General Information

• Scroll down or click on any month for plant care instructions
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

  January 1. Protect Protect from heavy frost.

  February 1. Water Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. 2. Protect Protect from heavy frost. 3. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. 4. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem.

  March 1. Plant Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. 2. Water Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. 3. Prune Clean out dead foliage on older clumps. Cut back any damage on leaves. 4. Mulch Mulch to conserve water use and control snails and slugs. 5. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. 6. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. 7. Transplant Divide and transplant older, crowded clumps if necessary. Cut foliage back half-way when you do.

  April 1. Buy Buy plants in bloom to get the color and flower height you want. Look for healthy foliage and bright colors. 2. Plant Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. 3. Water Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. 4. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. 5. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem.

  May 1. Buy Buy plants in bloom to get the color and flower height you want. Look for healthy foliage and bright colors. 2. Plant Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. 3. Water Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. 4. Prune Remove spent flower stalks to promote re-bloom. 5. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. 6. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem.

  June 1. Buy Buy plants in bloom to get the color and flower height you want. Look for healthy foliage and bright colors. 2. Plant Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. 3. Water Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. 4. Prune Remove spent flower stalks to promote re-bloom. 5. Mulch Mulch to conserve water use and control snails and slugs. 6. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. 7. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem.

  July 1. Water Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. 2. Prune Remove spent flower stalks to promote re-bloom. 3. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. 4. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem.

  August 1. Water Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. 2. Prune Remove spent flower stalks to promote re-bloom. 3. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. 4. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem.

  September 1. Plant Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. 2. Water Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. 3. Mulch Mulch to conserve water use and control snails and slugs. 4. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. 5. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. 6. Transplant Divide and transplant older, crowded clumps if necessary. Cut foliage back half-way when you do.

  October 1. Plant Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. 2. Water Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. 3. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. 4. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem.

  November 1. Water Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. 2. Protect Protect from heavy frost. 3. Pest/Disease Inspection Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. 4. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem.

  December 1. Protect Protect from heavy frost.

• Buy When's the best time to buy this plant? When can you buy these from seed (if you can)? When is it usually available? What are things to look for when you're buying it? Or anything other tidbit of information you can share! April Buy plants in bloom to get the color and flower height you want. Look for healthy foliage and bright colors. May Buy plants in bloom to get the color and flower height you want. Look for healthy foliage and bright colors. June Buy plants in bloom to get the color and flower height you want. Look for healthy foliage and bright colors.

  Plant When's a good time to plant this plant or bulb? Any special planting instructions? March Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. April Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. May Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. June Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. September Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation. October Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, in an area with good air circulation.

  Water Is there a time to reduce or increase watering? Any special requirements? Things to avoid during certain times of the year? February Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. March Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. April Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. May Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. June Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. July Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. August Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. September Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. October Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine. November Water established clumps regularly during dry periods -- once a week or less is fine.

  Prune When's a good time to prune this plant? How about deadheading, pinching back, trimming or any other grooming? Any special requirements? March Clean out dead foliage on older clumps. Cut back any damage on leaves. May Remove spent flower stalks to promote re-bloom. June Remove spent flower stalks to promote re-bloom. July Remove spent flower stalks to promote re-bloom. August Remove spent flower stalks to promote re-bloom.

  Mulch Does this plant need to be mulched? Are there specific types of Mulch which are better for this plant? How much? March Mulch to conserve water use and control snails and slugs. June Mulch to conserve water use and control snails and slugs. September Mulch to conserve water use and control snails and slugs.

  Protect When and how should you protect this plant from birds, deer, rabbits? Does this plant need be covered, or wrapped or painted or moved? January Protect from heavy frost. February Protect from heavy frost. November Protect from heavy frost. December Protect from heavy frost.

  Pest/Disease Inspection What are the common problems this plant will face and when should you look for them to appear? February Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. March Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. April Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. May Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. June Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. July Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. August Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. September Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. October Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties. November Watch for snails and slugs. Watch for signs of ink disease, which makes parts of the leaves turn black on less-vigorous varieties.

  Treat for Pest/Disease How do you treat the common problems for this plant? What products or concoctions or natural means do you use? Any special requirements? February Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. March Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. April Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. May Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. June Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. July Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. August Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. September Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. October Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem. November Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. Remove damaged parts of foliage periodically if ink disease is a problem.

  Transplant When's the best time to dig up and transplant this from one spot to another? (This is different than planting). Any special requirements? March Divide and transplant older, crowded clumps if necessary. Cut foliage back half-way when you do. September Divide and transplant older, crowded clumps if necessary. Cut foliage back half-way when you do.