Landscaping & Lawn Care Checklist

12 Months Of Worry free Lawn and Gardening

January

• Now is good time to cut your dormant lawn. This grooms the lawn and removes fallen leaves. It also allows you to inspect your yard for winter weeds. Spot spray or pull as needed.
• Plant new shrubs and trees like Redbuds and Azaleas. Remove unattractive plants and replace them with others that you prefer.
• Plant Rosebushes where the will receive 6+ hours of direct sunlight every day. Prune established Rosebushes next month in February

February

• Except for Crepe Myrtles, Maples and any spring flowering plants , now is a good time to prune, the exception are rose bushes, they should be pruned now as well. Also a great time to shape Evergreen shrubs.
• Winter weeds are easily visible, especially crabgrass, now against the brown dormant lawn. Spot spray post-emergent herbicides or pull as needed.
• Now is the time to Fertilize established trees and shrubs.
• In your landscape beds prune back overgrown or frost damaged perennials. Add green annuals for spring color.

March

• Mow your yard to help eliminate unwanted weeds. Now is a good time to apply lawn fertilizer
• Start applying rose food monthly now through November/December.
• Plant okra, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and many more vegetables now. Use a natural fertilizer for edibles.
• This is the south and now is the Time to plant Azaleas and arrange by colors.
• Prune trees and shrubs if there still dormant. Prune flowering shrubs like azaleas after they have bloomed.
• Move your houseplants outside and time to repot and feed with a liquid fertilizer.
• Time to plant your annuals and perennials but first remove the old mulch and replace with a fresh layer of up to 3 inches deep.

April

• Now that winter is gone replace mulch around your plants to discourage weeds and to conserve moisture. And it looks good too.
• It’s time to start cutting you lawn weekly again. Adjust the blade height so that the turf looks cut when finished. We keep the height between 3-3.5 inches to help prevent weeds and disease.
• Prune your azaleas, wisteria and other spring flowering shrubs.
• Move orchids outside into shady areas and repot if needed

May

• It is time to fertilize on a regular basis. Some turf, like centipede, need little or none at all and negligible amounts of nitrogen. Prevent burning your lawn with to much fertilizer and consider getting a soil sample tested by LSU AG center. Pick up a test kit at Marrero Rose Garden Center 4005 Westbank Expressway (504) 341-5664
• Once plants have bloomed from winter its time to prune and take off the winter damaged limbs. Always cut the branch back to live wood.
• Lets plant your summer annuals, such as petunias and marigolds. If the plants are in pots or trays gently pull the roots apart and allow them to breathe.

June

• Deep root watering on lawns, shrubs and trees are a must this usually dry month. Irrigate plants at morning and again that evening to reduce water loss from evaporation. If you add to the garden you’ll need to water those plants more frequently until established.
• Enjoy your harvest of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Keep an eye out for pests especially your tomatoes. Use neem oil based pest repellents or make your own from garlic and red peppers.
• Place houseplants outside in shady locations to enjoy the fresh air. Water regularly in the morning and evenings. Fertilize with a weak liquid solution.
• Reexamine mulch in your landscaping and add as needed up to 3 inches. Any more then 3 inches may start to suffocate the plants but anything less then 2 inches may promote weed growth.
• Plant Pumpkin seeds for your jack-o-lanterns.

July

• If your lawn cutting height is under 3 inches then gradually raise it in 0.5 inch increments to help your grass survive drought and heat. Tall grass shades the dirt and slows water evaporation and helps suffocate weeds.
• Time to Deadhead your annuals and perennials to encourage a beautiful fall bloom.
• If you didn’t plant you pumpkin seeds last month now is the time to do so for your Halloween spooks. Corn, cucumber, okra, peas and beans should also be planted now. Do not forget to reestablish you dwindling herb supply and replant now like basil, and cilantro before you run out.
• Prepare vegetable gardens for fall planting. Do not forget to add compost and cover with straw or pine to keep the weeds at bay.

August

• Get an early start and start planting your fall vegetable garden end of month. Set out your transplants like cauliflower, broccoli and some greens. Mid month plant transplants of tomatoes and peppers and shade them from the scorching sun.
• If the lawn is dry then water it at dawn before you cut and continue watering morning and evening this month.

September

• Begin planting trees and shrubs this month.
• Maintain watering on the new seeds and transplants but adjust your watering for lawns, landscape beds and container plants. Pay close attention to containers and prevent them from getting waterlogged. Minimize evening waterings to prevent fungal diseases.
• Get your transplants in your vegetable gardens now. First week this month is the last chance to get your tomatoes and peppers in the ground. Cool season veggies like broccoli, Brussel sprouts,lettuce cauliflower can be planted through January.

October

• In anticipation of winter its time to overseed warm seasonal grasses with annual ryegrass for a green lawn
• Last week of the month remove summer annuals and plant cool weather annuals. Add fertilizer and compost to the bed.
• Add to your pile of compost or create a new one. Clean out all the dead plant or those that wont survive the winter.
• End of month and beginning of next plant trees and shrubs including rosebushes and perennials. It will ensure a healthier and more survivable plant next spring with earlier growth and beautiful early blooms.
• Plant fall and winter color plants like snapdragons ornamental cabbage and kale, pansies etc.

• OK now is really the last chance to plant fall veggies and herbs like sprouts, peas, cilantro and mustard greens etc.
• Now is the time to start laying out the bulbs and getting the timing right. Plant Paperwhites in pots before mid November. Before thanksgiving you should have alliums, freesia, lycoris, crocus etc. Grab your tulips then fridge them until the new year and stagger planting them weekly until around mid to end of February.
• Great time to plant wildflower seeds now through early December.
• Need another soil sample before fertilizing the lawn in November or December. Consider getting a soil sample tested by LSU AG center. Pick up a test kit at Marrero Rose Garden Center 4005 Westbank Expressway (504) 341-5664
• Continue fluffing up your mulch and adding as needed. Remember to not let it get less then 2 inch thick or risk weeds taking over. This time of year it can help protect the root system and underground irrigation from freezing in the upcoming months.

November

• In the coming months cleaning up the garden and raking up the fallen leaves will yield plenty of plant matter for compost. Water the compost weekly and by spring you should have plenty to start the new season.
• If you haven’t yet then its time for the last lawn feed for the year if your using a weed n feed type brand. Hopefully you had your soil tested first to help prevent burning the lawn.

December

• Time to deadhead. If the soil is acidic, you’ll want to use lime. Apply by using a fertilizer spreader which is the preferred method, or apply by hand. Always wear gloves and distribute evenly. Be sure to water frequently over the next weeks to help disperse the lime. If you are unsure of how much lime your soil needs, have a soil test performed ( Rose garden Center).
• Continue planting cool weather color plants like pansies and snapdragons.
• If your using an automatic watering system its time to dial down the amount of watering during each cycle. Continue watering on newly planted seeds and transplants.
• Winterize the yard by spreading a slow release fertilizer if you did not use the weed n feed already.
• Mow the fallen leaves with a mulching mower until the lawn cant handle any more then bag and add to the compost bin.
• Shouldn’t need to worry about freezing until mid January but now is the time to start gathering material needed to protect the plants. If your north of the I-10 corridor maybe now is the time to worry bout freezing but for us down in Da Bayou ……..