Seasonal Maintenance Guide
- Cut back ornamental grasses and perennials in early March
- Prune roses after last frost, removing dead wood
- Divide overcrowded perennials like daylilies and coneflowers
- Add compost and organic matter to enrich cottage garden beds
- Plant summer annuals like zinnias and cosmos in gaps
- Mulch beds to retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Deadhead roses regularly for continuous blooming
- Water deeply during dry spells, especially new plantings
- Monitor for Japanese beetles on roses and treat if needed
- Cut back spent perennials to encourage reblooming
- Harvest herbs and flowers regularly for indoor enjoyment
- Apply fungicide to roses during humid periods if necessary
- Plant pansies and ornamental kale for winter color
- Divide and transplant perennials in September-October
- Allow seed heads on coneflowers and black-eyed Susans for birds
- Plant spring bulbs in informal drifts
- Prepare hurricane plan for coastal cottage gardens
- Reduce watering as temperatures moderate
- Enjoy evergreen structure and winter-blooming pansies
- Prune deciduous trees and shrubs during dormancy
- Plan spring additions and improvements
- Protect tender plants if hard freeze predicted
- Order seeds and plants from catalogs
- Clean and sharpen garden tools for spring