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"Even if it is a garden you know by heart
there are twelve months in the year
and every month means a different garden,
and the discovery of things unexpected
all the rest of the year."
~ Margery Fish from We Made a Garden, 1956
• Finish planting spring bulbs including Lilies and Tulips.
• Bring in Amaryllis bulbs forced into dormancy in September or early October or plant purchased ones and place in a sunny area or under plant-growing lights. Replace the top inch or so of soil, add a bit of bone meal. Water the plant, and get ready for a new cycle of bloom.
• Bring in for forcing the first batch of spring bulbs that were potted up six weeks ago.• Continue planting trees and shrubs.
• Transplant deciduous shrubs.
• Prune shrubs and trees to remove crossing branches and to restore the natural shape. Do not trim to reduce the height or length of branches until mid February.
• Cut down spent perennials and pull up dead or dying annuals.
• Fill up bird feeders.
• Rake lawn to remove fallen leaves and twigs.
• Rake or blow leaves from Hosta beds.
• Gently rake or sweep fallen leaves from beds of Ivy, Pachysandra, and other evergreen groundcovers.
• Add leaves to compost pile.
• Start collecting and making drain holes in containers for WinterSowing.
• Purchase potting soil before it disappears from store shelves.
• Inspect Euonymus for scale.
• Japanese and Siberian Iris and Daylily foliage can be cut back.
• Label all varieties of summer bulbs before storing.
• Finish planting Peonies, be sure to mulch after the ground freezes.
• Replace spent annuals in window boxes with branches of evergreens.
• Make a wreath from fresh greenery for the holidays.
• Cut some branches from Hollies, Nandina, Magnolia and other shrubs and trees for holiday decorations.
• Pot up more Paperwhites and other spring bulbs for forcing in late winter.
• Dig up Wild Violets and winter annual weeds.
• Start hyacinth bulbs in a hyacinth jar.
• Plant up rooted cuttings in well-drained soil.
• Winterize the swimming pool and garden pond.
• Pull up privet seedlings.
• Mulch Cannas and other tropicals such as Elephant Ears.
• Clean and oil tools before putting them away for the winter.
• Try propagating hardwood cuttings.
• Sort through seeds and start WinterSowing winter annuals and perennials.