"Bloom with grace"

January  - day time temps 52-65 (F)

• Plant seed potatoes with lots of organic matter.
• Plants flowers of dianthus, pansy, petunia, viola, and snapdragon.
• This is a good month to plant some beautiful camellias.
• Continue planting cool-season crops, including, arugula, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, peas, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, radishes, salsify and spinach.
• Make plans for the coming seasons garden. Decide where your crops will rotate from last year, and start carpentry projects like cold frames and trellises.
• Look over last year's planting, fertilizing and spraying records. Make notes to buy successful varieties as well as those new ones you wish to try.
• Add garden record keeping to the list of New Year's resolutions. Make a note of which varieties of flowers and vegetables do best and which do poorly in your garden.
• Plant fruit trees now to give their roots time to develop before the warm, dry spring months. Prune and fertilize existing trees.
• Be ready to cover tender plants to minimize frost damage and be sure covers extend all the way to the ground. Frost or freezes are likely this month and next.

February - day time temps 53 - 66 (F)

• Plants that perform better in the cooler months include petunia, pansy, verbena, dianthus, strawflower, and lobelia. Protect from frosts and freezing temperatures.
• Many bulbs can be planted now. Provide adequate water for establishment and protect from cold weather with mulch. Some examples include Amazon lily, crinum, and agapanthus.
• Transplant tomatoes (towards end of month) Protect cold-tender veggies if a frost or freeze is predicted. 
• Check citrus trees for scab disease. Apply a copper fungicide when new leaves appear and again when two-thirds of the flower blossoms have fallen.
• Prune roses this month to remove damaged canes and improve the overall form. After pruning, fertilize and apply a fresh layer of mulch. Blooming will begin 8–9 weeks after pruning.
• Fertilize fruit trees now if not done in January. Frequency and amount of fertilization depend on the age of the tree.
• Consider replacing yards with drought-tolerant and low-maintenance groundcovers.

March - day time temps 56 - 70 (F)

• Replace declining winter annuals with varieties such as angelonia, gazania, and salvia that will provide color now and into the summer months.
• Plant caladiums for a showy tropical display all summer.
• Plant an array of culinary and medicinal herbs now. In addition to their culinary value, many herbs are ornamental and attract butterflies to the garden.
• Prune trees and shrubs when new growth begins after the end of the dormant season. To guard new blooms, prune after the last flowers fade but before the new buds set.
• Fertilize palms, azaleas, camellias, and other ornamental shrubs if needed.
• Check sprinkler systems for efficient water use, and March is a good time to set up new irrigation if needed.

April - day time temps 60 - 75 (F)

• Coleus do well in sun or shade and provide vivid colors and patterns for months.
• Planting daylily for months of color from these low-maintenance plants.
• Continue adding to your herb garden. Try nasturtiums! The leaves and flowers add a peppery zest to salads.
• Continue planting warm-season crops, such as beans, sweet corn, and squash. 
• Monitor landscape plants weekly for aphids and/or disease on your plants.
• Protect beneficial insects. Some insects should be encouraged in your yard!
• Divide clumps of bulbs, ornamental grasses, or herbaceous perennials to expand or rejuvenate garden beds or to pass along to friends.
• Mulch to reduce weeds and conserve moisture during hot weather. Organic mulches are best as they add nutrients to the soil.

May - day time temps 65 - 80 (F)

• Annual plants that can take summer heat include salvia, torenia, wax begonia, coleus, and ornamental pepper.
• Plant heat-loving herbs, including basil, Mexican tarragon, lavender, rosemary, okra, southern peas, and sweet potato.
• Watch for pest like, scale, hornworms and mites on plants because they become more active in warm weather.  Plus check for disease, and nutritional disorders on plants.

June - day time temps 71 - 81 (F)

• Annuals that can take full sun during the increasingly hot summer months include celosia, portulaca, vinca, and some coleus.
• Pinch back herbs regularly to prevent flowering and enhance branching.
• Plant okra, southern pea, calabaza, Malabar spinach, and sweet potato. 
• Monitor the landscape and garden weekly for harmful insects. Knowing which insects attack a plant can aid in identification and treatment.
• Watch for drought stress and water as needed. 
• Produce more plants by air layering, grafting, division, or cuttings.
• Lightly prune summer-flowering shrubs, like hibiscus, oleander, and crapemyrtle, during the warmer months because they bloom on new growth. Azaleas can still be pruned until the middle of next month without harming next spring's buds.
• Clean up your vegetable garden and solarize the soil to kill pests and disease.

July - day time temps 77 - 93 (F)

• Butterfly lily and gladiolus can be planted during the middle of summer.
• Summer annuals to still plant now include celosia, coleus,  and ornamental pepper.
• It is too hot to start herbs from seeds, but they will do well if started from small plants.
• Start your Halloween pumpkins this month, but watch out for mildew diseases. Other squashes, okra and Southern peas can also still be planted.
• Use summer heat to solarize the vegetable garden for fall planting. It takes 4–6 weeks to kill weeds, disease, and nematodes, so start now.
• Prune azalea no later than mid-July to protect new buds for next spring's bloom.
• Check citrus trees for damage to fruit or leaves and take action to minimize the effect of insects and/or disease on developing fruit and the overall health of the tree.

August - day time temps 78 - 94 (F)

• The hottest days of summer limit planting now to heat-tolerant annuals, such as coleus, kalanchoe, and vinca.
• Bulbs of Aztec lily, butterfly lily, walking iris, and spider lily can be planted any time of the year, even late summer.
• Herbs that can be planted from plants like Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.
• Tomatoes, beans, carrots and others can be planted for the fall garden.
• Check older palm fronds for yellowing as it may indicate a magnesium or potassium deficiency. Apply an appropriate palm fertilizer.
• Solarize the vegetable garden in preparation for fall planting if not done in July.
• Pinch back mums to allow time for buds to form for winter bloom.
• Fertilize plants that show signs of deficiencies. Rapid growth may result in nutrient deficiencies in some plants, especially if grown in pots.
• Remove spent blooms, cut back, and fertilize flowering annuals and perennials to extend the bloom season into the fall months.

September - day time temps 74 - 90 (F)

• Refresh you flower beds with coleus, celosia, zinnia, and wax begonia for color into fall.
• Add color, texture, and pattern to the garden with the many varieties of elephant's ear. 
• Plant herbs that tolerate the warm temperatures of early fall, such as Mexican tarragon, mint, rosemary, and basil.
• Numerous cool-season (as well as warm-season) vegetable crops can be planted.
• Divide and replant perennials and bulbs that have grown too large or need rejuvenation. Add organic matter to new planting areas and monitor water needs during establishment.
• Fertilize citrus with a balanced fertilizer either this month or in October. 
• Prepare the fall vegetable garden if not done in August. Using transplants (or seeds) from Pappa Bear Nursery will get the garden off to a fast start. 

October - day time temps 66 - 81 (F)

• Even though temperatures are still warm, begin planting flowers for the cooler months ahead. Dianthus, petunia, and pansy are good annuals for the fall garden.
• Plant bulbs of agapanthus, rain lily, and many varieties of lilies now for blooms next spring or summer. Add organic matter to the planting bed for best results.
• A wide range of herbs can be planted from seeds or plants this month. Some examples include parsley, cilantro, chives, garlic, and sage.
• Plant crops now that will grow and produce throughout the winter months. This includes broccoli, collards, kale, lettuce, and many others.

November - day time temps 57 - 72 (F)

• Create a display of fall colors with cool-season plants. Some examples include pansy, viola, snapdragon, dianthus, cape daisy, and alyssum.
• Continue planting herbs from seeds or plants. A wide variety of herbs prefer cool, dry weather, including cilantro, parsley, sage, and thyme.
• Continue planting winter crops, like beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, kale, and lettuce.
• Divide and replant overgrown perennials and bulbs now so that they establish before the cold weather arrives.
• Apply horticultural oil sprays to control scale insects.
• Turn off irrigation systems and water only if needed. Plants need less supplemental watering in cooler weather.

December - day time temps 51 - 65 (F)

• Consider gift memberships to Pappa Bear Nursery for the holidays. They are dual purpose gifts.  You support your local Moreno Valley small business while providing a thoughtful, lasting presents to your family and friends.
• To add color to the winter garden, plant masses of petunia, pansy, and snapdragon.
• Amaryllis is a popular plant for the holiday season. It can be forced to bloom now or planted outdoors for spring blooms.
• Plant herbs that thrive in cool weather. Some examples include parsley, thyme, sage, dill, fennel, and cilantro.
• Reliable cool-season vegetables to plant this month include celery, cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage, and carrot.
• Prepare now to protect tender plants should cold weather threaten.
• Inspect regularly for pests on indoor plants. Keep in mind that plant-specific temperature, light, and humidity are key to ensuring that indoor plants thrive.
• Perform soil test if plants do not perform as desired or if new plantings are planned.
• Use fallen leaves to provide the carbon ingredient needed for successful composting and also to make a good mulch.
• Continue monitoring and treat as needed. While cooler weather generally means fewer pests, some populations actually increase at this time of year.