Seasonal Gardening Checklist

~Check seeds. Do any need to be started now? Need to order seed?

~Enjoy watching birds feed from your overwintering garden during the winter season. Perhaps start a journal of who visits.

~Clean out any bird boxes.

~Check out the Pollinator Garden CerIficaIon Program on BRC. Learn what is required. Could you cerIfy your garden and help make Central Virginia healthier for birds, bees, pets and people? Make a plan to fill in the gaps this Spring and cerIfy by Summer.

~Go Seed Sowing in Winter. In between snow melts sow naIve plants in blank spots in your already prepared garden spaces to increase diversity in your landscape. Planting in winter allows seeds that need cold stratfication a chance for that to happen naturally. You can even sow on top of snow if it is light and fluffy and not at all icy. This is helpful because it shows you exactly how thickly you have scattered your seed.

~If tree or shrub pruning this month (FEB) don’t bag up or burn your “trimmings”. Make piles of your cuttings and leave them for later so you don’t destroy chrysalises and eggs of beneficial pollinators.

~Check for winter damage to trees. If you have a dead limb that falls leave it somewhere in your landscape and consider it as vital habitat. Many insects and birds feed off decaying wood. “There is more life in a dead tree than a living one”. If tree damage is a risk to your property then cut the tree into a safely shaped “snag” rather than having it taken out completely if possible.

~Divide any perennial plants and allow them to reestablish their roots before summer temperatures and drought set in.

~Check the Virginia NaIve Plant site for NaIve plant sales in your area. Know what plants are native to your area. Also check the Bedford and Lynchburg Master garden sites for their plant sale as both organizaIons usually include them.

~If you must clean up an area of your garden this month leave 6-8 inches of stem on your naIve plants including grasses. Native grasses provide crucial nesting sites. Any insects that are overwintering or have laid eggs are probably in this area of the plant. Shake off the seeds of your plant in your garden in case they haven’t all been dispersed by wind, birds, animals or you passing through the area. Again, don’t bag up your trimmings but set them aside and leave in the garden as mulch or add to your compost pile.

~No mowing yet! Take a walk around your yard. How much yard do you have? Lawns are a waste of your time and energy and give nothing back to increase biodiversity. Instead of having a wall to wall carpet of lawn try to shrink your lawn into a throw rug. Where can you add a new bed of native plants?

~Be sure your pollinator water source hasn’t cracked over winter and begin checking it regularly for bees that are out foraging. AddiIonally, leave clover, violets, and any other spring nectar “weeds” in the lawn for energy providing nectar for bees as well.

~No mowing yet unless temperatures have been over 50 for 5 consecutive days. Set your mower to the highest setting to protect pollinators still in their nesting phase.

~As temperatures warm check to see if your leaf litter is too heavy and stressing your plants as they emerge from winter. You may need to pull aside a leaf layer. Don’t dispose of leaves as they are valuable fertilizer as well as mulch. Place them under trees and shrubs and save them for future bed construction

~Buy Native plants! Buy species that are specific to your region. Make sure they have not been treated with pesticides. Plant any plants you may have started after last danger of frost. Make sure you have host plants as well as nectar and pollen plants. See our native planting guide.

~Watch the temperatures this month. Once they are 50 degrees for a week or more you can safely begin garden clean up and prepare your garden for the new season.

~Celebrate Earth Day. Reduce Pesticides and Herbicides and protect the ozone layer. Pesticides impact climate change; their manufacture, transport and application. Clean out your garage or toolshed of chemicals that do harm to you and your environment and dispose of them on a hazardous waste collecIon day in your area.

~Enjoy walking about your pollinator garden and seeing how many diverse species of bees and other pollinators are visiIng now. Check your bee and bird nesIng boxes for activity.

~Shopping for new plants? Ask your nursery retailer if their plants, ornamental or native, have been treated with systemic pesIcides. Demand that the plants you are using in your gardens don’t do harm to the birds and pollinators because they are chemically treated. Tell your retailer you want them to carry more native plant species that are indigenous to your region.

~Native plants typically survive dry hot days much easier than the non-native ornamentals do. However, any new plants you have put in this spring need to be watered weekly to insure their survival. Make sure your hose is in working order and can reach your garden.

~Mark any early spring bloomers like bluebells, woodland phlox or dutchman’s breeches that may need dividing so you can do this chore before they disappear for the season.

~Cut back any late blooming perennials like asters, goldenrods or native sunflowers that get too “leggy” for your garden. You may safely reduce height up to a half.

~National Pollinator Week – 3rd week in June, watch for community events

~Outdoor lighIng around walkways, patios and garages kills a lot of insects. Light pollution at night is one of the major killers of insects, particularly moths. Light polluIon is one of the easiest things to solve: Turn off outdoor lights, add a motion sensor, change out white light bulbs for yellow.

~Looking for activities to keep your kids busy this summer. Check out the Xerces classroom for youth on their YouTube Channel. While you are there read an article or two yourself and learn more about the benefits to the environment of gardening for pollinators.

~Cut back (deadhead)any blooms on plants that will rebloom : coreopsis , zinnias, Mexican sunflower, rudbekia, hyssop, thyme, nepata and others to encourage their fall rebloom to keep that nectar flowing as long as possible.

~Download a plant identification app on your phone or buy a field guide and take a walk in a natural area near you. Check out the Wintergreen FoundaIon, Claytor Nature Center or Mill Mountain Wildflower Garden if you want a guided experience. Keep a list of plants, garden structures or gardening methods you may want to incorporate into your landscape.

~The invasive weeds, grasses and shrubs are out and easily recognizable now. Rid your garden of them as necessary. Refer to this Invasive plant list.

~Continue to check on your pollinator water sources. Do not add bleach to keep it fresh. Remember to pour out standing water around your home if it rains to avoid mosquito eggs. Use mosquito dunk tablets instead of having your lawn “fogged” with a generalized bug spray that kills everything.

~National Moth Week, mid-July Celebrates the beauty, life cycles, and habitats of moths

~Prepare for any new fall beds in August.

~Native plants don’t need ferIlizer. In the heat of summer when weeds and lack of rain are upon the garden adding a little compost around your plants provides respite. Now is a good time to move around the clippings and leaves you’ve been composIng. It’s okay of they are not all broken down. When applied like a mulch as they break down in your garden they are providing nutrients to the soil.

~Begin watching your native plants and grasses for possible seed collecting. Wait till seeds are completely dry before gathering. Never harvest more than 25% of any seed. Leaving seeds to spread naturally is preferable.

~Leave your bloomed out plants standing in your garden for food and nesting sites. Spare yourself the work of the tradiIonal fall clean up and enjoy the last show of summer as finches and butterflies are abundant.

~Watch for the last Monarchs coming through. Decreasing day length and temperatures along with aging milkweed plants signal to begin migraIng. Most eastern Monarchs start the journey about mid-August and don’t reproduce but are busy feeding and traveling to their overwintering destination. Make sure you have an adequate nectar source for them as they visit. Goldenrod and asters should be prolific this time of year. If you don’t see it where you live plant it. If you own pasture or field leave it standing

~Leave your bloomed out plants standing in your garden for food and nesIng sites.

~ Spare yourself the work of the tradiIonal fall clean up and enjoy the last show of summer as finches and butterflies are abundant.

~Lights out for the birds! Fall migratIons begin this month. Turn off lights at work and home at night.

~Check for dried seeds to collect. Remember only when completely dry. Never more than 25%.

~Watch for the last Monarchs coming through. Decreasing day length and temperatures along with aging milkweed plants signal to begin migratIng. Most eastern Monarchs start the journey about mid-August and don’t reproduce but are busy feeding and traveling to their overwintering desInaIon. Make sure you have an adequate nectar source for them as they visit. Goldenrod and asters should be prolific this Ime of year. If you don’t see it where you live plant it. If you own pasture or field leave it standing.

~Plant more naIves! Yes, you can stIll plant natIves now. Fall is ideal plantIng tIme because plants have tIme to get established and take off faster when temperatures warm up in the spring.

~Our first frost usually happens late in Oct.. Don’t clean up your garden as you have been tradiIonally taught. Leave it standing! Any plant with a sturdy stem could a possible nestIng site for pollinators or as a seed source of food for birds. Plants that turn to mush can be cut down.

~Leave the Leaves! Leave them where they fall. Rake them into your garden beds. Pile them up to make beds larger or as a base for creatIng a new one. Don’t shred your leaves with a mower- you have to protect all those cocoons from your natIve plants, shrubs and trees.

~Divide any perennials that have finished their cycle now before the ground freezes.

~Remove your water source from your garden. Consider keeping a bird bath with water for birds a while longer though. You don’t need bird feeders when you keep your landscape plants standing and consider it food.

~Before you forget what you enjoyed or what was a problem in your garden this season make some notes about what you observed. Did you not have enough plants blooming in high summer? Add natIve monardas and bee balms. Did your garden finish before frost hit? Plant more natIve asters and goldenrods or bridge plants like sages or zinnias. Did you find bird nests around your garden? Maybe you need to plant a rose or an understory tree of some kind to increase your cove for them. If you have birds you’ll have less pests eaIng your garden.

~Read arIcles on bee, bird and insect idenIficaIon so you can better know what you are observing in your pollinator garden. Use the quiet garden Ime to watch videos from Xerces or catch up on Doug Tallamy or download a podcast and see what species need your help.

~Talk to your friends and family as you gather and educate them about pollinators. Maybe gift them natIve plants or seeds from your garden as well as a book to start them on their own pollinator garden journey.