If you want a top-notch Wisconsin lawn and garden then you’ll need to give your yard a little TLC throughout the year. There are a few local issues that you should be on the lookout for as well, stuff that you don’t have to worry about, necessarily, in other parts of the country.
Here’s a month-by-month guide to the tasks you’ll need to undertake to protect the health of your lawn and garden.
Wisconsin’s Native Plants
Before we jump in, we do want to encourage our readers to consider native plants. They require less water and less maintenance. They attract birds, butterflies, and bees, all vital parts of Wisconsin’s ecosystem.
Vegetable Schedules
If you want to plant vegetables then refer to this webpage that will give you a month by month planting guide.
January
For the most part you’re going to be enjoying the great indoors, but there are a few things you should keep an eye on in winter. Make sure to clear debris away from your fences to avoid trapping moisture or knocking fence posts loose.
You’re also going to want to watch for broken branches, bent branches, uprooted trees, and trees with more than a ½” of snow load. You can reduce the snow load on trees by spraying them with some cold water.
There are dozens of glorious Wisconsin winter birds you could be attracting to your yard, so pick out some bird feed, maintain your feeders and put out a bit of water to bring some cheer to these cold days.
See also:
How to Care for Trees After an Ice Storm
February
January’s tasks continue this month.
March
It’s starting to warm up, which means it’s a good idea to pull debris out of your yard and to double check your fence for damage, if you have one.
April
You may think you’re done thinking about winter salt for the year, but you’d be wrong. This is the time when you’re going to want to plant salt-resistant trees, plants, and shrubs. Salt can really damage your plant life and if you don’t want to spend extra time protecting your landscape in winter then choose your plants carefully and get them in the ground. Here’s a list you can reference. Of course, salt-tolerant natives are the best plants of all if you want to stay low-maintenance.
See also:
Choose Salt-Tolerant Plants Now
May
Grubs are a serious problem in Wisconsin, and by July they’ll start laying their eggs. If you’ve had trouble with grubs in the past then it’s time to reach for a preventative commercial insecticide.
It’s also time for the fun part: planting this year’s new annuals! Your perennials should be waking up right about now as well, but you may want to refresh some of them in case a few have died.
June
Basic watering and weeding can take up the bulk of your landscaping energy this month.
July
Time for some refresher planting. Cold-tolerant plants will keep your yard looking nice until the snows fall.
Basic watering and weeding continue.
August
If your preventative insecticide didn’t work earlier in the year you’ll start to see the damage now as grass starts to die in huge patches across your lawn. Minimize the damage by finding an insecticide that will take out the grubs while they’re feeding and growing. You don’t want to wait until the weather gets cold because they’ll burrow too far into the soil for the grubs to reach.
This is also Emerald Ash Borer season, so be sure to review this post for signs of an infestation and to get information on what to do if you suspect you have a problem.
If your lawn needs some renovation August is the time to do it.
September
Fertilize your lawn and make sure to keep the grass as short as possible this month. This will prevent snow mold. Snow mold can destroy your lawn, and you won’t be able to do a thing about it once the snow falls.
See also:
Now’s the Time for some Fall Fertilizing
October
Fall is truly here. You may be surprised to learn this is an even more active month for great gardening than the summer months are.
- Bring your house plants out of the cold.
- Use an all-natural bark mulch to protect plant roots.
- Plant bulbs for any bulb-plants you want to see in the spring.
- Keep the leaves raked and the plants pruned.
If you want to plant or move trees, this is an ideal time to do so. It’s also the ideal time to uproot trees, since oak wilt season is over.
November
Don’t neglect your outdoor furniture this month. Use mildew-resistant outdoor furniture covers to protect your furniture from the weather. Bring plastic furniture into a garage or shed to protect it from cracking during the winter. Cushions should be stored in a resin wicker box with a furniture cover.
If you have evergreens, you’re also going to want to water and mulch them to ensure they don’t start drying out and losing needles during the winter months.
See also:
Are You Giving Your Outdoor Furniture Enough Winter Protection?
Caring for Evergreens in November
December
There’s salt everywhere by now, and left to its own devices it can really destroy your landscape. Salt-resistant plants can help, but we still recommend using salt sparingly and rinsing off your plants on warmer winter days.
See also:
How to Protect Your Landscape from Winter Salt Damage
Finishing Touches
Don’t have a fence, pergola, or gazebo yet? Consider how these structures will enhance your lawn and garden all year round. We’ll build them as long as the ground isn’t frozen, so you can all us almost any time.
We’ll give you a free estimate and a custom design that can help you make your lawn and landscape truly great. Contact us today to get started.
