• Pinch out the tips of chrysanthemum shoots to encourage flowers

Fruit/Vegetables

• Water early potatoes if the weather is dry
• Prune cordon gooseberry plants
• Sow outside: lettuces, radishes, spring cabbages, endives, kohl rabi, French and runner beans, spinach, turnips and beetroot
• Pick off damaged fruits from apples and pears
• Plant out sweetcorn and other crops raised under glass

Greenhouse

• Open all vents and doors early each day
• Pot on rooted cuttings Introduce natural predators to control pests such as red spider mite, whitefly and mealy bug
• Ensure growing bags never dry out
• Take cuttings from bedding plants and houseplants

General

• Remove moss from lawns
• Trim box edging and privet hedges
• Remove suckers growing around trees
• Deadhead lilac and rhododendrons
• Keep an eye out for pests and treat immediately

• Jobs to do in June - Flower/Plants Plant out dahlias and gladioli Sow wallflowers for next spring Tie in sweet peas Feed spring bulbs Plant up summer pots Fruit/Vegetables Sow outside: peas, mangetout, French and runner beans, lettuces, carrots, spinach and herbs Plant out tender crops once all threat of frost has passed Thin out plants sown earlier in the year Thin out ...
• Using a Cold Frame to extend the Growing Season - To get the most out of your garden you need to be able to shelter your plants from cold weather during the winter and early spring. A cold frame is a relatively inexpensive and simple structure providing the ideal environment for sheltering plants and for growing cool-weather crops. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Aquatic Gardening - There are several points you need to consider before building your pond or water feature. Should it be formal or informal, natural or modern? Do you want to keep fish, grow plants or attract wildlife? Are there children to keep safe? Share and Enjoy: ...
• 13 Steps to Building a Garden Pond - There are several points you need to consider before building your pond: Should it be formal or informal, natural or modern? Do you want to keep fish, grow plants or attract wildlife? Are there children to keep safe? Share and Enjoy: ...
• We have Ground Elder! - Ground Elder is an invasive, perennial weed which spreads using underground stems or rhizomes. It dies down each winter and reappears in the spring and flowers with flat headed white flowers in early summer. Usually the leaves are dark green but they can also be variegated. Share and Enjoy: ...

Flower/Plants

• Plant out dahlias and gladioli
• Sow wallflowers for next spring
• Tie in sweet peas
• Feed spring bulbs
• Plant up summer pots

Fruit/Vegetables

• Sow outside: peas, mangetout, French and runner beans, lettuces, carrots, spinach and herbs
• Plant out tender crops once all threat of frost has passed
• Thin out plants sown earlier in the year
• Thin out some of the fruits from cherries, apples, pears and plums
• Draw up the earth around the stems of potatoes

Greenhouse

• Open vents and open doors to help ventilation
• Apply shade paint to the outside of south-facing glazing and hang shade netting inside
• Plant trailing tomatoes in handing baskets
• Plant up pots of scented-leaved pelargoniums to cheer up your greenhouse
• Pot on rooted cuttings, seedlings and bulbs

General

• Sprinkle a general fertiliser around your plants and cover with a good mulch
• Water any new plants until they become established
• Spray to prevent powdery mildew
• Plant up aquatic plants in ponds
• Give your garden furniture a facelift

• Jobs to do in July - Flower/Plants Sow biennials Divide flag irises Feed baskets and patio pots each week with liquid fertiliser Take cuttings from climbers Pinch out the tips of chrysanthemum shoots to encourage flowers Fruit/Vegetables Water early potatoes if the weather is dry Prune cordon gooseberry plants Sow outside: lettuces, radishes, spring cabbages, endives, kohl rabi, French and runner beans, spinach, ...
• Jobs to do in August - Flower/Plants Keep camellias well watered to avoid flower buds dropping off next spring due to drought Prune wisteria; shorten long side shoots back to five or six leaves Deadhead roses; unless they produce hips Trim lavender after flowering to stop it going woody Plant bulbs: nerines, autumn crocuses, and autumn daffodils Fruit/Vegetables Continue to sow outside: lettuces, ...
• Looking after your lawn in Summer - Mowing As temperatures hot up and we move into summer the growth of your lawn may actually start to slow down, mow as and when necessary never taking more than one third of the length of the plant off in any one cut. As always a sharp mower is essential. If temperatures become very hot your ...
• Plant of the Month for June - Our Plant of the Month Papaver orientale or Oriental Poppy produces delicate flowers from May to July above bristly, grey-green leaves. The flower colours vary from white, through pink to red. They are a fast-growing plant and easy to grow, the pale papery flowers contrast especially well with purple foliage plants such as Heuchera. Share and ...

Summer is well on its way. But is your garden prepared for the season ahead?

After a long cold winter many of us will have neglected our patio and decking and chances are it won’t be ready for those many barbeques and summer parties. So how do you turn a sorry state into a paradise which you won’t be embarrassed to invite your guests to?

Jenny Powell knows a thing or two about a tidy home and garden and can turn any neglected patch into a wonderland. With a bit of elbow grease and some creative ideas you too can have a garden to be proud of.

But if the idea of a few hours of sweeping leaves you in a cold sweat, panic not, there is an easier solution! Pressure washers easily blast off moss and dirt and take just seconds to turn your grimy garden into a glorious garden. Thankfully Kärcher provides the answer. Their Pressure Washer is the essential cleaning product for all of that dirty garden furniture and mucky paths and patios.

Once your garden is gleaming, pots, scented candles and new plants can help bring a new lease of life. So roll up your sleeves and get stuck in.

In the following video, Jenny shares her top tips for a perfect plot.

http://www.linkto.tv/iframe/show/uuid/9VaFw0o2fPs

Visit Tooled-Up for a selection of Karcher Pressure Washers and until 31st May you can get £5 off orders over £50 using code MAYDISSFIVE or £10 off orders over £100 using code MAYDISSTEN

• How should I clean my garden decking? - Cleaning and maintaining hardwood decking isn’t hard and will ensure that the structure will remain in great condition for years to come despite the elements. In fact, provided care and maintenance is preserved, hardwood decking could easily exceed 30 years. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Jobs to do in April - Flowers/Plants Sprinkle fertiliser around roses Tie in clematis shoots as they grow Plant gladioli corms Cut away the dead stems from hardy shrubs Finish dividing large clumps of perennials Fruit/Vegetables Sow outside: carrots, parsnips, lettuces, broad beans, peas, Swiss chard, leeks, spinach and kohl rabi Harvest early rhubarb Plant out onion sets and shallots Cover strawberries with ...
• Propagating Plants for your Garden - Buying new plants for your garden is one of life’s little pleasures and can be extremely satisfying but often expensive. Equally as satisfying and an awfully lot cheaper is propagating your own plants. There are several methods available; softwood cuttings, semi-ripe cuttings, hardwood cuttings, root cuttings, leaf cuttings, division, layering and seed. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Jobs to do in March - Flower/Plants Prune rose bushes Trim winter-flowering heathers Lift and divide congested clumps of snowdrops and buy new ones `in the green’ Prune winter jasmine after flowering Fruit/Vegetables Force rhubarb Sow leeks and onions in a heated propagator Start spraying outdoor peach and nectarine leaves to prevent peach-leaf curl Sprinkle fertiliser around fruit trees and bushes Greenhouse Pot ...
• How to Prune Wisteria - To ensure a good display of flowers Wisteria needs to be pruned twice a year. Make sure that your secateurs are sharp to avoid crushing or tearing the stems, which may lead to die-back. Share and Enjoy: ...

Flower/Plants

• Plant out perennials
• Sow hardy annuals outside
• Feed established clumps of spring flowering bulbs
• Plant out hardy annuals raised under cover
• Trim back winter flowering heathers

Fruit/Vegetables

• Finish planting main crop potatoes
• Plant new beds of asparagus
• Sow outside: carrots, lettuces, salad leaves, baby beetroot, spring onions, radishes, kohl rabi, chives, chicory, parsley, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, calabrese, broccoli, endives, and spinach
• Sow peas and mangetout
• Hang pheromone traps in fruit trees to catch codling moths

Greenhouse

• Plant up growing bags
• Pot up rooted cuttings
• Sow tomatoes, marrows, courgettes, sweetcorn and other tender crops
• Hang yellow sticky traps above plants to trap flying pests
• Prick out seedlings that are large enough to handle

General

• Sow lawns or lay turf
• Plant water lilies and other aquatic plants
• Sprinkle fertiliser along the base of hedges and cover with mulch
• Feed lawns and treat them against moss and weeds
• Watch out for slug and snail damage

• Jobs to do in March - Flower/Plants Prune rose bushes Trim winter-flowering heathers Lift and divide congested clumps of snowdrops and buy new ones `in the green’ Prune winter jasmine after flowering Fruit/Vegetables Force rhubarb Sow leeks and onions in a heated propagator Start spraying outdoor peach and nectarine leaves to prevent peach-leaf curl Sprinkle fertiliser around fruit trees and bushes Greenhouse Pot ...
• Jobs to do in April - Flowers/Plants Sprinkle fertiliser around roses Tie in clematis shoots as they grow Plant gladioli corms Cut away the dead stems from hardy shrubs Finish dividing large clumps of perennials Fruit/Vegetables Sow outside: carrots, parsnips, lettuces, broad beans, peas, Swiss chard, leeks, spinach and kohl rabi Harvest early rhubarb Plant out onion sets and shallots Cover strawberries with ...
• Keep Feeding the Birds - Spring is finally upon us! But just because its warmer don’t forget April can be a month a food scarcities as winter berries have disappeared but its still too early for summer fruits and insects. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Whats on at the RHS in May - Take a look at what’s on at the RHS gardens around the UK this May Share and Enjoy: ...
• Preparing your lawn for spring - Mowing is the most important maintenance operation for any lawn. Before the first cut in spring, it is important to check the lawn and the mower. Debris, such as twigs and small branches, may have accumulated over the winter. These should be removed prior to making the first cut. Check the mower is in good ...

Flowers/Plants

• Sprinkle fertiliser around roses
• Tie in clematis shoots as they grow
• Plant gladioli corms
• Cut away the dead stems from hardy shrubs
• Finish dividing large clumps of perennials

Fruit/Vegetables

• Sow outside: carrots, parsnips, lettuces, broad beans, peas, Swiss chard, leeks, spinach and kohl rabi
• Harvest early rhubarb
• Plant out onion sets and shallots
• Cover strawberries with cloches to encourage earlier fruiting
• Spray mildew on new apple and gooseberry shoots

Greenhouse

• Sow in a heated propagator in the greenhouse: tomatoes, celery, chilli peppers, melons and aubergines
• Take cuttings from over-wintered fuchsias and pelargoniums
• Prick out seedlings
• Plant up hanging baskets and grow under cover until the end of May
• Plant begonia tubers, cannas and dahlias

General

• Cut back poinsettias to encourage new shoots
• Trim lawns if the weather is dry with blades set to high
• Treat gravel paths and drives with weed killer
• Fork over soil in borders and mix in fresh compost
• Order young plants and grow them on for your summer displays

• Easi Plant Hanging Baskets - Who wouldn’t want a beautiful set of hanging baskets around their home and what better way to make the most of your bedding plants? Nothing is more satisfying than a vibrant, cascading display of gorgeous flowers – you don’t even need a garden! Share and Enjoy: ...
• Jobs to do in May - Flower/Plants Plant out perennials Sow hardy annuals outside Feed established clumps of spring flowering bulbs Plant out hardy annuals raised under cover Trim back winter flowering heathers Fruit/Vegetables Finish planting main crop potatoes Plant new beds of asparagus Sow outside: carrots, lettuces, salad leaves, baby beetroot, spring onions, radishes, kohl rabi, chives, chicory, parsley, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, ...
• Jobs to do in March - Flower/Plants Prune rose bushes Trim winter-flowering heathers Lift and divide congested clumps of snowdrops and buy new ones `in the green’ Prune winter jasmine after flowering Fruit/Vegetables Force rhubarb Sow leeks and onions in a heated propagator Start spraying outdoor peach and nectarine leaves to prevent peach-leaf curl Sprinkle fertiliser around fruit trees and bushes Greenhouse Pot ...
• Produce a colourful display in just a few weeks - Now in early July the bed is full of colour. Orange, yellow and pink californian poppies and blue and white cornflowers and there are still lots of plants not yet in flower. Share and Enjoy: ...
• How to Prune Wisteria - To ensure a good display of flowers Wisteria needs to be pruned twice a year. Make sure that your secateurs are sharp to avoid crushing or tearing the stems, which may lead to die-back. Share and Enjoy: ...