Jobs for the Year
Welcome to Chard Plant & Garden Centre, your year-round gardening guide! Discover essential seasonal tasks to keep your garden thriving, from spring flowers to winter preparation. We offer expert tips to nurture your plants and maximize your joy. Join us to ensure your gardening journey is a blooming success!
In January, garden tasks emphasize preparation and maintenance. Key activities include pruning deciduous trees and shrubs, organising tools, planning for planting, checking winter protection for sensitive plants, applying mulch for frost protection, starting seedlings indoors, and clearing debris and weeds to ensure the garden is ready for spring. Click here for details.
In February, garden activities involve preparing soil with compost, pruning trees and shrubs, planting bare-root and early-flowering plants, and starting seeds indoors. It's important to monitor the weather for frost protection and to clear winter debris for a healthy garden.
As spring arrives the tasks include preparing the soil by removing weeds, adding compost or fertilisers. It's also an ideal time to sow crops like onions sets and Shallots and to start seeds indoors for future transplanting. The seemingly never ending task of pruning of dormant plants and trees is important, along with cleaning and maintaining gardening tools for the upcoming busy season.
Welcome to April! As spring fully blossoms, it's time to get your garden thriving. This month, you'll want to focus on preparing your soil for new plantings, sowing seeds for cool-season crops, and pruning any overgrown perennials. Don’t forget to check for pests and diseases, and consider adding mulch to retain moisture in your garden beds. Dive into these essential gardening tasks to ensure a vibrant and productive growing season ahead! Click here for details
May is a vibrant month in the English garden, with longer days and rising temperatures bringing a burst of growth. It’s a time for planting summer bedding, sowing seeds for late-season crops, and keeping on top of weeds. Lawns need regular mowing, while borders benefit from mulching and feeding. Tender plants can be moved outside after the last frost, and hanging baskets and containers are planted up. Greenhouses need ventilation, and watering becomes a daily task as the garden gears up for summer’s full glory.
June is a glorious month in the English garden, with flowers in full bloom and vegetables thriving. Key tasks include deadheading roses and perennials to encourage more flowers, watering diligently in dry spells, and staking tall plants like delphiniums. Lawns need regular mowing, while fruit trees may require thinning for a better harvest. It's also a great time to plant out summer vegetables like courgettes and beans. Keep an eye out for pests and enjoy the height of the gardening season.
July brings warmth and abundance to the English garden, with flowers and vegetables at their peak. Watering is essential, especially for containers, hanging baskets, and newly planted shrubs. Deadheading roses, dahlias, and other perennials keeps blooms coming, while summer pruning of fruit trees helps shape growth. Harvesting is in full swing, with courgettes, beans, and soft fruits ready to pick. Keep an eye out for pests, mulch to retain moisture, and enjoy long, balmy evenings in a thriving garden.
August is a month of high summer in the English garden, with borders at their fullest and harvests in abundance. Watering remains a priority, especially for pots, hanging baskets, and thirsty vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers. Deadheading flowers prolongs their display, while pruning summer fruiting raspberries keeps them productive. Lawns may need less mowing in dry weather, but mulching helps retain moisture. It's also a good time to collect seeds, plan autumn planting, and enjoy the garden at its peak.
September marks the gentle transition from summer to autumn in the English garden. It's time to deadhead late-flowering plants, divide perennials, and plant spring bulbs like daffodils and crocuses. Harvesting continues with apples, pears, and autumn raspberries, while greenhouse plants may need moving indoors as temperatures drop. Lawns can be scarified and fed, and it's the perfect month for planting new shrubs and trees. As days shorten, tidying borders and collecting seeds prepare the garden for the months ahead.
October brings rich autumn colours and a flurry of essential garden tasks. Fallen leaves should be raked for compost or leaf mould, while tender plants need protection from approaching frosts. It’s the ideal time to plant spring bulbs, trees, and shrubs, as the soil is still warm. Summer bedding is cleared, and borders benefit from mulching. Lawns can be aerated and fed for winter strength. As harvests of pumpkins and late apples finish, the garden winds down, ready for the colder months ahead.
November is a month of preparation in the English garden as winter approaches. Fallen leaves should be gathered for composting, and tender plants need protection from frost with fleece or mulch. It’s the perfect time to plant bare-root trees, shrubs, and roses while the soil remains workable. Garden furniture and tools should be cleaned and stored. Lawns benefit from a final mow if the weather is mild. As borders fade, structural plants and evergreens take centre stage, offering interest through the colder months.
December is a quiet but reflective month in the English garden. With most plants dormant, it’s time to prune roses, fruit trees, and dormant shrubs. Protect tender plants with fleece or mulch, and check for winter damage on structures and fences. Bird feeders should be kept topped up, and pots may need insulation against frost. It's a great time to plan next year's garden, browse seed catalogues, and enjoy evergreens, berries, and winter-flowering plants like hellebores bringing seasonal colour.
