12 months of gardening

Start as you mean to go on with some prep and light maintenance. Now’s the time to prune dormant plants like wisteria and roses, plan out any planting you want to do for the year, and check any stored bulbs for rot. It can also be a great chance to clean tools, organise sheds, and make the tough winter months a little easier on garden visitors, like birds and bunnies, by leaving out food.

Spring’s on its way, so as the weather starts to shift, cut back decorative grasses, divide snowdrops, and sow hardy seeds indoors ready for planting when it warms up. Some fruit bushes, like currants, raspberries, and grape vines, benefit from early pruning too. Break out the hedge trimmer before birds start nesting, then pop it away for a few months to give your feathered friends free rein.

Now you’re starting to see colour springing up, it’s the ideal time to start dahlia tubers, prep veggie beds, and sow hardy annuals. If your borders are looking a bit unkempt, an early trim now could save you a headache later – time to dust off the lawn mower and grass trimmer, ready for the fast-growing seasons ahead.

As the days grow longer and the temperature’s mild, new shrubs and perennials can be planted, and you can start feeding and trimming the lawn regularly. Delicate plants might still need protection, so leave them covered for a bit longer. It’s also the ideal time to harden off seedlings before planting them outdoors.

The frost risk is officially over, so it’s time to plant, plant, plant! Bedding plants and tender crops can finally find their forever homes. Divide perennials, feed the roses, and add supports for tall plants to encourage growth now we’re seeing more of the sun. If your paving’s looking a little worse for wear, grabbing the pressure washer to give everything a good clean before summer will save you doing it right before the first barbecue of the year.

Everything should be established by now, so it’s all about maintaining blossoming beds. Deadheading flowers will promote more blooming, watering is a must whenever there’s a dry spell, and early herbs, fruits, and veggies will start to ripen. Ready to test out your home-grown food? Also, keep your eyes peeled for any pests or diseases sprouting, so you can put a stop to it before it’s a problem.

Your garden’s at its peak now, any long shoots can be pruned and keep up with the deadheading. Make sure to water any containers regularly and keep tabs on whether the flowerbeds need an extra drink when it’s dry out. Soft fruits will be ripe and ready for picking around now too – sweet treat, anyone?

Now’s the time to cut back perennials and keep up with regular watering to make sure your plants stay happy. Fast-growing salad leaves thrive in this weather, if you fancy fresh greens straight from your garden. It’s also an ideal opportunity to save any seeds for next year.

You might start to see golden colours creeping in now, that’s your sign to plant spring-flowering bulbs, refresh any containers with autumn bedding, and prune summer-fruiting raspberries before they get out of hand. It’s also a good time to lift and divide any overcrowded perennials and give the hedge a trim since the birds will have left their nests by now.

Collect any fallen leaves to stop mould giving you grief later. Planting hedges or bare-root trees and lifting any tender plants before any frost sets in is also a great idea in October. If your greenhouse is all over the place, now’s a good opportunity to clear it out and pop the hose away for the season.

As things continue to quiet down, you’ll want to insulate containers, clear any paths, and plant spring flowers, like tulips, ready for next year’s displays. If you’ve got local wildlife, now’s the time they need the most help with regular food and shelter.

Checking up on everything’s key at this time of year. Keep your eye on stored crops, make sure pots are protected from frost, and you can start to plan for next year. Your evergreens and structural plants will do the heavy lifting, keeping your garden sitting pretty through the winter.