Seasonal Gardening Tips for Every Season

Gardening can a year-round adventure, and each season brings its own unique joys and challenges. Whether you’re planting vibrant flowers in spring or preparing your garden for winter’s chill, knowing what to do and when can make all the difference. I’ve gathered some practical advice to help you nurture your outdoor space throughout the year. Let’s dive into the seasonal garden care tips that will keep your garden thriving and beautiful.

Spring: Time to Wake Up Your Garden

Although you can start your spring projects as soon as you can dig in the soil, May 10^th is recognized as the last frost date for the Treasure Valley and The Home & Garden Store typically recommends planting annuals after that date.  Best advice – watch the weather and plant accordingly. 

Spring is the season of renewal. After our cold winter months, your garden is ready to burst back to life. This is the perfect time to clean up, plant, and prepare for a flourishing growing season.

• Clean up debris: Remove fallen leaves, dead plants, and any winter mulch that might be smothering new growth.

• Test your soil: Spring is a great time to check your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. Amend the garden if needed with Ferti-lome “Ultimate” potting soil and fertilizer with Ferti-lome “GreenMaker” to obtain a beautiful rich, dark-green appearance to your lawn.

• Start planting: Cool-season vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and peas do well in early spring.

• Prune shrubs and trees: Trim away dead or damaged branches to encourage healthy new growth.

• Mulch: Apply a fresh layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Spring gardening is all about setting a strong foundation. Don’t rush—take your time to prepare your lawn and garden.

Tulips can add a great deal of color in the early spring

Summer: Keep Your Garden Thriving with Seasonal Garden Care Tips

Summer can be both rewarding and demanding for gardeners. The heat and sun in the Treasure Valley can be tough on plants and may require extra care to keep your plants healthy and looking their best.

• Water wisely: Early morning (4:30 to 8:30 a.m.) watering helps reduce evaporation and aids in controlling or stopping fungus and virus infections. Deep watering encourages strong roots and you don’t have to water as often

• Deadhead flowers: Removing spent blooms encourages more flowers to grow.

• Watch for pests: Keep an eye out for aphids, caterpillars, and other pests. Use products formulated to kill the insects eating on your plants. By using products that are formulated to control the insects causing damage to your plants, you will be satisfied with the results and you’re not using a product that could be found unsafe to use on your intended plant (example: controlling hornworm on tomatoes, it’s safe to use BT, but it’s not safe to use a product such as Bonide Liquid Systemic Insecticide on tomatoes.

• Fertilize: Depending on the plant, fertilizer with fertilizers such as Ferti-lome “Premium Bedding Plant Food” to support plant health.

• Harvest regularly: Pick vegetables and herbs often to encourage continued production.

Summer is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor but also to stay vigilant. A little attention each day goes a long way.

What is the 70/30 Rule in Gardening?

You might have heard about the 70/30 rule in gardening. It’s a simple guideline that can help you balance your garden’s design and maintenance.

• 70% perennials: These plants come back year after year, providing a stable backbone to your garden.

• 30% annuals: These add seasonal color and variety but need to be replanted each year.

This rule helps create a garden that is both beautiful and manageable. Perennials reduce the amount of replanting you need to do, while annuals keep things fresh and exciting. When planning your garden, think about how you can mix these two types to suit your style and time commitment.

This seems to be a popular rule these days, however we like the 30/70 rule when we landscape a project. Like we just stated, annuals die at the end of the growing season, but they give you immense color all summer whereas perennials come back year after year, but many of them do not bloom the entire growing season.

There's nothing like having fresh vegetables in the summer...

Fall: Prepare Your Garden for Cooler Days

Fall is a season of transition. It’s the perfect time to clean up and prepare your garden for winter while still enjoying the last blooms.

• Plant bulbs for spring: Daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and hyacinths can be planted now for a colorful display next spring.

• Divide perennials: If your plants have become crowded, fall is a good time to divide and replant them.

• Rake leaves: Use fallen leaves as mulch or add them to your compost pile.

• Apply Dormant Oil: Mid-fall is a good time to apply dormant oil.

• Protect tender plants: Cover or move sensitive plants indoors before the first frost.

• Clean and store tools: Take care of your gardening tools so they’re ready for next year.

Fall gardening is about winding down and setting the stage for a healthy garden next year. It’s also a wonderful time to enjoy the changing colors and crisp air. Late fall is also a great time to fertilizer your lawn with Ferti-lome “Fall & Winter” fertilizer.

The beauty of color in the fall...

Winter: Rest and Plan for the Year Ahead

Winter might seem like a quiet time for gardening, but there’s still plenty to do to keep your garden healthy and ready for spring.

• Protect plants from frost and winter damage: Apply about 2 inches of garden mulch if possible in the landscape beds to protect plants.

• Water sparingly: Most plants need less water in winter, but don’t let the soil dry out completely.

• Plan your garden: Use this downtime to sketch out your garden design, Check out plants that will grow in the intended area.  Visit The Home & Garden Store during the winter months for help in designing your garden.  Stop by our garden center located at 4291 S. Cloverdale Rd. in Boise or give us a call at 208.917.4820.

• Prune dormant trees and shrubs: Early winter is a good time to prune many trees and shrubs while they are dormant.

• Check for pests: Look for signs of overwintering pests and take action if necessary.

Winter is a time to rest and reflect. Use this season to dream about your garden’s potential and prepare for the busy months ahead.

Bringing It All Together

Gardening is a journey that changes with the seasons. By following these seasonal garden care tips, you can enjoy a vibrant and healthy garden all year long. Remember, gardening is as much about patience and observation as it is about action. If you want to explore more detailed advice and ideas, check out these our website and scroll to the “Blog” page for more information that can help you tailor your ideas to your specific needs.

Happy gardening! Your outdoor space is waiting to bloom beautifully with a little love and attention throughout the year.

Charlie Hartman – Idaho Certified Nurserymen

The Home & Garden Store

4291 S. Cloverdale Rd. Boise, Idaho 83709

 Ph: 208.917.4820