Which measures at which time of the year?

the essentials in brief

• Those who sow in March / April can already harvest the first vegetables in May
• Weeds are removed all year round
• In summer, you have to water a lot and mow the lawn more often
• In autumn, the compost heap is turned over, leaves are collected and trees are planted

Gardening through the year

This article provides detailed advice on when to do certain gardening tasks during the year. However, do not be too slavish when it comes to implementation, because the actual weather conditions at your location have the greatest influence on when certain activities can be carried out - or when, even better, you can do them with them wait. Planting out too early, for example, does not make sense if it is still frosty outside and yours Plants have no chance of survival - even if the calendar is the first day of spring indicates. Let yourself be guided by the weather conditions on site and see this garden calendar only as a suggestion, then you have the best chance of success.

Gardening in spring

In spring the days get longer again, the temperatures rise and the garden awakens to new life: the trees are showing new leaves and shoots and flower bulbs hidden in the ground bring a lively blaze of color after the gray winter emerged. Gardeners now have a lot to do because it has to be sown and planted, cut and fertilized. But be careful: Don't be fooled by the early onset of spring, because in these changeable months, Father Frost can report back again. Even if the weather seems friendly enough for planting, it is best to keep paying attention to the forecasts - a sudden late frost can destroy young plants in one fell swoop.

general tasks

The following table shows what general gardening work awaits you in early spring:

March

Roses are cut in March

The garden year begins in March. Start the new season by first tidying up the garden and tidying it up after the winter:

• Cut back withered and dead plant parts.
• Rake the beds and borders vigorously.
• Remove any fallen leaves or Mulch(€ 239.00 at Amazon *) from the previous year.
• Cut back plants such as roses and other flowering plants.
• Perennials are also cut back vigorously.
• Fruit trees can now also be cut.
• Chop up the clippings and compost them.
• Check your garden plants for diseases and pests.
• Treat them if necessary.
• Replace damaged planters.

The perfect time to cut a rose is traditionally the forythia flower. Also summer bloomers like Clematis, Hydrangeas or lavender can now be pruned. Pay more attention to diseases, as the plants weakened by the winter are now particularly vulnerable. Remove infected parts of the plant and dispose of them with household waste.

If you haven't done it yet, you can now prune your fruit trees. Only peaches and sweet cherries are pruned in the summer after the harvest. Prepare everything for the coming harvest by preferring frost-sensitive vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers on the windowsill. Straight into Cold frame On the other hand, you can use more robust plants such as early radishes, kohlrabi or radishes, which you sow or put in the ground as pre-grown plants.

Annual summer flowers such as sweet peas or snapdragons can also be brought forward now and then planted in the bed as young plants from April. The sooner you can enjoy the pretty flowers.

Berry bushes such as gooseberries can now be planted, and the strawberry patch must be prepared for the new season. Remove withered and dead plant parts (preferably with sharp scissors!), Weed, loosen the soil and work in some composted manure as fertilizer. Alternatively, you can Berry fertilizer(€ 11.35 at Amazon *) use.

The lawn is happy about this maintenance work in March:

• Rake and re-seed over bald or expired spots.
• Lime if necessary.
• Weed weeds, fertilize the lawn and apply moss killers if necessary.
• Once the grass begins to grow on established lawns, it is time to mow.

April

From April cold-tolerant vegetables are sown in the bed

In April the preparatory work is done, now it goes with the Gardening only really started. Fertilize all garden plants that need it - this applies above all to perennial shrubs and perennials, but also to bulb flowers and vegetable plants. The plants need the fresh supply of nutrients, as this is when they have the greatest growth spurt and accordingly need energy and nutrients. Plants that are malnourished in spring will only develop poor growth, as well as insufficient flowers and few fruits.

Sufficient watering is also important now, especially if it rains little in April. But there can be many a hot day that puts the plants under stress. It is best to water early in the morning, which is especially important in gardens that are increasingly threatened by snails - you should definitely not water here in the evening, as this only attracts the animals.

In addition, vegetables that are not sensitive to frost can be sown directly into the bed from April. Make sure, however, not to plant all the seeds at the same time, but to place them in the soil at different times. After all, you will not harvest the vegetables all at once (and will be flooded), but gradually. Even robust perennials can now be planted and summer flowers (provided they are not sensitive to frost) can be sown. In any case, work in compost beforehand so that the plants have sufficient nutrients available.

If you haven't finished your lawn in March, you should have your lawn now at the latest

• lime and fertilize (of course time-shifted)
• Scarify and remove felt and dead material
• Re-sow bald spots

May

The first radishes can be harvested in May

In May you can look forward to the first harvest - provided, of course, that you have sown and planted accordingly early. Radishes, spring onions, spinach, lettuce and Swiss chard can already be harvested. Kohlrabi and radish are also ready sooner. May is also the month of wild garlic: Do you have the aromatic herb in your garden? If not, then it is high time to cultivate it!

In May it also gets exciting again in terms of weather, because the ice saints often cause another cold snap in the middle of the month. If this is over, however, you can now bring cold-sensitive plants outside. This does not only apply to potted plants such as bougainvillea, oleander, Geraniums and Co., but also many popular vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers. Beans, zucchini and cucumbers are also quite sensitive and are only allowed outside now. The same applies to many herbs that you have optimally preferred and that are now being added to the bed.

However, even after the ice saints, make sure to give sensitive plants protection from the cold and cover them with a fleece, for example.
Otherwise you now have the same maintenance tasks as in April:

• fertilize (if not already done)
• ensure an adequate water supply
• Weeding and preventing weeds (e. B. through mulching)
• Loosen the soil in the beds

It is also important to carefully search the garden plants for aphids. These pests spread in the garden quite early in the year, which is why early control makes sense - the less you have to worry about a real pest later on. Snails are also to be collected regularly and the beds are to be protected from the voracious animals by suitable measures.

Gardening in summer

As the temperature rises, the economical use of water and the necessary irrigation of all plants become the main concern of the gardener. Think about how your plants will survive your upcoming vacation. For example, place potted plants in the shade and, if possible, arrange mutual garden maintenance with a gardening friend.

General activities

Faded things should be cleaned up regularly

In general, these tasks are waiting for you in summer:

June

Weeds need to be removed regularly

There is still a lot to do in the garden in June:

• For many plants, the second fertilization is due (organic or slow-release fertilizer)
• weed weed
• watering plants
• mow the lawn once a week
• Harvest sweet cherries and then cut back the tree
• Sow annual and biennial flowers
• quickly create a herb bed (if not done yet)
• divide plants if necessary

In addition, June is the high season for many pests such as scale insects, Gall mites, Black weevil, whitefly and the dreaded boxwood moth and for fungal diseases. Check your plants regularly for signs of this and take countermeasures in good time. Attract useful insects like ladybugs or Lacewing in the garden by about one Insect hotel(€ 11.33 at Amazon *) put up. Keep collecting snails regularly.

Digression

When is the right time to cut cuttings?

July

In July, one thing is especially important: pour, pour and pour again. Preferably water your plants early in the morning and be sure to put the water directly on the soil. The leaves and flowers of the plants should not get wet if possible! Otherwise there is a risk of fungal diseases. In addition, do not water daily in small doses, but rather vigorously every few days - this is the only way for plants to develop deep roots and are less sensitive to drought.

August

During the warmest time of the year, a lot of water has to be poured

The most important work in August continues to be the sufficient supply of the plants with water as well as regular weeding and mowing of the lawn. In addition, August is the month when you can harvest plenty of vegetables - so you have your hands full to finally reap the fruits of your labor.

You can either sow or sow the harvested beds with winter vegetables such as lamb's lettuce or short-term crops such as lettuce and radishes. plant or - if further use is not desired - with Green manure plants sow. Various are particularly suitable for this purpose Clover speciesthat not only provide insects with plenty of food in autumn, but also collect nitrogen in their roots and thus enrich the soil. Also winter rye or Phacelia are very suitable for unused vegetable beds.

If possible, fertilization is no longer carried out or by mid-August at the latest with a fertilizer with a high concentration of potassium. This should especially harden the sensitive shoots of the roses in good time before winter. This way the flowers survive the cold season better. In addition, now is the right time to cut back the “queen of flowers” ​​and thus prevent fungal diseases. With the so-called summer pruning, you mainly remove diseased parts of the plant and withered flowers.

Gardening in the fall

Even if the days are getting shorter and the plants in the garden gradually dwindling, autumn is in many ways a beginning and not the end of the gardening year. Planting bulbs, roses and woody trees is a forward-looking work at a time when Most gardening activities involve cleaning and removing dead or rotting plants turn.

General activities

The most important work in autumn can be found in this table:

September

Zucchini time is in September

Cucumbers, zucchini, beans, salads, potatoes, leafy, root and tuber vegetables as well as numerous cabbage vegetables: you can still harvest plentifully in the garden in September. Make sure that the vegetables - with the exception of a few species such as Brussels sprouts, which do not mind the cold - are stored or otherwise preserved in good time before the first frost. is processed. The last tomatoes - even if they are still green - can also be harvested seriously and ripened in a fruit bowl embroidered with apples.

Think about the next gardening year and collect vegetable and flower seeds, which are best kept in small paper bags in an airy and dry place. Only cold-germinating plants now have to be applied because they need a cold stimulus for germination: Daylily, phlox, Torch lily, Monkshood or lady's mantle have to go into the bed as early as autumn. Incidentally, this also applies to most early-blooming bulb flowers such as tulips, crocuses and Daffodils. You should put these in the bed in October at the latest.

Perennial garden shrubs like delphinium, Margarite and lupine It is best to multiply now by dividing, many trees can also be cut back from the end of September. The lawn continues to be mowed.

October

In October you will harvest the last of the vegetables and late fruits such as quinces. In addition, you should now catch up on the work that may have been left behind in September:

• Dig up harvested beds
• Sow green manure
• Plant bulbs
• Sow cold germs
• Plant trees
• Bring potted plants to the winter quarters
• Mulching beds and borders

Furthermore, it is now important to remove leaves regularly. This is particularly important on lawns, as rot can develop under the thick layer of leaves. However, you do not have to dispose of the foliage, you can make valuable foliage humus out of it. Simply put the leaves on top of the compost, either alone or with other garden waste.
Now is also the right time to cut back dead perennial plants and grasses and to pile up the roses.

This video shows very nicely what work will be done in October:

November

Even in November you should still clear away leaves so that the plants underneath do not suffocate. Also, make the garden definitely winter proof by weeding one last time and then Now at the latest, distribute compost and mulch in the beds and protect sensitive plants from the cold. It is best to overwinter potted plants in a cool winter quarters without frost.

In November you can also plant many fruit trees and bushes and cut back existing fruit trees. You should also put rings of glue around the trunks to prevent insect pests from overwintering. This measure should not be neglected, especially with apple trees.

Digression

How do you optimally prepare the garden pond for winter?

Gardening in winter

Protection is the main concern of the gardener in winter. Frost, snowfall, storms and hail pose a threat to the plants in the garden. Make sure that they are adequately protected. You can also use the time to plan for the next year.

Now there are planning and preparations for the coming gardening year, as the following video shows:

frequently asked Questions

I suffer from back pain, which is why I find it difficult to work in the bed. How can I make gardening easier for myself?

In this case, a raised bed (or more) at a suitable height is probably the best solution.

Are there any easier ways to remove root weeds from beds?

Root weeds can be eliminated with a Weed cutter Remove well without bending over.

How can I keep weeds from growing so I don't have to weed any more?

You will probably not be able to banish weeds from the garden entirely, but a weed fleece spread on the bed can help very well. In addition, weeds rarely grow on mulched beds.