Welcome To Fleetwood

JANUARY

• This is the best month to plant roses as well as shrubs and trees, as their energy goes into developing roots instead of leaves. 
• Prepare new beds for planting, preferably raised 5"-8" above the surrounding area for good drainage.
• This is also the best month for transplanting. Plants move better when fully dormant. Remember to remove some of the top growth to compensate for the inevitable loss of some of the roots. Water thoroughly and mulch over root area. 
• Buy and plant Fruit Trees
• Prune Trees and Ornamental grasses
• Test and amend garden soils, adding organic matter as needed.
• Spray Dormant Oil on shrubs and trees to prevent scale.
• Water late in the day (and in advance of freezes)

FEBRUARY

• The traditional date in the Houston area to prune roses is Feb. 14.  Antique roses don't need pruning unless you want to shape them.
• Fertilizing trees should be completed by the end of the month so they can use their nutrients for spring growth. 
• Super hardy bloomers that can be planted now for sun are: cassia, cestrum, daylilies, duranta, plumbago, lanceleaf coneflowers and for bright shade: Barbados cherry, firespike, hardy hibiscus, Louisiana iris, and Turks cap. 
• Plant Trees, Shrubs, and Roses 
• Apply pre-emergent weed preventers (Crabgrass Preventer to stop grassy weeds before germination; Broadleaf weed preventer
• Prune rose bushes

MARCH

• Plant Spring Annuals and Perennials
• Plant Trees, Shrubs, and Roses 
• Apply Premium Lawn Food—3 sources of nitrogen extend feeding
• Spray to kill visible weeds
• Purchase Caladium bulbs
• Feed all plants except azaleas. They like to be fed after flowering.
• Put tomato plants in the ground, but if we get a late frost be prepared to protect them.
• Pinch tips of non-blooming perennials to make them bushier.
• Spray roses for black spot with a fungicide weekly.
• Pruning of evergreen and summer flowering trees and shrubs should be completed this month.  However, prune spring flowering shrubs such as azaleas, spirea, and forsythia only after they finish blooming.
• This is a good time to add hanging baskets of petunias, begonias and other annual flowers to enhance areas around your house.

APRIL

• Plant Trees, Shrubs, and Roses 
• Plant Caladium Bulbs - mid to late April, one month after last frost
• Plant Spring Annuals and Perennials
• Apply Horticultural corn meal for fungus
• Apply Tree and Shrub Food
• Prune Shrubs
• Ornamental grasses add variety to a landscape. Try something new this spring.
• Feed camellias and magnolias with azalea food scratched into the soil and watered.
• For faster color, purchase annuals already started. Select short, compact plants that have not yet begun to flower. Remove flowers and buds to give plants an opportunity to become well established before flowering.
• Wait until hotter weather (May) to plant periwinkles. You will avoid losing them to a fungal blight.

SEPTEMBER

• Plant annuals like Petunias, Dianthus, Ornamental Peppers, Snapdragons, and perennial Mums, and Asters
• Prune roses
• Apply Premium Lawn Food - 3 sources of nitrogen extend feeding
• Apply Preemergent Weed Preventors

OCTOBER

• Buy Spring Bulbs (for planting in December)
• Plant Trees and Shrubs
• Plant fall annuals
• Pansies and Cyclamen and perennial Mums
• Winterize lawns
• Good time to reposition /thin perennials, if desired

NOVEMBER

·         Buy Spring Bulbs (for planting in December).  Check on pre-cooling plan.

·         Plant Wildflower seeds

·         Plant Trees and Scrubs

·         Plant Fall Annuals: Pansies, Cyclamens, and fall blooming perennial Mums

·         Prune Trees

DECEMBER

• Plant Spring Bulbs. ( Use Bone Meal ) 
• Plant Fall Annuals and Perennials.
• Plant or transplant Trees and Shrubs
• Plant Trees
• It is not too late to prune Trees
• Create Container Gardens to bring fresh color onto patio and in to home.
• Water in advance of freezes