Your Friendly Month By Month Garden Guide

Want a show-stopping garden all year round? It all comes down to timing, planning, and a little seasonal know-how.

Whether you’re working with a large garden, a small patio, or just a few pots by the door, understanding what to plant, when to plant it, and how to care for your garden is the key to long-lasting results.

This easy, month-by-month gardening guide covers the essentials of seasonal gardening, helping you grow healthier plants and make the most if your outdoor space in every season. From spring sowing and summer garden maintenance to autumn planting and winter care, you’ll find clear, practical advice – perfect for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

Along the way, don't forget to decorate your garden too! Add thoughtful finishing touches and eye catching planters that add colour, texture, and personality to your space.

Follow this simple planting calendar to keep your garden thriving, productive, and looking its best all year round.

 

February

Sowing Seeds

In February, days start getting a little brighter and spring is just around the corner, as the garden begins to stir from its winter rest.

Now is the perfect time to start sowing some of your favourite plants from seed, giving them time to grow and blossom in time for summer.

Sunny windowsills or a heated greenhouses are ideal for starting seedlings, while mild spells outdoors allow for early planting of hardy crops and bulbs.

Try Planting:

• Indoors – Tomatoes, chillies, and sweet peppers love being started indoors these months. Salad greens and herbs can also be sown in seed trays or small pots.
• Outdoors – Summer-flowering bulbs such as lilies and gladioli can be planted in prepared soil. Garlic, onions, shallots, and early peas can also go in if conditions are mild.
• You can bring colour to any space in February with early flowering Primrose, Pansies & Violas, or go for a Hellebore that will brighten your garden year after year.
• Spring is also a great time for the acid-loving shrubs like Camelia, Rhododendron & Azalea. Camelias will flower  first and all will need the right acid-loving compost to succeed for the following year.

Required Tools:

Seed trays, small pots, heated propagator or greenhouse, grow lights, quality compost, gardening gloves, and basic hand tools.

Top Tip:

Apply a pre-emergent weed treatment to lawns to prevent unwanted growth later in spring. Seed trays and small pots are perfect for growing plants on windowsills or in greenhouses, giving seedlings the best start before they go outdoors.

March

Spring Comes to Life

March is when the garden really starts waking up from its winter slumber, making it a wonderful time to get hands-on.

With longer, brighter days, it’s the perfect moment to tidy borders, apply fresh compost, repair lawns, and prepare vegetable beds or raised garden beds.

Early lawn fertiliser can give your grass a boost, and now is also the time to seed bare patches to encourage a lush, healthy lawn.

Try Planting:

• Vegetables – lettuce, carrots, kale, peas, and other hardy crops thrive when planted this month.
• Flowers & Shrubs – Bedding plants, roses, and summer-flowering shrubs such as zinnias, dahlias, lupins, begonias, etc.
• Alpines - delicate low growing plants such as arabis, saxifrage, aubrieta, armeria, or iberis.
• Trees & Canes – March is the last month where you can plant bare root trees and caned fruit such as blackcurrant, gooseberry, raspberry

Required Tools:

Garden gloves, trowels, spades, forks, compost, seed trays, pots, watering cans, and basic pruning tools.

Top Tip:

A quick tidy-up and a fresh layer of compost will help everything grow stronger, especially if you are starting to plant hardy flowers and veg directly outdoors.

April

Colour & Growth

April is one of the most exciting months for gardeners, as the warmer days mean your garden starts to show signs of colour and bloom.

With the increase in soil temperature, April is the perfect time to sow seeds outdoors and continue preparing your beds and borders. Ensure that on colder nights, you protect tender seedlings with cloches or fleece.

Lawn care is especially important this month – fertilise, mow, repair bare patches, and spread mulch to control weeds and conserve water. You can also start feeding new seeds with a balanced fertiliser and turn up the care on your indoor plants as the sun starts shining.

Try Planting:

• Vegetables – lettuce, radishes, spinach, peas, spring onions, carrots, etc.
• Flowers – pansies, nasturtiums, cosmos, sunflowers, marigolds, and hanging basket plants.
• Herbs - Pots of herbs are a great way to may your Sunday roast pop.
• Fruit – strawberries, raspberries, and new fruit bushes.

Required Tools:

Spade, fork, trowel, watering can, seed trays, small pots, compost, garden gloves, and cloches for tender plants.

Top Tip:

Mix different colours and textures in baskets and pots for an instant garden refresh. Combine bold, vibrant blooms with soft, trailing foliage to create depth and visual intrigue.

May

Planting Season in Full Bloom

May is a month of growth, colour, and outdoor activity.

With warmer days and longer sunlight, it’s the perfect time to plant annuals in flower beds and containers for vibrant summer displays. It's also a great time to consider your outdoor décor and small changes you can make that turn your space into a stylish and comfortable place for you to enjoy.

Tender vegetables like tomatoes benefit from support now, by either staking or caging them to help prevent damage and encourage stronger, healthier plants.

Lawns continue to grow rapidly, so regular mowing and feeding can aid during this time to keep them healthy. 

Try Planting:

• Vegetables – courgettes, beans, sweetcorn, beetroot, cabbage
• Flowers – summer annuals like geraniums, petunias, begonias, lobelia, and impatiens; small pot perennials planted now can root out and be ready for summer flower show like lupins and delphiniums.
• Fruit – continue planting strawberries, gooseberries and other berry bushes. Young fruit trees can also be planted outside

Required Tools:

Hand fork, trowel, watering can or hose, gloves, seed trays, stakes, plant supports, lawn mower.

Top Tip:

Give new plants plenty of water while they settle in and keep an eye on soil moisture during warmer spells to ensure strong, healthy growth.

June

Enjoy & Tend

Your garden should now be full of life, colour, and fresh growth.

June is a month of rapid growth, making it the perfect time for planting summer bedding, pruning early blooms, and controlling weeds.

As the temperature rises, ensure your plants have plenty of water and fertiliser, while monitoring them for pests.

Now is also a great time for planting more vegetables for a second harvest.

Try Planting:

• Vegetables – fast growing salad leaves, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, and summer squashes. Also, herbs including mint and coriander.
• Flowers – late summer flowers, sunflowers, dahlias, lavender, and summer bedding plants. Consider sowing perennial flowers like aquilegia and lupins for blooms the following summer, alongside biennials such as foxgloves and wallflowers for the following year.

Required Tools:

Watering can or hose, pruning shears, garden gloves, compost, plant supports, trowel, lawn mower.

Top Tip:

Regularly deadhead flowers and pinch out vegetable shoots to encourage bushier growth and better yields. Mulching also helps to retain soil moisture in warmer weather.

July

Summer in Full Swing

July is the time when your garden is at its peak, filled with colour, scent, and abundant growth.

Now you can sit back and enjoy everything you have worked so hard to grow, with harvesting well underway – especially tomatoes, salad crops, and herbs.

Continue to water and feed plants regularly to support ongoing flowering and fruiting, and keep an eye out for pests during the warmer weather.

But most importantly, spend some time outside and enjoy the flora you have so carefully cultivated.

Try Planting:

• Vegetables & Herbs – More salad leaves, herbs, and quick growing crops fir continued harvesting.
• Flowers – Flowering plants to add late-summer colour and keep borders looking vibrant.

Required Tools:

Watering can or hose, garden gloves, lawn mower, secateurs, compost, trowel.

Top Tip:

Water early in the morning or in the evening to reduce evaporation and help plants stay healthy during hot summer days.

August

Harvest & Refresh

Your garden is now at its most productive, rewarding you with an abundance of flowers, fruit, and vegetables.

August is the time to harvest regularly, refresh tired areas of the garden, and begin thinking ahead to the next growing seasons.

Keep watering during dry spells and continue feeding flowering and fruiting plants to maintain strong growth.

This is also a great month to make the most of your produce by picking, pickling, and preserving for later use. Preserve herbs by drying or freezing them.

Try Planting:

• Vegetables – for an autumn or winter harvest, plant leafy greens and other quick growing crops.
• Flowers & Bulbs – spring flowering bulbs like daffodils and tulips, as well as autumn-friendly plants such as pansies to keep colour going as summer fades.

Required Tools:

Watering can or hose, garden gloves, secateurs, baskets for harvesting, lawn mower, compost, trowel

Top Tip:

Pick flowers and vegetables regularly to encourage flowering and cropping throughout the month. Continue to water in mornings or evenings.

September

Planning Ahead

As the season begins to shift, September is the perfect time to start preparing your garden for the cooler months ahead.

The soil is still warm, making it ideal for planting, while cooler temperatures help plants establish strong roots before the winter.

Take the time to harvest any remaining crops, such as apples and pears, which are usually ready to be harvesting around late summer to early autumn.

September is also a great time to tidy up any summer beds and plan for the next growing season.

Try Planting:

• Trees & Shrubs – early autumn is one of the best times to plant trees and shrubs, giving them a strong start before winter.
• Flowers & Bulbs – spring-flowering bulbs and perennial ornamental grasses will settle in well now and reward you in the months to come.
• Perennials – divide and replant established perennials to rejuvenate beds and borders.

Required Tools:

Spade or fork, garden gloves, compost, trowel, watering can, lawn mower

Top Tip:

Bring tender plants grown in containers indoors before the first frost. Add compost to help new plants get established and stronger before winter arrives.

October

Tidy & Protect

As growth slows and temperatures drop, October is the time to tidy the garden and protect plants ahead of winter.

While the pace eases, there’s still plenty to do to keep your garden healthy and well prepared for the colder months.

Clearing fallen leaves and adding mulch will help to improve soil health and protect plant roots. You can also start to empty, disconnect, and store your garden hose and accessories.

Harvesting continues, as pumpkins, carrots, and apples are now ripe for picking.

Try Planting:

• Vegetables – Garlic and onions for harvest next year.
• Flowers & Bedding – Winter bedding plants such as violas and primroses to keep colour in the garden.
• Trees, Shrubs & Bulbs – Continue planting trees and shrubs, along with spring-flowering bulbs, while the soil is workable.

Required Tools:

Rake, garden gloves, spade, compost or mulch, watering can

Top Tip:

Cover tender plants if frost is forecast to prevent damage during cold weather.

November

Winter-Ready Garden

 

Preparing your garden for winter now will help it bounce back beautifully next spring. With lower light levels, shorter days, and cooler temperatures, November is primarily about preparing for the next season.

Growth has largely slowed, making this a great time to focus on structure, soil care, and general maintenance.

Tidying beds and protecting plants will leave your garden in excellent condition for the colder months ahead.

Continue raking any fallen leaves and apply a generous layer of compost or mulch now to insulate roots and keep soil healthy through winter.

Try Planting:

• Trees & Shrubs – bare-root trees and shrubs offer great value and establish well when planted during late autumn and winter.
• Bulbs - continue planting bulbs in preparation for next spring.
• Flowers – plant Christmas roses (hellebores) in the border now for beautiful winter flowers. Heather, cyclamen, and pansies are good for planting now, offering long-lasting displays that take you through winter and beyond.

Required Tools:

Spade or fork, garden gloves, compost or mulch, secateurs, cleaning brush, cloth, rake.

Top Tip:

Clean and store garden tools, then lightly coat metal parts with gear oil to prevent rust and allow them to dry thoroughly before storage.

December

Rest & Re-Imagine

Your garden may look quiet in December, but there’s still a lot happening beneath the surface.

While growth slows during the winter months, this is the ideal time to pause and reflect on the gardening year just gone and prepare for the seasons ahead.

The focus now shifts to garden winter care, including protecting plants from frost, maintaining and safely storing garden tools, and planning for the new year.

Taking these simple steps now will help ensure your plants are well protected and ready for a strong, healthy start when the growing season returns.

Try Planting:

• Indoor Plants – indoor herbs and festive plants such as poinsettias bring colour, fragrance, and life into your home.
• Vegetables – you can also plant a variety of cold-hardy vegetables during this time including broccoli, cabbage, kale, and spinach.

Required Tools:

Secateurs, pruning saw, garden gloves, plant pots, compost, cleaning cloths, tool oil.

Top Tip:

Prune trees and plants where necessary, following correct pruning guidelines for each species. Take hardwood cuttings from suitable plants to propagate new growth for next year.

January

Dream, Plan & Get Ready

January is a great month for getting inspired in the garden.

While plants rest, it’s the perfect time to set gardening goals, plan what to grow, and organise your planting calendar for the year ahead. Use this quieter period to prepare for spring by checking tools, buying gardening gloves and essential equipment, and refreshing your garden plans.

Bring greenery indoors by adding tropical houseplants, which can help improve air quality and brighten your home during winter. Outdoors, you can still get started with a few hardy crops to keep your gardening momentum going.

Try Planting:

• Vegetables - Garlic, onions, and shallots can be planted outdoors now.
• Herbs - basil and parsley grow well indoors on a bright windowsill.
• Fruit - Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, loganberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants can be planted during January.
• Trees - apple trees, pear trees, plum trees, and cherry trees
• Flowers - Poppies, Nigella, Calendula, and hardy annuals such as cornflowers can be sown in a greenhouse or using a cold frame.

Required Tools:

Heated propagator, grow lights, cold frame, or greenhouse, seed trays and pots, quality compost, gardening gloves, and basic hand tools.

Top Tip:

Adding compost to your beds now will improve soil structure and nutrient levels, giving your plants a strong boost for spring.

How are you tending your garden? Share your tips, tricks, and green-fingered journey with the B&M community over on Facebook, X, and Instagram.