| |
SPRING |
SUMMER |
FALL |
Dig/fork/
hoe |
Fork ground to loosen and aerate soil. |
Hose beds to keep down weeds and to aerate soil. |
Dig beds before ground becomes too wet. |
|
Manure |
Mulch existing
beds not dug and manure in fall. If planning to use stable
manure in fall, begin composting it now. |
None needed. |
Incorporate manure
at the bottom of trenches when digging new beds or beds for
ornamentals and for vegetables (once every two years). If planning
to use manure in spring, begin composting it now. |
|
Fertilize |
Sprinkle granular complete slow-release fertilize onto
soil and fork in lightly. Apply quick-acting fertilizers to
specific plants to encourage their leaf growth and bud
formation. |
Apply quick-acting fertilizers, watering in or spraying
as foliar feed, particularly to roses and tomatoes, and on
"hungry" sandy soils. |
Apply slow-release organic fertilizers when planting
shrubs and trees |
|
Condition |
Incorporate organic material, such as compost, leaf mold,
or composted bark, to improve soil's texture and/or spread on a
layer of mulch to conserve moisture, particularly on sandy
soils. |
None needed. |
If soil is too dense or too free draining, incorporated
bulky organic material when digging to improve texture. Every
second year, add lime to soils that are too acid to increase
their alkalinity; add gypsum to clay soils to break up their
texture. |
|
Water |
In dry areas in late spring, water thoroughly,
particularly sandy or clay soils. |
Water ground thoroughly in dry weather, in morning or in
evening. |
Continue watering into midfall in dry spells. |
|
Drain |
Incorporate sharp sand and bulky organic material in
poorly drained clay soils. |
None needed. |
In poorly drained soils, particularly clay, add sharp
sand and bulky organic material, or build raised beds. |
