Garden Calendar
Things to Do
Keeping your garden and home looking good is a labor of love. Here are some tips from Molbak's.
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Your Monthly Gardening To-Dos
Divide and conquer! Garden + Home care for each month of the year with seasonal content tailored to Zones 7 and 8. Make your space the best it can be with a little help from your friends at Molbak's Garden + Home.
January Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- Remove vigorous winter weeds.
- Prune trees and shrubs, removing diseased and storm damaged wood.
- Start envisioning your ideal garden and developing plans.
Fruits & Veggies
- Puget Sound area gardeners can eat produce fresh from the garden nearly year-round.
- Draw your food garden master plan, rotating crop locations from last year. (Crops planted in succession will keep harvests coming.)
The Lawn
- Sharpen mower blades and tune-up your mower.
- Avoid walking on soggy or frozen grass and compressing the soil. Grass roots need oxygen as much as water to stay healthy.
Around the House
- Pack away holiday decor.
- Refresh and rejuvenate empty spaces with vibrant indoor plants.
- Lightly water indoor plants. Remember, plants contribute to essential oxygen exchange and reduce stress.
- As winter air is drier, pay special attention to indoor plant foliage; occasionally mist with water.
- Keep plants away from heating ducts.
- Make a terrarium with the kids and enjoy it through the darker winter months.
- Feed wild birds.
February Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- If temperatures are above freezing, prune roses after President’s Day.
- Till and mix in organic compost as weather permits to prepare soil in flower and vegetable garden beds.
- On mild winter days, plant bare-root roses, trees, deciduous shrubs, primroses and pansies.
- Mid-month, pull mulch partly away from emerging bulbs and perennials and hunt for hidden slugs.
- If you didn’t plant bulbs in the fall, buy potted bulbs now and place them in a warm, bright spot to encourage early bloom.
Fruits & Veggies
- On mild days, plant small fruit trees.
- Purchase seeds to get your vegetables started indoors.
- Start broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower indoors under grow lights.
- At month’s end, move veggie starts into a cold frame or sheltered outdoor location to harden off.
The Lawn
- Starlings pecking at turf help remove soil pests such as crane fly larvae. Make these feathered heroes feel welcome.
- Check lawn for standing puddles. Correct drainage or replace lawn with better-adapted ground covers.
Around the House
- Visit the Garden Festival for inspiration.
- Decorate your home for Valentine’s Day and buy something special for your sweetie.
- Check your indoor plants on a regular basis. Bring your plants to Molbak’s Information Booth in our Garden Center anytime and our plant experts can help with any questions.
- Be sure to keep bird feeders clean and full. Hummingbird feeders need to be cleaned every two weeks. Other bird feeders should be cleaned yearly.
March Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- Plants are about to go through a serious growth spurt. Use organic fertilizer to give them the fuel they need.
- Prune roses and hydrangeas.
- Divide perennials that bloom after mid-June. Share the extra plants with neighbors or a school.
- Purchase seeds and potted bulbs if you haven’t already.
- Feed conifers with a good organic, all-purpose compost.
- Plant trees and deciduous shrubs.
- Train and shape perennial vines by doing selective pruning and then tying to a trellis, stake or fence with stretch ties.
Fruits & Veggies
- Add organic fertilizer and compost to garden soil when it’s dry enough to do so.
- Transplant February cabbage family seedlings outdoors.
- Start tomatoes, peppers and eggplant under grow lights.
- Sow beets, chard, lettuce, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach and turnips outdoors.
The Lawn
- Now’s the time to renovate established lawns and plant new ones.
- For established lawns: (1) Dethatch if old roots and stems at crown level are more than one-half inch thick (2) Aerate entire lawn (3) Lime if necessary (4) Rake and over seed bare spots (5) Dig out or spot treat perennial weeds and (6) Use organic fertilizer – it will last longer and is safe for your family and four-legged friends.
- For new lawns: (1) Prep soil. Keep in mind grasses need at least six inches of well-drained soil with two inches of compost tilled in (2) Choose a grass seed blend (3) Spread seed on a non-windy day and cover lightly with an inch of compost (4) Water thoroughly and keep top inch moist until seeds have sprouted (5) Mow when grass has grown to be one-third taller than desired height.
Around the House
- Buy mason bees and clean out housing for these expert pollinators.
- lan ahead for your spring container gardens and hanging baskets.
- Water indoor plants a little more as spring comes, and fertilize with a good, basic organic fertilizer specifically formulated for your type of plants (succulents, leafy, flowering).
- Make a seasonal change with new colors of indoor pillows and fresh scents as you wait for your spring garden to bloom. It’ll give your spirits a big lift without a big investment.
- Re-pot your succulents making room for spring and summer growth.
April Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- It’s garden go-time! Plant annual seeds of asters, cosmos, marigolds, and zinnias.
- Plant perennials, rhododendrons and azaleas.
- Create colorful spring containers for your front door and patio.
- Take stored fuchsias and geraniums outdoors; cover if frost returns.
- Pull those weeds. Finish garden clean-up and amending the soil.
Fruits & Veggies
- Transplant lettuces, salad greens and cold-season veggie starts (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, chard, beets) into the garden.
- Sow carrots and parsnips.
- Thin direct-seeded crops as they sprout.
- Late in the month, plant squash, zucchini, pumpkin and cucumber seeds indoors in large peat pots, easing the to transfer to the garden when it warms up.
- Start your garden log now while spring energy reigns!
The Lawn
- Use an organic fertilizer in late April, using a 3-1-2 ratio formulation.
- Mow regularly.
- Practice grasscycling with a mulch mower, which returns the clippings to the lawn.
Around the House
- Clean-up water gardens.
- Treat indoor plants to some organic fertilizer.
- Freshen up your front door with a fragrant herb or live succulent wreath.
May Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- Visit public gardens such as the Bellevue Botanical Garden for fresh ideas.
- Plant dahlias, gladiolus, calla lilies, rhododendrons, azaleas and hanging baskets of geraniums and fuchsias.
- Plant annuals in beds and containers for summer color. Mix in herbs for fun.
- Spruce-up your containers and add organic fertilizer. Remove spent bulb seed pods, allowing bulb foliage to mature.
- Trim spring-blooming shrubs after they bloom.
- Add aquatic plants to your water garden.
Fruits & Veggies
- Transplant starts of heat-lovers such as tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers.
- Harden tender transplants by putting them out in a sheltered location and bringing them in at night until the chance of nighttime frost is past.
- When soil warms, plant corn and beans.
The Lawn
- Check all irrigation systems for leaks and assess sprayhead direction.
- Set up a simple rain gauge – an empty container placed on the lawn will track of how much water the lawn has received. Lawns optimally require an inch of water weekly from rain, irrigation or a combination of the two.
- Mow lawn every five to seven days.
- Dig out dandelions and roots to prevent re-seeding.
Around the House
- Happy Mother’s Day! Celebrate Mom with colorful plants and container gardens.
- When evening lows stay above 50°F/10°C, move indoor plants, such as bougainvilleas, palms, citrus, ficus or ferns to a bright outdoor location. They’ll thrive there.
- Give flowering houseplants boost by switching to organic bloom fertilizer.
- Clean up fountains and birdbaths.
June Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- Plant fall perennials such as rudbeckia, asters, and anemones.
- Encourage birds in the garden for help with insect control by setting out birdfeeders with seed and a bird bath.
- Install soaker hoses or drip irrigation in beds.
- Plant annuals and water plants for summer color.
- Plant petunias, calibrachoa, lobelia, alyssum, and warm summer annuals.
- Prune rhododendrons after blooming.
- Enjoy June colors and scents.
- When necessary, use targeted natural pest and disease remedies in your garden. Avoid using chemicals, which kill all insects. Remember, if you kill a beneficial insect, you inherit its work.
Fruits & Veggies
- Replant replacement crops when early lettuce, mustard greens, bok choys and spinach mature.
- Set out successive crops every two weeks to ensure a constant supply of fresh greens.
- Add layer of straw on soil around veggies to keep weeds away.
- Conserve water with an easy to set-up drip irrigation system.
In the Lawn
- Water deeply and slowly.
- Monitor irrigation systems – if timed adjust when it rains to avoid overwatering or wait to put lawn on timer until July.
- Continue grasscycling. Use a mulch mower to return the clippings to the lawn in a form that will break down and become useable fuel for the lawn.
- Mow often enough to remove only one-third of grass blade length.
Around the House
- Get ready for summer entertaining: Uncover and clean your outdoor furniture.
- Make sure your BBQ is tidy and in good working order.
- Shop for tools and gifts in our Garden Center for Father’s Day.
- Wash all your acrylic tableware.
- Work with your children to find the perfect thank you gifts for their teachers.
- Plan a festive Independence Day BBQ with bright décor, outdoor lighting and heater for the late night of watching fireworks.
- Keep watering indoor plants on a regular basis, and groom if needed.
July Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- Plan for fall flowers. Some annual seeds, such as cosmos sown in early July, will bloom in September.
- Water more often with less frequent rains.
- Use organic bloom fertilizer with container gardens regularly.
- Deadhead flowers off annuals and perennials to ensure continuous bloom throughout the summer.
Fruits & Veggies
- Start transplants for later crops: fall broccoli and cabbage, plus overwintered broccoli, kale and onions.
- Sow seeds of carrots, peas and rutabagas by mid-July.
- Harvest beans, cucumbers and squash promptly for best flavor and to keep them producing.
In the Lawn
- Water deeply or let lawn go dormant and water just once a month.
- Mow regularly to prevent weed seed spread.
- Avoid using any fertilizer in the summer.
Around the House
- Go on local garden tours for inspiration.
- Be on the lookout for fun garden art or statuary.
- Consider adding a fountain for the relaxing water sound and the added benefit of attracting birds who will manage insects.
- Make notes for late fall transplants.
- Remember to water all indoor plants and mist them occasionally.
August Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- Water, weed and spread fresh organic compost.
- Perform summer pruning on trees and shrubs by mid-August.
- Divide iris and early poppies.
- Lightly prune Japanese maples.
- Bait for slugs and monitor for diseases and pests.
Fruits & Veggies
- Fertilize and water strawberry plants after harvest.
- Pull finished crops, replenish soil with fresh organic compost and replant.
- Sow fall beets, spinach and turnips in the first week of September.
- Plant July-sown crops.
- Keep planting successive leaf lettuce, radishes, overwintering spinach and Swiss chard all month.
- Transplant fall vegetable starts, including lettuce, cabbage, kale, broccoli and brussels sprouts.
In the Lawn
- Water and mow to about 2” – 2.5”.
- Survey the lawn, planning which areas need fall renovation.
- Eliminate lawns on steep slopes and replace with soil stabilizing evergreen ground covers.
Around the House
- Enjoy time on the deck and patio with your flowering containers and surrounding garden.
- Gather family and friends and grill up your garden veggies.
- Purchase spring-blooming bulbs towards the end of the month.
- Visit farmers’ markets and u-pick farms and prepare the extra bounty for your freezer to enjoy a bite of summer during winter.
- Continue indoor plant care. Mist leaves and water.
September Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- Select and plant shrubs and trees for fall color.
- Plant winter pansies, ornamental cabbage and kales and spring-blooming bulbs.
- Cut back or prune spring and summer perennials and divide if necessary.
- Refresh summer containers by designing and planting new fall containers.
- Add winter flowering hellebores or Erica carneas to your garden or containers.
- Visit local dahlia growers to choose your favorites for next spring.
- Keep all flowers picked.
Fruits & Veggies
- Harvest veggies and herbs. Enjoy the bounty. Remember, raw or lightly cooked vegetables retain the most vitamins.
- Plant a winter cabbage early in the month.
- Sow winter choys and mustards.
The Lawn
- Clean up yard and clear debris.
- Plan and install new lawn with seed or sod.
- Late in the month, begin fall lawn renovation, thatching, aerating, liming and overseeding.
- When fall rain begins, use a 3-1-2 ratio organic fertilizer.
Around the House
- Breathe a momentary sigh of relief as the kids head back to school.
- Refresh and reorganize your home.
- Clean and prepare your outdoor furniture for the winter.
- Depending on the furniture material and manufacturer’s recommendation, cover the furniture, move the furniture inside or to your basement, or simply leave in place after cleaning.
- Add a fall harvest wreath to your door.
- It’s time to dig out your favorite “comfort food” recipes. Think soups and stews!
- Bring your tropical plants indoors. Enjoy them in your home or let them go dormant in a dark place such as the garage. Water dormant plants lightly and infrequently.
October Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- Clean up and winterize.
- Prune fruit trees.
- Divide and add new perennials, and prune back existing ones.
- Plant ground covers, shrubs and trees.
- Choose and plant crocus, daffodil and tulip bulbs.
- Rake leaves and use them to mulch around tender perennials.
Fruits & Veggies
- Compost garden waste as you tidy for winter.
- Sow a cover crop such as crimson clover, vetch or field peas in empty garden spaces to replenish nitrogen to the soil. Plow or mix the cover crop into the soil in the spring.
The Lawn
- Finish fall lawn renovation, thatching, aerating, liming and overseeding.
- Turn off irrigation system and drain for the winter.
Around the House
- Winterize fountains and water features.
- Sharpen shovels and tools.
- Get out cozy throws, seasonal candles, and add an autumn wreath to the front door.
- Stay social and invite friends over for an easy and warm meal like chili.
- Prepare for rainy days by hanging a small towel by each door for your four-legged friend’s feet.
November Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- Finish garden cleanup and weeding; leave some seeds on flowers for birds.
- Mulch roses but don’t prune severely now.
- Move tender container plants into winter shelter.
- Mulch gunnera and hardy fuchsia to protect throughout the winter.
- When tender perennials have died back, mulch around the base of the plant to protect from frost.
- Plant peony roots for bloom next spring. Roots planted in the spring will not flower until the following year.
Fruits & Veggies
- Pile fall leaves over unplanted areas and over any root crops saved for winter eating.
The Lawn
- Let your lawn rest through the winter.
- Avoid walking on soggy lawn so the soil doesn’t get compressed. Roots need water and oxygen to stay healthy.
- Mow if necessary.
Around the House
- As days get shorter, add warmth light and fragrance to your home with candles.
- Decorate in warm hues.
- Plan your holiday menu and tabletop décor.
- Make a plan and commit to feeding wild birds and hummingbirds over the winter.
- Pick up your holiday poinsettia hostess gifts.
- Add fresh décor to your home after pulling out your holiday decorations from last year to see what you need.
- Pick up a fresh cut or live tree.
- Get out your holiday lights; untangle and test them.
- Cut back on indoor plant watering.
December Gardening To-Dos
In the Garden
- Prune evergreens in your yard for holiday decorations.
- Finish planting bulbs.
- Force pots of paperwhite narcissus for winter fragrance.
- Mulch paths and/or flower beds with arborist chips.
Fruits & Veggies
- Harvest winter crops when ready.
- Mulch unused garden space with straw to keep weeds from setting.
- Put a cold frame on your holiday wish list to extend your gardening season.
The Lawn
- Continue to allow your lawn to rest. Rake leaves and debris off lawn.
Around the House
- Welcome the winter holidays with a fragrant wreath for the front door.
- Add interesting branches to your entry and patio containers for a fresh winter look.
- Dress up your tabletop, mantle and staircase with fresh greenery and swags.
- Re-connect with friends by planning a holiday party and/or sending out holiday cards.
- Water your fresh-cut Christmas tree regularly and place far away from heat source.
- Cut back on indoor plant watering.
- Continue feeding wild birds.
- Enjoy the holidays with family and friends!
