Joe W. White, Ph.D.
Extension Horticulturist, (retired)
LSU AgCenter

Lots of gardeners have gardening calendars which help guide their efforts in more efficient ways and which serve as reminders of timely things to accomplish. The following list of suggestions is in no way an attempt to lessen the importance of good gardening calendars. Rather, it might be considered a supplementary source of ideas of things to do each month and certainly suggests only a very few of the many things that gardeners must do to have a pretty landscape, a productive garden, and a supply of homegrown fruit. And, by the way, you can get a beautiful gardening calendar, which is geared to this area, from the local master gardener organization for a very nominal charge. 

January  February  March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December

January

            1.  Plant selected vegetable and flower seed in greenhouses, hot beds or cold frames for a

                 supply of transplants for the garden and flower beds or containers.

            2.  Prepare beds for annual cool season flowers.

            3.  Pull a soil sample for testing from your lawn, vegetable garden and fruit orchard.

            4.  Plant onions (use the smallest transplants you can find) and lettuce.

            5.  Inventory your supply of agricultural chemicals; restock as needed.

February

            1.  Plant most of the remaining cool season vegetables not planted last month.

            2.  Prune and fertilize fruit trees.

            3.  Prune and fertilize rose bushes.

            4.  Prune and fertilize landscape plants that won’t bloom in the spring.

            5.  Apply pre-emergence herbicides to lawns to get ahead of weed problems.

March

            1.  Finish fertilizing shade trees, landscape plants and small fruits.

            2.  Finish the planting of most woody ornamental plants.

            3.  Finish the planting of cool season vegetables and flowers.

            4.  Get lawn mowers serviced and ready for the mowing season.

            5.  Buy warm season seeds or transplants near end of month for planting after a frost-free date.

April

            1.  Plant most of the warm season vegetables, some near beginning of month, some

                 near end of month.

            2.  Plant warm season flowers in beds not still occupied by cool season varieties.

            3.  Prune early season shrubs and trees that have finished their spring show of flowers.

            4.  Harvest crops of cool season vegetables as they reach maturity.

            5.  Fertilize lawns and begin the mowing season.

May

            1.  Plant peanuts and sweet potato slips.

            2.  Divide and replant chrysanthemums.

            3.  Maintain control of pests to keep plants healthy, attractive and/or edible.

            4.  Continue to harvest vegetables as they reach their peak of perfection and flavor.

            5.  Establish or renovate lawns.

June

            1.  Blackberries, blueberries and peaches are in season. Pick and enjoy them now.

            2.  Irrigate lawns, gardens and orchards if dry weather lingers.

            3.  Finish installation or renovation of lawns, if needed.

            4.  Groom beds of annual flowers.

            5.  Many vegetables of the warm season types mature this month. Eat or preserve.

July

            1.  Replace beds of “tired” flowers with new plants of the same or different species.

            2.  Plant pumpkins in early part of month.

            3.  Make cuttings of azaleas, camellias, gardenias, etc.

            4.  Complete the pinching of developing chrysanthemums.

            5.  A light application of a high nitrogen fertilizer to your lawn will perk it up.

August

            1.  Seed selected vegetables for fall gardens.

            2.  Clean out excessive new growth from centers of peach trees.

            3.  Prune bush roses back to 30 inches and remove all weak growth. Fertilize for vigorous fall bloom.

            4.  Make sure insects are controlled and plants are watered for greatest success.

            5.  Place orders for spring flowering bulbs not available locally to plant in flower beds

                in September, October, November or December.

September

            1.  Fertilize lawns by or before the 15^th of the month to winterize your turf grass.

            2.  Irrigate azaleas, other landscape plants and pecans if the weather remains dry.

            3.  Prepare strawberry beds for an October planting.

            4.  Begin searching for dried natural materials for artistic arrangements.

            5.  Clean out greenhouses for winter use.

October

            1.  Plant strawberry plants or crowns for a spring crop.

            2.  Treat lawns with a pre-emergence herbicide to control winter weeds as they sprout.

            3.  Plant spring flowering bulbs.

            4.  Plant selected cool season annuals…and appropriate wildflowers.

November

            1.  Build or add to compost piles with fallen leaves from your shade trees.

            2.  Plant pansies, snapdragons, dianthus, violas and ornamental kale and cabbage.

            3.  Condition tender container plants for a return to the indoor environment.

                 (Really, this should have started last month.)

            4.  The “good” planting season begins this month. Look for places in your landscape

                 where a new woody ornamental would add appeal.

            5.  If they are not needed, prepare garden equipment and tools for winter storage.

December

            1.  Prepare a gift list of gardening items for friends or family who enjoy gardening.

            2.  Harvest berried branches of hollies, etc. for Christmas greenery.

            3.  Complete the clean-up and oiling of garden tools not already put away for the winter.

            4.  Plan some time to rest. Gardeners work hard most of the year and need a little “R & R”.

            5.  Survey a few gardening books and /or magazines for new ideas and plants.