Your Gardening Calendar for 2025
Maintaining a vibrant garden requires timely care and attention throughout the year. This month-by-month guide offers concise tasks tailored for UK homeowners, ensuring your garden thrives in every season.
January: Laying the Groundwork
January may be cold and dark, but it’s the perfect time to get organised and prepare for the upcoming gardening season. While plant growth is slow, this is the ideal time to focus on maintenance, planning, and ensuring your tools and soil are ready for spring. Taking these steps now will save time and effort when the warmer months arrive.
- Tool Maintenance – Clean, sharpen, and oil tools to ensure they’re ready for spring.
- Order Seeds – Plan your planting schedule and order vegetable and flower seeds in advance.
- Prune Trees and Shrubs – Cut back apple and pear trees while they are dormant.
- Protect Plants – Cover tender plants with fleece or cloches to shield them from frost.
February: Early Preparations
With spring just around the corner, February is the time to lay the groundwork for a successful growing season. The days are starting to lengthen, and some plants begin to show signs of life. By taking advantage of milder days, you can start preparing your soil, pruning, and planting the first hardy crops.
- Sow Early Vegetables – Start hardy crops like broad beans, onions, and garlic.
- Check Soil Conditions – If the soil is workable, dig in organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure.
- Trim Winter Shrubs – Prune winter-flowering shrubs after they’ve finished blooming.
- Encourage Wildlife – Put up bird feeders to help birds survive the winter.
March: Spring Awakening
As the weather begins to warm, plants start to wake up, and new life emerges in the garden. March is one of the most exciting months in gardening, as it’s time to start sowing seeds, tending to your lawn, and keeping an eye out for early pests.
- Plant Spring Bulbs – Daffodils, crocuses, and tulips should start emerging now.
- Lawn Care Begins – Mow the lawn on dry days using a high blade setting.
- Sow Seeds Indoors – Start tomatoes, peppers, and chillies in a greenhouse or windowsill.
- Check for Pests – Slugs and snails become active; use natural deterrents to protect seedlings.
April: Growth and Renewal
April marks the true beginning of the gardening year, as plants begin to grow rapidly. With warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours, this is the perfect time to get stuck into weeding, planting, and preparing your vegetable beds.
- Plant Hardy Annuals – Flowers like marigolds, cornflowers, and poppies can be sown directly into beds.
- Weeding and Mulching – Keep on top of weeds and add mulch around plants to retain moisture.
- Prepare Vegetable Beds – Dig over beds and enrich the soil with compost.
- Start Feeding Plants – Use a balanced fertiliser on shrubs and perennials.
May: Blossoming Beauty
May is one of the busiest gardening months, as everything is growing at full speed. With the risk of frost fading, it’s time to plant summer flowers, tend to fruit and vegetable crops, and prepare your garden for warm-weather enjoyment.
- Plant Bedding Flowers – Add colour with petunias, geraniums, and begonias.
- Water Newly Planted Trees and Shrubs – Warmer weather means plants need more water.
- Stake Tall Plants – Protect plants like delphiniums and lupins from strong winds.
- Sow Fast-Growing Vegetables – Radishes, lettuce, and beetroot can be directly sown.
June: Summer Preparation
The days are long, and plants are thriving. June is about maintaining growth, ensuring adequate watering, and harvesting early crops. With plenty of sunshine, this is the perfect month to enjoy your outdoor space.
- Mulch Beds – Apply bark mulch around plants to conserve moisture.
- Prune Spring-Flowering Shrubs – Remove dead wood and shape plants after flowering.
- Check Watering Systems – Set up irrigation or water butts to store rainwater.
- Harvest Early Crops – Pick spinach, lettuce, and early peas.
July: Peak Bloom
Your garden is at its most vibrant in July, with flowers in full bloom and vegetables reaching maturity. This is a time for maintenance, watering, and keeping plants healthy during hot spells.
- Deadhead Flowers – Remove spent blooms from roses, dahlias, and petunias.
- Water Efficiently – Water deeply in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation.
- Harvest Herbs – Pick fresh basil, rosemary, and thyme before they flower.
- Check for Pests – Aphids, caterpillars, and red spider mites are common in summer.
August: Sustaining Growth
August is about keeping your garden looking great while preparing for the autumn months. While the peak of summer has passed, many plants continue to flourish.
- Divide Perennials – Lift and separate overcrowded clumps of plants.
- Collect Seeds – Save seeds from annuals like sunflowers and poppies for next year.
- Trim Hedges – Give hedges a final trim before autumn.
- Keep an Eye on Vegetables – Tomatoes, beans, and courgettes are ready to harvest.
September: Transitioning Seasons
Autumn begins, bringing cooler temperatures and a shift in gardening priorities. Now is the time to tidy up summer beds, plant bulbs for spring, and prepare the lawn.
- Plant Spring Bulbs – Daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses should be planted now.
- Aerate the Lawn – Relieve soil compaction and improve drainage.
- Harvest Late Crops – Collect pumpkins, squash, and potatoes before frost arrives.
- Clear Summer Beds – Remove old plants and prepare for autumn planting.
October: Autumnal Tasks
The garden is winding down for winter, but there’s still plenty to do. October is about protecting plants, managing fallen leaves, and preparing for colder weather.
- Protect Delicate Plants – Move tender plants into a greenhouse or cover with fleece.
- Leaf Management – Collect fallen leaves to make leaf mould for composting.
- Plant Trees and Shrubs – Autumn is the best time for planting hardy trees.
- Mulch Flower Beds – Add compost or manure to beds before winter.
November: Preparing for Dormancy
November is a time for garden maintenance and final preparations before the winter months. With fewer daylight hours, make the most of milder days to complete essential tasks.
- Prune Trees and Shrubs – Cut back roses and shape deciduous trees.
- Clean Greenhouses – Remove old plants, clean glass, and check for pests.
- Check Garden Structures – Repair fences, sheds, and pathways before winter storms.
- Plant Winter Vegetables – Garlic, onions, and broad beans can still be planted.
December: Reflect and Plan
Winter arrives, but there are still tasks to do. December is an excellent time to reflect on the past year’s successes and make plans for the upcoming gardening season.
- Plan for Next Year – Reflect on what worked well and plan new projects.
- Feed Wildlife – Set up bird feeders and bug hotels.
- Protect Potted Plants – Move pots closer to the house or into a sheltered area.
- Check Stored Vegetables – Make sure stored potatoes and squash are in good condition.
Expert Advice from Our Team
Our gardening experts recommend keeping a journal to track planting dates, weather patterns, and plant performance. This practice offers valuable insights for future planning and helps identify successful strategies tailored to your garden’s unique conditions.
