Your 12-Month To-Do List

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Because each year builds on the last, there are things you can do this fall and winter to prepare for your 2011 spring and summer garden. From composting to pruning, there is much to be done during barren months. So rip out these pages and slap them on the fridge because the dirty work starts now.

Click on the gallery to your right for a printable calendar.

January
Order seed catalogs now.
Water trees, shrubs and perennials, if no natural precipitation has fallen. Hydrated plants survive freezes better than dry plants.
Provide food and water for the birds.
Prune dormant trees and vines.
Order seeds for starting indoors.
If you must salt your walks, use a plant-friendly ice melt. Never use salt.

February
Start seeds indoors for cool-season plants.
Don’t forget the birds.
Now is a good time to build a compost pile or bin.
If the weather is nice, use the opportunity to clean up the garden.
Prune peaches and plums by 50 percent and grapes by 80 percent.
Clean and trim plants, but don’t prune spring flowering shrubs and trees yet.
Don’t let seedlings dry out, but they should not be kept soggy either.
Apply dormant oil for plants that are prone to scale.

March
Scalp your lawn and fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer.
Cut back Liriope and ornamental grasses.
Plant cool season vegetables.
Dig and divide perennials.
Prune, fertilize and add additional mulch to roses.
Start warm-season seedlings indoors.
Fertilize beds with a balanced fertilizer.
Check and maintain your sprinkler system.

April
Prepare to plant warm-season vegetables.
Keep cool-season weeds under control.
April 16th is the average last date of frost in Amarillo.
Early spring flowering shrubs may now be pruned.
Take pictures of your garden to begin a record book.

May
Buy plants that are not in bloom so they’ll start quicker.
Plant warm-season vegetables and bedding plants.
Fertilize your lawn.
Apply a pre-emergent to help control summer weeds.
Keep new transplants damp until they are established.
Apply mulch to retain moisture and control weeds.
Pinch mums to keep them from getting leggy and tall.
Deadhead roses and early perennials.
Fertilize roses.
Take pictures of your garden and make notes in your record book.

June
Water more deeply and less often as plants are now established.
Check and maintain sprinkler system, remembering to shut it off after a rain.
Watch for early insect and disease problems.
Fertilize annuals to promote flowering.
Work early in the mornings before the heat of the day.
Keep weeds removed while they are small.
Take pictures of your garden and admire your work.

July
Water early in the day so that leaves will be dry by evening.
Spend a few minutes every morning deadheading spent flowers. Add only disease-free trimmings to the compost pile.
Divide Irises and share with friends.
Check sod for grubs and treat if necessary.
Fertilize annuals and late-summer perennials.
Water deeply and replenish spent mulch.
Fertilize roses.

August
Keep deadheading annuals and perennials.
Stop feeding roses so they won’t be tender when cold weather arrives.
Check sprinkler system and make repairs and adjustments.
Fertilize annuals to encourage a flush of late-summer and early-fall color.
Spent annuals and perennials may be cut back to clean them up.
Take pictures and make notes.

September
Continue fertilizing annuals and potted plants.
Fertilize your lawn again and water deeply.
Continue deadheading to keep the garden neat and flowers blooming.
Make your compost pile ready for fall leaves.
Scatter poppy seeds for spring blooms.
Take pictures and make notes.

October
Don’t put leaves in the trash. Compost them.
Monitor your sprinkler system and reduce watering frequency if the temperature is cooler.
Plant spring flowering bulbs.
Mulch your beds and roses.
Watch the weather and protect frost-sensitive plants that you want to winter indoors.
Plant fall plants such as pansies and ornamental kale.
Clean out bird feeders.
Fall is the perfect time for heavy projects while the weather is cooler.
First average frost is October 31.

November
Finish planting spring bulbs.
Cut off your sprinkler system and manually water as needed.
Start winter bulbs in pots for the holidays.
Continue gathering leaves, as you can never get enough organic matter.
Mulch perennials and pull up annuals.

December
Provide food and water for the birds.
Clean and oil garden tools.
Plan next year’s garden using the notes you made and pictures you took.

by Greg Lusk

Greg earned a BS in Horticulture from West Texas State University. After graduating, Greg has worked as a personal horticulturist and Mr. and Mrs. T. Boone Pickens as their personal horticulturist and has owned a landscaping company. He began working at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens as the operations manager/horticulturist in July, 2009. Greg and his wife, Dawnette, have been married for 24 years and have three children.