May is a glorious month! It was named for the Greek goddess Maia who is associated with the Roman goddess of fertility. This makes a lot of sense to us gardeners who long for fertile soil and healthy plants that grow with wild abandon. For most of us who have been waiting to plant spring containers, now is the time to fill our cars with plants and determination. 

Add a bit of color, beauty and edibility to your front steps, patio or deck.  Create a container filled with cool weather annual flowers, vegetables, and perennials. Here’s gardening expert, Melinda Myers how-to recipe, 'Spring Garden Container':

Wait no longer! You owe it to yourself to plant up a new spring container or two... or more, this month. There are no guarantees that we won’t see frost or freezing temperatures again. But, at least, those days are numbered. 

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

•    Begin planting trees, shrubs and perennials now.  Plant annuals after the danger of frost is gone.

Don’t let the unseasonably warm winter trick you into early planting.  Remember it is Illinois and winter can rear its ugly hand at any time.  But you can take advantage of the beautiful days in March to get your garden and landscape ready for the growing season ahead. Here’s gardening expert, Melinda Myers how-to recipe, 'Spring Cleaning for a Beautiful Garden':

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

• Deadhead spring bulbs once they have finished flowering to redirect energy to the bulb, leave the leaves.

On the calendar, spring starts on March 20th in our ‘slow to thaw’ Northern climate—but, don’t start expecting swaths of tulips and scented lilacs, quite yet. March is a rough month for gardeners who feel the tug of a new planting season. New hopes can be quickly dashed by a late snowfall that blankets the bravest of flowering bulbs.

 

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

• Keep tender plants such as roses, covered until April.

There is nothing cuter than bunnies or Bambi frolicking through the buttercups... except when they greedily mow down our ‘much anticipated’ spring tulips, flowering shrubs and lush containers stuffed with fresh annuals. If you are plagued by browsing deer, you can arm yourself with plants that deer might, simply, ignore. There is no such thing as a deer-proof plant as deer will eat almost anything to survive. At least, this list of plants will offer you some deer resistance.

 

Save money while increasing your plant choices and extending your gardening fun indoors.  Start long season and hard to find vegetable and flower varieties in a sunny window or under artificial lights. Here’s gardening expert, Melinda Myers how-to recipe for 'Starting Plants from Seeds':

After the merriment of December and the hoopla of New Year's Eve parties, January is the month for relaxation and maybe a bit of pampering. Bask in the luxury of reading or take in a few, unhurried events. You've earned it, so be stingy with your time and do only the things that refresh and are meaningful. Try a few of these ideas or do things that will put a smile on your face. 

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

• Keep an eye out for frost heaving.  Young plants planted in the fall may be pushed out of the ground.  Keep the root system covered with wood chips until the plant can be replanted. 

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

• After the holiday, Christmas trees, fresh swags and garland can be recycled – place in compost, or use as mulch.

Mid-December marks the beginning of the winter season, but, luckily, we don't have to wait that long to get into the spirit of the holidays. Decorating outdoors and indoors allows you to create your very own atmosphere - with your own unique expression. You decide how it will be this year-understated or dazzling! 

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

• Check that all garden supplies, such as hoses, chemicals, seed and sprinklers, have been stored.  Seeds should be refrigerated and most chemicals should not be allowed to drop below freezing.  Clean and repair all tools.  Make sure all outside water has been drained and turned off before it freezes.

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

• Continue to provide birds with fresh water and food.

 

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

• Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs, trees and shrubs, until the ground has  frozen.

 

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

• Now is the time to plant potted perennials, trees and shrubs for root growth throughout the fall and to get a headstart on next years garden.  

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

• Keep plants well watered during times of excessive heat or drought.

 

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

• Prune annuals and perennials to promote bushier growth and more blooms.

We love to share our gardening experience and help keep you informed about timely gardening tasks.  Here's a few things to do in the garden this month:

•    Remove wilted blooms from annuals, perennials and roses to encourage more blooming.

Winter gardening means offering protection to trees and shrubs outside, while enjoying and caring for indoor plants too. Forcing bulbs inside adds color and beauty!

The fall garden is busy! The gardener must harvest vegetables, plant bulbs, care for the lawn and mulch all overwintering plants to protect them, as the cold sets in.

Just as the gardening season is winding down and cooler temperatures have set in, there are still some tasks in the yard, to prepare it for the winter to come. Caring for your lawn in the fall is one of these important jobs that must be done to maintain the health of the grass over the many months that it sits under the snow.

The summer garden is all about maintenance. Keep the garden cool by watering wisely in the morning and by mulching all plants. Remove all weeds as they appear.

There is much to be done in the spring garden! It's time to replenish soil, plant seeds, pull away winter mulch and to prune trees and shrubs. Time to revive plants!