Seasonal Care Calendar

Deep winter — most growth has paused, but it's a quiet time to plan and do structural work.

• •Prune apple and pear trees while fully dormant.
• •Keep lawns clear of fallen leaves to stop disease patches.
• •Check ties and stakes on young trees after winter storms.
• •Plan new beds and borders; order seeds and bare-root plants.

Days begin to lengthen — a good month for preparation and planting while the soil is workable.

• •Cut back coloured stems of willow and dogwood for bright new growth.
• •Prepare seed beds under cover; chit early potatoes.
• •Plant bare-root hedging, roses and trees while dormant.
• •Top-dress containers with fresh compost ready for spring.

The garden wakes up — first cut, first feed, and the busiest planting month of the year.

• •Give the lawn its first cut of the year — set blades high.
• •Feed lawns with a spring fertiliser once soil warms.
• •Lift and divide overcrowded perennials.
• •Plant summer-flowering bulbs and apply a mulch to beds.

Growth accelerates — weeds appear, so keep on top of them before they set seed.

• •Sow hardy annuals and vegetables directly outdoors.
• •Weed beds weekly before growth gets ahead of you.
• •Trim formal hedges — check for nesting birds first.
• •Tie in climbing roses and clematis to their supports.

Risk of late frost eases — plant out tender growth and step up mowing and feeding.

• •Plant out half-hardy annuals once frost risk has passed.
• •Mow weekly; edges keep the garden looking sharp.
• •Stake tall perennials before they flop.
• •Deadhead spring bulbs but leave foliage to die back.

Peak growing season — watering becomes the priority as London's dry spells begin.

• •Water deeply in the early morning or evening, not midday.
• •Deadhead roses and bedding to extend flowering.
• •Clip box and yew hedges for crisp summer edges.
• •Feed containers weekly with a balanced liquid feed.

Often the hottest, driest month — keep new planting alive and container gardens going.

• •Drought watch — water newly planted trees, shrubs and containers.
• •Raise mower blades to help lawns cope with heat.
• •Give hedges a light trim; keep hedges watered.
• •Harvest soft fruit and net ripening crops from birds.

Late summer — keep containers fed and deadheaded to keep colour going into autumn.

• •Water and feed hanging baskets and pots daily in heat.
• •Deadhead perennials and annuals to prolong flowering.
• •Trim lavender after flowering to keep it compact.
• •Aerate lawns if the soil has become compacted.

The turn of the season — the best month for lawn renovation and spring bulb planting.

• •Autumn lawn care — scarify, aerate, top-dress and overseed.
• •Plant spring bulbs — daffodils, crocus, alliums.
• •Lift and divide perennials that have outgrown their space.
• •Collect seed from favourite annuals for next year.

Planting month — soils are warm and moist, ideal for establishing roots before winter.

• •Plant bare-root trees, shrubs and hedging.
• •Clear fallen leaves to make leafmould for next year.
• •Lift tender dahlias and cannas before frost.
• •Last mow of the season — set blades high.

Garden entering dormancy — structural pruning and protection take priority.

• •Prune deciduous trees and shrubs while leafless.
• •Plant tulip bulbs before the first hard frost.
• •Protect tender plants with fleece or move to shelter.
• •Clean, sharpen and oil tools before winter storage.

A quiet, planning month — a few key jobs keep the garden in good order.

• •Winter prune wisteria, cutting summer growth back to 2-3 buds.
• •Take hardwood cuttings of shrubs and roses.
• •Check winter protection after storms; re-secure ties.
• •Plan next year's planting and order seeds early.