ANUARY This is the time to do 
your planning indoors 
for the year’s gardening. A good 
time, too, to make your compost bed. 
Spread soil over compost materials 
to speed decay. Moisture helps also, as does spading 
the mass to increase bacterial activity. To protect 
half hardy plants from frosts, mulch the ground 
around and over them this winter while ground is 
frozen, but do not mulch too heavily so that plants 
can’t push their way up. If leaves, straw, etc., are 
used, try light covering of brush, with mulching 
material over it. Spray with dormant type spray 
every deciduous tree, shrub and bush during Janu¬ 
ary or February. Divide perennial plants and move 
those not in proper location, also order the new ones 
you want. Don’t overlook ground peat or compost. 
Gather suitable rocks for your rock garden every 
time you take a drive. 
EBRUARY Trim up any rock gar¬ 
den plants and shrubs 
that need it now. Plant the bare spots 
with the plants you have desired so 
long. Plants with good balls of earth 
may be safely transplanted now. Watering is seldom 
necessary when planting is done this month. See that 
all plants are firm in their positions. This is the 
ideal time to sow seeds indoors. Sow in small, clean 
cans. 
ARCH Prune and spray fruit trees 
or bushes before sap flows 
and buds burst. Give trees coating of 
lime and sulphur, or oil emulsion— 
very effective for certain scale in¬ 
sects. Spray thoroughly; it pays. Prune or plant 
shrubs, roses, ornamental trees and hedges. Fertilize 
trees and bushes this month. Divide and replant old 
clumps of perennial plants. Plant Sweet Peas and 
Gladiolus early. Plant tender annuals indoors early 
this month, in flats, hotbed or coldframe. Transplant 
to garden in mid-April. 
PRIL Still too early in most years 
to plant flower seeds out¬ 
doors, but you can try in a small way. 
Buy seeds early; plant about one- 
fourth of each packet this month if 
weather is good. You may have annual flowers much 
earlier if seed is sown now. Make early plantings in 
small beds, in sunny, sheltered places. Transplant 
about mid-May. Do not plant flower seeds too thickly 
or cover too deeply—one-eighth of an inch is 
enough. Water constantly and well. If you plan a 
new lawn planting this spring, prepare ground now. 
(See “Lawns”). Don’t expect your garden to put up 
# Whatto-do-eac* 
a good fight against insects and bad weather, if you 
starve it for plant food and moisture. Don’t let in¬ 
sect pests and disease get a start. 
AY This is best planting month. 
At seed sowing time soil should 
be freshly turned and contain much 
moisture. Plant seeds thinly, not 
deeply; cover lightly, firm soil, pro- 
constantly during germination. Good 
common annual flowers of dwarf growth to fill in 
bare spots in your rockery are: Ageratum, Lobelia 
and Sweet Alyssum. For fragrance, try these an¬ 
nuals: Candytuft, Scented Stocks, Mignonette, 
double Nasturtium, Petunia, Pinks, Scabiosa, Sweet 
Alyssum, Sweet Peas, Sweet Sultan, Stocks and 
Verbena. For unusual foliage try: Castor Bean, Ice 
Plant, Mexican Fire Bush and Portulaca—all quick 
growing annuals that will help make your garden 
different. 
UNE Cultivate much in June. Look 
out for insect enemies this 
month. Spray or dust at first sign of 
trouble. Watch your Sweet Peas; 
moisten well. Avoid sprinkling the 
vines, however, as this fosters mildew. If mildew at¬ 
tacks them, dust with flowers of sulphur early in the 
morning. If you want blooms all summer and fall 
keep Sweet Peas from going to seed. Prune your an¬ 
nuals, especially those of spindling growth. Pinch 
out center shoots for more compact growth and ex¬ 
tra blooms. Snip off all fading flowers in garden to 
prevent seed production. In late June take up Tulip 
bulbs; store in cool, dry, dark place for summer. 
Separate bulb clusters according to size. Cut back 
perennial Chrysanthemums from 1 to 1% feet from 
the ground. Fertilize lawn early this month and 
water plentifully after fertilizing. Disbud all your 
roses. Pick off all lateral buds when still tiny and 
let strength go into terminal bud to produce perfect 
roses. Plant perennials now for full grown blooming 
plants next season, transplant in fall or winter. 
Start irrigating or sprinkling in earnest now. 
ULY Plant Viola and Pansy seed 
this month for winter and 
early spring flowers. Plant perennials 
of all kinds and biennials in July for 
next season’s bloom. Shade ground 
where you plant seeds now to keep surface from dry¬ 
ing out and killing young seedlings. Freshly cut 
lawn clippings make a good spreading; no soil 
[ 4 ] 
