My garden goal roll is more than just a "To Do" list. Yes, this checklist is very definitely the way that I remember what needs doing when, but it also serves as my electronic diary, where I can record what worked and what didn't. Sometimes that thing that didn't work is me: my personal rate of success in meeting my tasks is about 40%. Thankfully, Mother Nature performs to a higher standard.
April
Dust peonies with copper fungicide to limit blight. Done 3/31/2016. Re-apply in June.
Top-dress spring-flowering bulbs with 3-5-3 when the leaf-tips emerge. Done 3/27/2016.
Prune and clean up shrubs damaged by winter snows.
Shape "New Dawn" rose canes. Done 5/15/2015. And figure out a support structure.
Weed and move lambs ear to new back bed.
Feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone.
Dose "New Dawn" rose with 1/2 cup of Epsom salts in 2 cups water.
Trim "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle back.
May
Plant dahlias. Three Rose Toscano tubers planted at back bed against house on 6/5/2016. Three Kelsey Radiance and one Kelsey Kristie dahlias planted in old side bed on 6/5/2016. Two Uptown Girl tubers planted together at back bed against house on 6/12/2016. One Lights Out tuber planted in old side bed on 6/12/2016.
That stuff that you didn't get to last month? Do it now.
Top-dress beds with composted cow manure throughout month.
Review spring bulb performance. What needs to be replaced or amplified? Need +/- 20 tall purple alliums for back bed against house and +/- 200 miniature fuchsia alliums for beds along front walk.
June
Move potted amaryllis bulbs outdoors and feed regularly with liquid fertilizer.
Broadcast 5-10-5 fertilizer over flower beds and toss Holly-Tone on pachysandra and front foundation plantings on 6/12/2016.
Edge garden beds.
And stake, stake, stake!
July
After flowering, prune the "New Dawn" climbing rose.
Prune back 50-80% of "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle after bloom is over.
Late August/Early September
Separate Siberian irises to left of kitchen door (Eric the Red). Done August 27.
Time to order spring bulbs!
* Indoor at least 25 paperwhite narcissus bulbs and 2 amaryllis bulbs
* Outdoor: See above!
Columbus Day
Lightly feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone.
Move potted amaryllis bulbs indoors and chill in refrigerator. Abandoned this effort.
Start forcing paperwhites indoors for Thanksgiving bloom.
Veterans Day
Top-dress beds with composted cow manure.
Start planning plant purchases for 2017.
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| Rhododendon "Lodestar" |
April
Dust peonies with copper fungicide to limit blight. Done 3/31/2016. Re-apply in June.
Top-dress spring-flowering bulbs with 3-5-3 when the leaf-tips emerge. Done 3/27/2016.
Prune and clean up shrubs damaged by winter snows.
Shape "New Dawn" rose canes. Done 5/15/2015. And figure out a support structure.
Weed and move lambs ear to new back bed.
Feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone.
Dose "New Dawn" rose with 1/2 cup of Epsom salts in 2 cups water.
Trim "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle back.
May
Plant dahlias. Three Rose Toscano tubers planted at back bed against house on 6/5/2016. Three Kelsey Radiance and one Kelsey Kristie dahlias planted in old side bed on 6/5/2016. Two Uptown Girl tubers planted together at back bed against house on 6/12/2016. One Lights Out tuber planted in old side bed on 6/12/2016.
That stuff that you didn't get to last month? Do it now.
Top-dress beds with composted cow manure throughout month.
Review spring bulb performance. What needs to be replaced or amplified? Need +/- 20 tall purple alliums for back bed against house and +/- 200 miniature fuchsia alliums for beds along front walk.
June
Move potted amaryllis bulbs outdoors and feed regularly with liquid fertilizer.
Broadcast 5-10-5 fertilizer over flower beds and toss Holly-Tone on pachysandra and front foundation plantings on 6/12/2016.
Edge garden beds.
Prune into shape front foundation plantings and yews along side property line. Yews will be pruned by neighbor's landscaper. Privet hedge along property line cut back hard to 1' on 6/4/2016.
Scratch 1 1/4 cups of RoseTone around the roots of "New Dawn" climbing rose now monthly through the summer; be sure to stop feeding by August 15 in order to prevent developing new growth that will not have time to harden off before fall temperatures drop. First feeding 6/5/2016.
After flowering, shear Amsonia hubrichtii by 1/3 of its height to promote better form. Done.
After flowering, shear Amsonia hubrichtii by 1/3 of its height to promote better form. Done.
When it is 3 feet tall, cut Joe pye weed "Gateway" back to half its height to encourage dense growth. Done 6/5/2016.
Stake dahlias when the tubers are planted and again and again as they grow. Stop dahlias by pinching stem back to four pairs of leaves.
Pinch back shasta daisies to 6". Or just get rid of them?
And stake, stake, stake!
July
After flowering, prune the "New Dawn" climbing rose.
Prune back 50-80% of "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle after bloom is over.
Late August/Early September
Separate Siberian irises to left of kitchen door (Eric the Red). Done August 27.
Time to order spring bulbs!
* Indoor at least 25 paperwhite narcissus bulbs and 2 amaryllis bulbs
* Outdoor: See above!
Columbus Day
Plant spring bulbs. Done October 23: 25 "Gladiator" alliums in back bed against house and 100 fuchsia oreophilum alliums and 10 "Katherine Hodgkin" miniature irises along front walk.
Dig in bone meal around peonies.
Lightly feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone.
Start forcing paperwhites indoors for Thanksgiving bloom.
Veterans Day
Top-dress beds with composted cow manure.
Late December
Start planning plant purchases for 2017.
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