Monthly To Do’s
January
Happy New Year! Maybe you’ve made some New Year’s resolutions that involved your garden. Take a look at this month’s list and commit to doing these simple tasks. You will be very glad in the spring when you see your garden thriving.
Febuary
Only one more month of potentially “cold” winter and then days will start warming up. Hang in there and continue with your monthly garden tasks. You will be so pleased with the results come Spring and early Summer.
March
The weather is warming up, but we still might have another freeze or two. Be prepared to cover new transplants with row cloth or an old sheet if the temperature dips under 40 degrees.
APRIL
Have a blast this month in your garden, enjoying the warm (not hot) weather, planting beautiful flowers, and sipping coffee in the morning while watching the birds, hummingbirds and butterflies enjoy your yard.
MAY
May is a wonderful month to continue gardening and enjoying the many projects you have done in your garden. Don’t forget about wildlife – attracting birds and butterflies to your yard is fun and rewarding. Providing fresh water for birds is one of the main attractants to getting them to stop and sample in your yard. Help keep them there with birdfeeders filled with black-Oil Sunflower Seeds, Suet, Peanut Butter, and fresh fruits. And, don’t forget to fill your hummingbird feeders and change them regularly!
JUNE
It’s getting hotter now, and all your hard work in the spring months is really making your garden thrive (or, if you didn’t get those tasks done, your garden is rebelling and you’ll see many issues that need to be addressed). If a drought occurs, try to remember to deeply water your trees every couple of weeks. Turn the hose on with a very slow drip, and place the hose under the canopy of the tree. Set your timer for 30 minutes. Repeat two more times in different areas of the drip-line.
JULY
Welcome to the heat of Texas! Gardening can get very daunting during these hot months. Remember to always garden in the early morning or evening, and wear protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites and sun burn. Because Texas is in such extreme drought conditions, this month you need to focus on watering deeply and infrequently.
AUGUST
August is another hot month for gardeners. Spread these monthly tasks throughout the week so you only spend a small amount of time in the garden each day. Start dreaming about cooler weather…and continue to pray for large amounts of rain!
SEPTEMBER
September is here! There is hope now that this hot weather will soon be turning to “warm”, and we can begin to enjoy the cooler mornings and evenings. This is the month I begin to enjoy my garden again and find myself working in it more often.
OCTOBER
Cooler weather is now here! We are finally venturing out to our gardens again, wanting to spend time working and improving our yards. If you haven’t already experimented with vegetable gardening, this is your year! If you do not have an area in your beds for veggies, you can try growing them in containers. Make sure they are receiving enough sun. I also challenge you to try rainwater harvesting this year. Your city should have information on purchasing them locally. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, there are many online resources for making rainwater capturing barrels. Many cities are also offering rebates.
NOVEMBER
As we enter the cooler weather, be prepared for freezes to occur. Make sure you have enough frost cloth available and landscape stakes on hand for those tender perennials that need a little extra protection. During the cooler months, you can still plant all trees and hardy evergreen shrubs. There is always something to do in the garden!
DECEMBER
Christmas is coming! If you haven’t already purchased a Christmas tree, here are some tips: pick the freshest possible tree, with a minimum amount of needle drop. Cut 1-2” off the bottom of the trunk and soak in a bucket of cool water until you are ready to put in a tree stand. Check the water level daily. You might also choose to purchase a living Christmas tree that can be planted in the landscape. Afghan pine is a great choice for this use. Inspect all electrical equipment such as lights before placing them on the Christmas tree and outside. Have a safe and Merry Holiday season!