Seasonal Maintenance Guide
- Cut back ornamental grasses and perennials in late February
- Apply compost and slow-release fertilizer to beds in March
- Divide and transplant Louisiana iris after blooming
- Plant summer annuals and tropicals after last frost (mid-March)
- Mulch heavily with 3-4 inches to retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Prune roses and remove any freeze-damaged growth
- Water deeply 2-3 times weekly during extreme heat and drought
- Monitor closely for fungal diseases and treat promptly
- Deadhead heat-tolerant plants to encourage continuous blooming
- Apply light shade cloth to heat-sensitive plants
- Cut back leggy tropicals for bushier growth
- Refresh mulch as needed to maintain moisture
- Plant cool-season annuals like pansies and snapdragons in October
- Divide and transplant summer perennials as weather cools
- Continue fertilizing roses for fall bloom flush
- Plant spring bulbs in late November or December
- Reduce watering as temperatures moderate
- Clean up storm-damaged foliage and branches
- Enjoy winter-blooming pansies, violas, and ornamental kale
- Plan next season layout and order heat-adapted varieties
- Prune deciduous trees and shrubs during dormancy
- Protect tender tropicals if hard freeze is forecast
- Minimal watering needed during cool season
- Clean and maintain garden structures and tools