Enjoy the yard of your dreams with our landscaping "how-to's" and gardening tips & ideas for growing beautiful flowers and plants -- indoors and out, all season long!

So, Whether you are a novice or experienced gardener, the Rolling Green team will always be on hand to answer any questions, give a little guidance or provide a bit of support for projects large and small!

JANUARY

Fireplace ashes contain potassium and scattered over the garden, even over the snow, will
provide micronutrients- don't apply too much to one area as ashes raise the pH.

DECEMBER

AMARYLLIS

Amaryllis can be kept from year to year- remove the flower stalk after the blooms go by, and
water and fertilize the bulb and strappy foliage.

NOVEMBER

PAPERWHITES ON THE ROCKS keeping growth compact

Plant paperwhite bulbs in stone, gravel, or soil. When the first roots are showing and sprouts reach 2?-?4", replace water with 9 parts water:;1 part alcohol. Use this solution for further watering and the result is about a 33% more compact display with just as large, long lasting fragrant flowers!

OCTOBER

BULB CARE

Dig up bulbs, tubers or rhizomes of summer bloomers such as gladioli, tuberous begonia, caladium, cannas and dahlias. Dry them, remove excess soil, trim away browned shoots and store them in mesh bags in a cool, dry, airy location. umassgardencalender.org

PREVENT RODENT GIRDLING EARLY

Be sure to install rodent guards around the trunks of fruit trees and Japanese Maples to prevent bark damage this winter.

SEPTEMBER

LAWN CARE

September is an ideal time to seed a new lawn or to renovate areas that may have been damaged by drought, disease, or insects. A lawn composed fo several turf grasses is better able to withstand adverse growing conditions.

AUGUST

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER … where you water.

Mow your lawn high, 2-3 inches [or higher] and keep mower blades sharp. Provide 1" of water weekly. Set an empty tuna can where you water, when it is full you've applied approximately 1" of water. Summer fertilize now - Pro Gro is an excellent choice. Cooler temperatures enhance fert. uptake at the root level.

FRESHEN UP THOSE PLANTS

If your perennials look tired and heat stressed, cut them back.

JULY

TIME TO SUMMER FERTILIZE

Visit our plant pharmacy for a variety of products to feed and enrich your soil like Neptune's Harvest, Pro Gro, Espoma and several other OMRI approved fertilizer. Annuals will look fresher with Jack's Blossom Booster.

WATERING

Enjoy your morning cup of Joe while watering your veggie garden, so the foliage has all day to dry off. Watering late in the day can contrubute to powdery mildew problems. WATER WEEKLY DEEPLY perennials, trees and shrubs, directing the flow under the foliage and onto the roots - keeping the foliage as dry as possible will minimize leaf complications.

KEEP SOWING

Start beans, basil, dill and cilantro for later crops to enjoy with tomatoes.

JUNE

PLANT FOR POLLINATORS

Dill, fennel, parsley, Joe Pye Weed, Ironweed, and Lindera Benzoin [spicebush] are all great plants for butterflies and other pollinators.

FOR FULLER LATE SUMMER PERENNIALS

Cut back tall, late blooming perennials by 1/3 to promote fuller leafing and increase flower production.

PLANNING AHEAD

Now is the time to sow dill, parsley and basil from seed for late summer recipes.

MAY

FOR HEALTHY, TASTY VEGETABLES

Top dress your veggie garden with Quoddy or Bumpercrop compost.

DON'T FORGET

Prune spring flowering shrubs like rhodies, forsythia, azaleas, and lilacs right after they finish flowering.

APRIL

IT'S FERTILIZING TIME

Time to feed lawns, perennials, trees and shrubs. Organic fertilizers feed the plant and the soil - and are better for the environment.

CUT BACK ORNAMENTAL GRASSES

First tie them up with twine, one - two feet above where the cut will be made, then use a saw and cut them to the height of 6-8 inches.

MARCH

SEED STARTING TIME

This is the perfect time to get your seeds and seed starting supplies. Our Garden Store will provide you with everything you need.

IT'S OUR TIME TO BLOSSOM

Look for Snowdrops and Hellebore blooming now.

FORCING SPRING

Cut stems of Forsythia and Pussy Willows to force.

BOTHERED BY DEER

Use deer repellents once every 2-4 weeks to keep Bambi out of your garden. We recommend Plantskydd (blood based) and Liquid Fence (egg, garlic and hot pepper), Deer Defeat.

Nov. 14, 2009 Putting Your Garden to Bed - A Fall Checklist >

Nov. 14, 2009 Preparing the Perennial Garden for Winter >