Seasonal Garden Checklist: What to Do Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

A thriving garden runs on a four-season rhythm. Here's your concise, action-oriented calendar.

Spring (March–May)

• Plant cool-season veg: peas, radish, carrot, spinach, lettuce.
• Divide crowded spring bulbs (daffodil, tulip) after foliage yellows.
• Clean winter debris; prune broken branches.
• Apply compost to beds; mulch 2–3″.
• Start warm-season seeds indoors (tomato, pepper, eggplant).
• Monitor for early pests (aphids, slugs).

Summer (June–August)

• Harvest daily—peak flavor, encourages production.
• Deadhead flowers for rebloom.
• Water deeply, early morning; target root zone.
• Scout for pests/disease weekly; intervene early.
• Collect seeds from favorites (label & store cool/dry).
• Fertilize containers biweekly; in-ground per soil test.

Fall (September–November)

• Plant spring bulbs (tulip, daffodil, allium, crocus).
• Divide/replant perennials (hosta, daylily, iris).
• Dig tender bulbs (dahlia, canna, gladiolus); store cool/dry.
• Rake leaves into beds or compost—don't bag.
• Apply fall lawn fertilizer (high potassium).
• Clean, sharpen, oil tools; drain gas from engines.

Winter (December–February)

• Plan next year: review photos, notes; order seeds.
• Prune fruit trees & woody shrubs (dormant).
• Apply dormant oil to fruit trees/roses.
• Force bulbs indoors (paperwhite, hyacinth, amaryllis).
• Start onion, leek, celery seeds indoors.
• Protect tender evergreens with burlap/windbreak.

Year-Round Habits

• Walk the garden daily—observation is the best prevention.
• Compost consistently.
• Journal: dates, varieties, weather, yields.

No garden is ever "finished." The rhythm is the reward.