Is there a list of "When to do what in your yard "
+5
I seem to go from one corner to another corner, one bed to another, front to back, over and over again throughout the Spring, Summer Fall, trying to keep things pruned, weeds out, watered, fertilized, and the list goes on. I can't seem to get ahead. Some things grow too fast, some die, weeds keep coming in the beds, weeds are constantly blowing down from the sky, ..... help is needed. There must be a system.
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One way would be to chart all your plants and Google them to find a logical system to trim, prune, etc. I walk around every day, plucking weeds, boiling kettles of water to kill more, tending to the herbs and veggies, etc. On Saturday morning before the gardener comes, I make my mess of things that I would rather handle myself, and let them clean up my mess.
I would suggest doing things in an orderly fashion rather than hopscotching all over the place. Once you establish an orderly routine, your work will be done quicker and you will actually will have time to enjoy your garden.
if you Google 'what to do in the garden in .....' and fill in the month you will get a pretty good overview.
The easiest way to answer your question is for you to go to your county Agricultural Extension Co-operative. They have lots of information specifically for your local area. They can also hook you up with a Master Gardener's group. Sometimes someone will even come out and walk your place with you to give you specific hints.
That is the cycle of yard maintence. It is the same for me. No sooner done with the last bed, it's time to start with the first one again. Look at it as therapy. lol
.unlike house decorating, things change in a garden quickly. I know what needs to be done and attack my 2.5 acres with a 2 week system. I have my wheelbarrow filled with large and small pruners, drinking bottle water, 5 gallon pail for weeds, plastic grocery bag for trash, a flip over kneeler/seat, hoe, small bladed shovel, paper and pencil in my pocket along with my cell phone, and gloves. the beds at the house front foundation start the rotation. Then the outlaying beds in the front the next day. The beds around the upper patio and the lower patio with the connecting bed another day. the bed to the east, beds to the west, tree line in the way back, every Friday for the tiny vegetable garden (I need to repair the underground hose or carry water in 5 gallon pails in the wheelbarrow). This way i visit every area every 2 weeks, and some beds need no work-so those days I just enjoy the view. If something comes up, I just move things back a day and continue. Nothing is neglected for long. Right now in Michigan I am pulling out the old bulb leaves as they are turning yellow-an activity in all beds. If I've missed any thistle earlier, I see they are starting to bloom, so their removal (plus a dab of killer) is a must. Many of our outdoor chores are repetitive, pruning, weeding, watering. I get overwhelmed when I feel that i must get the whole yard done. But with a chore list, know you need only do that day's work and the rest will wait until you come around again. I would like to mulch all the beds every other year, but because of time, money and ability, I decide where those annual 2 yards are most needs and apply them. the next year a different area is picked. Your yard will never be perfect unless you have a large staff working for you, so just accept it and enjoy it.
the county extension agent in our county is an absolute goldmine of valuable information concerning all things growing.
Thank you everyone for the great ideas !