Why Successful Gardening Relies on Good Timing

Timing of operations in the garden is not simply a question of doing jobs according to the calender. Seasonal weather varies greatly from one year to the next and this affects all aspects of a plant’s life cycle from germination to death. Basic jobs such as sowing, feeding, watering and pruning will produce better results if done when the time is right for both the soil and the plants.

Sow Seeds When the Time is Right

Plant growth is governed by day length, light intensity and temperature. When days get longer, brighter and warmer in the spring, then plants burst into growth. If seeds are sown outdoors too early poor germination results. The experienced gardener either waits until the soil is warm or raises plants indoors to put in the ground when it has warmed up.

Put the Right Fertilizer on the Lawn at the Right Time of Year

Spring lawn fertilizers which are high in nitrogen encourage the grass to grow with great gusto. Apply the same feed in the autumn and winter and your lawn grasses will be very soft and susceptible to frost damage as well as disease attack. Instead use autumn/winter lawn feeds which contain much less nitrogen and more phosphate for strong root growth and potassium to toughen the grasses up for the winter.

The Impact of Timing on Successful Pruning

Pruning is the one operation where timing has an obvious impact. Prune a spring flowering shrub like Spiarea arguta in the previous autumn or winter and you will remove many of its flowers, a pointless exercise. Dogwoods, severely pruned in the autumn, deprive the gardener of their main attraction, those vibrant winter stems.

Successful Propagation by Cuttings is Often Linked to the Ripeness of the Stems

The art of propagation often relies on the skill of the propagator to select cutting material which is at the correct stage of ripeness. However, the importance of this depends on which plant is being propagated. Some shrubs like Hebes are easy to strike from cuttings at virtually any time of year, whereas hollies are difficult to root except when taken as semi-ripe cutting in September when the base of the shoots is darker and firmer. The ideal time varies from year to year, for in a hot dry summer the wood will ripen more quickly than in a cool wet one.

The Water Needs of Plants Depends on Their Stage of Growth

Nowhere is this more true than in the vegetable garden. Leafy vegetables such as cabbages, cauliflowers and lettuce need a constant supply of water, but legumes like peas and beans normally only require additional watering at flowering and fruiting to ensure a good crop, similarly with sweet corn.

Foliage House Plants Rest In winter

During the winter months house plants take it easy so their requirement for water and food is greatly reduced. When spring arrives they start making new growth and this is their signal to you to give them more sustenance.

For Better Results Work with Nature and Not just the Calender

So for better results in the garden, time your operations to meet the needs of the plants you grow.