Garden Tips by Month with What's up North^™ - Charlie Nardozzi

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

North Region Tips: January

   
Plants mulched for winter.

• Designing a New Garden - January is the perfect time to design a new garden. First, map out the hardscape elements like stone walls, walkways and structures in your existing space. Then, start a list of the types of plants you'd like to grow in your new garden. This guide will help you choose the right varieties for your setting.
• Houseplant Shower - Light levels are still low in January, so houseplants may not need much attention during this time of slow growth. However, one task I do every month is to give foliage houseplants a shower. Doing so cleans the leaves, increases the humidity around the plant, and makes for a happier houseplant.  
• Check On Stored Bulbs - If you stored away canna lily and dahlia tubers last fall, now is a good time to check on them. The tubers should feel firm, not wrinkled or soft. If they are too dry, mist them lightly with water. If any are soft and rotting, discard them so they won’t affect the others.
• Seed Testing - Now is a good time to do a germination test for the older seed packets you have stored away. To do so, place 10 seeds in a clear plastic bag with a slightly moistened paper towel. Set them in a warm room out of direct sunlight. Check the seeds after one week. If the germination rate is lower than 80%, consider buying fresh seed.

North Region Garden Tips: February

• Prune Grape Vines- If you're growing grapes on a wire trellis, remove all but 4 canes. Cut one cane back on either side of the trunk to 7 to 10 buds and the other canes to 3 buds. Attach the longer canes to the wire and remove all other canes on the plant.

• Water Evergreens- In warmer parts of our region, as the ground thaws during a warm spell, water your evergreen shrubs such as rhododendrons and boxwoods, to prevent winter burn on the leaves.

• Hellebores- Hellebores are one of the earliest blooming perennial flowers. Clean up your hellebore patch, removing dead leaves to allow the new flowers to shine. In warmer areas you can plant hellebores towards the end of the month

• Force Branches into Bloom- For a taste of spring, prune off mature branches with flower buds of early flowering shrubs, such as forsythia and flowering quince. Place the branches in a vase of warm water in a sunny spot indoors and the flower buds should open within a few weeks.

North Region Tips: March

• Prune Blueberries - Blueberries generally don't need much pruning until they're 5 to 7 years old. Then remove old, grey barked, branches that have few flower buds and encourage newer, smooth barked red or yellow colored branches to form. The goal is to have 5 to 7 healthy, productive branches.
• Spray Horticultural Oil – Kill overwintering insect eggs and larvae on your deciduous ornamental and fruit trees, by spraying horticultural oil. Spray on the trunk and branches when the air temperature is above 40F on a calm day. The oil will smother the insects.
• Flush Road Salts from the Soil – It's been a snowy winter in many areas. Road salts accumulate in the soil near walkways and roads and can kill plant roots. For shrubs close to the road, flush the road salts by watering deeply once the ground thaws.
• Dethatch the Lawn – Once the lawn is dry enough to walk on, rake off the thatch (dead grass) to prevent snow mold fungal disease and allow more air and water to reach the grass roots.

North Region Tips: April

• Protect Bulbs - Protect spring flowering bulbs, such as tulips and hyacinths, from deer and rabbits by spraying repellent sprays such as Plant Skydd. Repeat spraying every few days to protect new foliage.

• Prune Some Hydrangeas – Prune hydrangea shrubs that bloom on the new wood, such as Hydrangea arborescens and Hydrangea paniculata, now. Prune the arborescens hydrangea to two feet tall and the panicle hydrangea by 1/3^rd.

• Build New Flower Beds – Build new raised flower beds using the lasagna method. Layer organic materials, such as chopped hay, chopped leaves and grass clippings topping it with 6 inches of compost. As the materials breakdown they prevent weed growth and feed your plants.

• Plant Peas – Plant garden peas and sweet peas once the soil dries. Soak the seeds in warm water overnight before planting. This quickens the seed germination in the soil.

North Region Tips: May

• Protect Bulbs - Protect spring flowering bulbs, such as tulips and hyacinths, from deer and rabbits by spraying repellent sprays such as Plant Skydd. Repeat spraying every few days to protect new foliage.   
• Prune Some Hydrangeas – Prune hydrangea shrubs that bloom on the new wood, such as Hydrangea arborescens and Hydrangea paniculata, now. Prune the aborescens hydrangea to two feet tall and the panicle hydrangea by 1/3^rd.    
• Build New Flower Beds – Build new raised flower beds using the lasagna method. Layer organic materials, such as chopped hay, chopped leaves and grass clippings topping it with 6 inches of compost. As the materials breakdown they prevent weed growth and feed your plants.
• Plant Peas – Plant garden peas and sweet peas once the soil dries. Soak the seeds in warm water overnight before planting. This quickens the seed germination in the soil.

North Region Tips: June

• Plant Summer Bulbs – Once the soil has warmed, plant summer flowering bulbs such as canna lilies, caladiums and dahlias.

  These bulbs need warmsoil and air to grow best, so planting later in the month is fine.

• Pinch Flowering Annuals – As trailing annual flowers, such as calibrochoa, petunia and scaevola, start to grow, pinch the growthpoint at the end of the stems. This will promote bushiness and you'll get more flowers.

• Deadhead Roses- June is rose month in the North Region. After flowering, deadhead everblooming and repeat blooming rose varieties to encourage new growth and more flowers.

• Prune Shrubs- Prune spring flowering shrubs, such as lilacs, forsythia and weigela, after flowering to reduce their size and promotefuller growth. You have about a 4 week window to prune before these shrubs form flower buds for next year.

North Region Tips: July

• Control Japanese Beetles – The adult Japanese beetles are out feeding on your favorite flowers, herbs and vegetables. Hand pick adults in the morning when they're sluggish, apply the organic spray Bt galleriae to kill adults and spray parasitic nematodes on lawns in late summer to kill grubs.
• Fertilize Container Flowers – Flower containers often don't have enough fertilizer to keep flowers blooming strong all summer. Fertilize pots now with an organic water soluble product or time release fertilizer pellets.
• Water Deeply- When watering perennial flowers, trees and shrubs in summer, it's important to water deeply and infrequently. This encourages the roots to go deep in the soil to withstand summer droughts.
• Keep Planting Annual Flowers- July is a great time to scour garden centers for annual flower sales. Select healthy plants with strong root systems and don't be afraid to cut them back to encourage new, more vigorous growth.

North Region Tips: August

• Deadhead Perennial Flowers –  Many perennials flowers, such as salvia, bee balm and penstemon, will flower again in late summer if you deadhead the spent blooms. Once most of the flowers have past, clip out the flower stalks to stimulate new ones to form.
• Control Tomato Hornworms – Tomatoes are the most popular garden vegetable and one of the main pests of tomatoes is the tomato hornworm. This large, green caterpillar often has a horn and can defoliate a tomato branch in a few days. Look for damage on top branches of the plant. Hand pick the hornworms or spray Bt for larger infestations.  
• Pick, Pick, Pick- Vegetables are maturing fast and furious right now. Keep picking, especially beans, squash, peppers and cucumbers. The more you pick, the more fruit the plants will produce.
• Cut Flowers for Bouquets- Enjoy your flower gardens outdoors and indoors by cutting flowers for bouquets. Cut flowers as they're opening to finish opening indoors. Perennial and annual flowers are great, but even shrubs, such as hydrangeas, make beautiful cut flowers.

North Region Tips: September

• Divide Peonies – September is a great time to divide peony flowers. Dig up the clump. Divide the plant into smaller clumps with 3- to 5-eyes each. Replant in a sunny location on well-drained soil. Don't plant the crown deeper than 2 inches in the soil or the peony will struggle to flower.
• Plant Trees and Shrubs – Fall is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs in the North. The shorter days and cooler soils are conducive to root growth.  Even deciduous trees' roots will grow after dropping their leaves until the soil temperatures reach 40F.
• Protect Tender Herbs and Veggies- This time of year in the North, there's always a possibility of frost. Protect tender herbs, such as basil, and vegetables, such as peppers, with floating row covers. Protecting your plants from a cool snap in the 30Fs can mean more weeks of production once the weather warms again. 
• Resist Cleaning the Flower Garden- Current recommendations for perennial and annual flower gardeners is to leave the flowers in fall and clean up the garden in spring. The mature flower heads provide seed for birds and the plants provide winter shelter for pollinators.

North Region Tips: October

• Fun with Pumpkins – October is pumpkin month with the big splash being Halloween. A fun way to decorate pumpkins is to create a Jack O Plantern. Cut off the top of your pumpkin and clean out the insides. Fill with potting soil and plant small flowers and herbs, such as creeping sedum and thyme, in the top.
• Leave the Leaves- As the deciduous tree leaves drop, the temptation is to rake and remove them. But leaves are good for your yard. Mow and leave them on the lawn for fertilizer, collect some shredded leaves to mulch around perennials and make a leaf mold pile for future compost.
• Rose Hips- Many roses grow beautiful hips this time of year. Enjoy their beauty and harvest a few to make tea or jam, but leave most of the hips to stimulate the shrub to go into dormancy for winter.
• The Last Tomatoes- Before frost occurs harvest your remaining, blemish-free tomatoes as long as they're showing color. To finish ripening, wash the fruits, let them dry and wrap them in newspaper storing them in a warm room.

Northern Region Tips: November

• Digging Dahlias
  Some types of dahlias, like those grown from Proven Winners bulbs, form tubers that can be saved from year to year. However, not all dahlias form tubers as is the case with Virtuoso^® dahlias. When it’s time to empty your pots and take the dahlias out of your beds after they’ve been nipped by frost, dig up the clump and inspect the roots. If there are plump tubers there, they can be saved for next year. If not, send them off to the compost pile. 
• After digging up your dahlia plants that form tubers, cut the stems back, leaving short stubs. Clean off most of the soil, label the variety and let the tubers dry in a warm spot for about one week. Then, store them inperforated plastic bags or cardboard boxes filled with moistened peat moss, sawdust or wood chips in a cool, dark location for the winter.
• Making New Beds
  Fall is a great time to build a new perennial flower bed for spring planting. Using the No-Dig method, layer newspaper, chopped leaves, hay or straw, grass clippings and even food scraps like a lasagna onto a bed. Cover with a 3- to 4-inch thick layer of compost. In the spring, just plant right into the bed.
• Watering
  It's been dry this fall in the North, so even if you have been getting some rain, it's good to keep newly planted perennials, trees and shrubs deeply watered a few times a week. The plants’ roots will keep growing until the soil temperatures reach about 40°F. 
• Bringing in the Herbs
  Don't forget about your perennial herbs growing outdoors. Bring in pots of oregano, parsley, thyme and mint to overwinter indoors. Repot the plants with fresh potting soil, clean up the pot, and place in a sunny window away from cold drafts.  

North Region Tips: December 

• Protecting Evergreens - The best way to protect tender evergreens in winter is to build a burlap shelter. Pound wooden stakes around the plant and wrap burlap around the stakes, attaching them with nails or staples. This will reduce the wind that dries out needles and leaves.
• Protecting Hydrangeas - Many northern gardeners complain their bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) don't bloom well or only bloom late. The reason could be the stems and buds died in winter. Protect them by piling wood chips, one foot deep, on top of the shrubs now. This will protect those stems and flower buds so there is less risk of damage.
  
  Gathering Swag - While wreaths are a traditional holiday decoration, I like gathering wild greens to make a swag. Swags are simpler to make and versatile. Gather evergreen boughs of spruce and cypress, mix in some pinecones, colorful shrub stems and berries and hang the swag on your door, wall or even lay it on the holiday table.
• Preventing Frost Heaving - Newly planted perennials should be protected from frost heaving by mulching with bark mulch or wood chips. Heaving can happen when the ground freezes and thaws repeatedly in winter. This pushes the new plant's roots out of the ground, exposing them to drying winds.

ABOUT CHARLIE NARDOZZI
Charlie Nardozzi is a Regional Emmy^® award winning, nationally recognized garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert gardening information to home gardeners through radio, television, talks, tours, on-line, and the printed page. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun and accessible to everyone.