Lawn and Garden: Tasks/Tips

Transplant annual bedding plants:
After the last frost on a cloudy day is great for putting your summer flowering annuals into the garden. The overcast weather will allow the small plants to adjust to your garden without becoming sunburned.

Harvest cold season crops:
Early season crops such as lettuce, spinach and radishes should be enjoyed before hot weather sets in. When days get too warm, 20° and up, lettuce will go to seed and the radishes will get too hot to eat!

Back to Top

Begin feeding pond fish:
You can start feeding your over-wintered pond fish once the water temperature is above 10°. When the water is colder than that, the fish are not active and the uneaten food decays in the water.

Plant containers and hanging baskets:
Overcast weather is good for planting up your containers and hanging baskets. Plants will adjust to their new homes without having strong sunshine taking moisture from their leaves. Be sure to give the plants a good watering before removing them from the cell packs, it makes it easier to remove the plant without breaking the roots.

Back to Top

Remove floating debris from ponds and water features:
A good task on an overcast day is to remove floating debris from your pond or water feature. When the weather is overcast you do not get a bright reflection from the water surface and the task is easier on your eyes. Removing the debris stops if from sinking to the bottom and rotting, giving off gases that can foul the water.

Plant seed of warm season crops:
A nice warm sunny day after the last frost is ideal for planting vegetable seeds like beans, squash, cucumbers and ornamentals like nastursiums, morning glories, zinnias, castor beans and marigolds. These plants prefer to have their seed sown in soil that is warm to the touch, and will not succeed in cold soil.

Back to Top

Plant summer flowering bulbs:
Wait until the last frost is passed and the soil is warm before planting your summer flowering bulbs, dahlias, gladiolus, cannas, etc. Gladioli need soil warmer than 10° C. If the soil is colder, they will take longer to bloom.

Plant warm season vegetables:
You need to pick a warm, but overcast day to plant peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant in the garden. These types of vegetables do not like cold soil or cold nights, so be sure to wait until all risk of frost has passed.

Back to Top

Stake plants which grow tall:
Just after a light rain is the time to put stakes in the garden around those perennials and annuals which grow tall and are subject to wind damage. The rain will soften the soil and you will be able to insert the stakes more easily. Be careful not to pierce the rootball with the stakes!

Add tropical plants to your pond:
Wait until the nighttime temperature is over 50 F. before adding tropical plants to the pond. Water hyacinths, water lettuce, tropical umbrella palms and tropical lilies do not like cold water and while they might live, they will be much happier if they are placed in warmer water.

Back to Top

Divide bearded iris:
A dry, hot, sunny day in July is perfect for digging up and dividing your tall bearded iris clumps. Iris plants prefer to be divided in the heat of July. The clumps will die off in the centre, but it is an easy chore to dig up the clump, remove the dead rhizomes and re-plant the firm healthy portions.

Move containers and hanging baskets to shade:
A heat wave can spell disaster for containers and hanging baskets. The hot dry weather causes the plants to transpire just like humans' sweat. If you cannot be at home to water the containers move them to a partly shaded location until the weather returns to normal.

Collect seeds:
A dry sunny day is ideal for collecting the seeds of your favourite annuals and perennials for next year. Collecting and packaging seeds dry stops mould and mildew from developing on the seeds. Seeds are best collected in paper bags or envelopes.

Back to Top