Time to plan your yard projects - some great tips here!

How to Schedule Yard Work

By an eHow Contributor

Some garden chores, such as mowing the lawn are routine, and others are infrequent, but inevitable. Keep steady with expected work and plan ahead for the unforeseen.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

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   First, divide your garden into distinct areas or plant types, then develop a maintenance plan for each. For instance, break your yard down into the lawn, trees and shrubs, vines and ground covers, rose and vegetable gardens. These are some of the more common landscape areas that gardeners work with, but tailor your areas to the makeup of your lawn.
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   For lawns in spring time, fertilize them with commercial lawn fertilizer according to the directions on the label. If crabgrass is a nuisance, apply a pre-emergence herbicide in midspring. (If you live where forsythia grows, apply crabgrass preventer when it blooms.) In the summer, mow regularly, raising the cutting height slightly if necessary to prevent cutting the lawn too low. If a drought extends longer than a week, be sure to water deeply enough to soak 6 inches (15 cm) into the soil. In fall, apply fertilizer high in potassium to help strengthen the lawn for winter. Seed or over seed the lawn if it's weak, thin or headed into winter dormancy. Mow less often in winter, and higher where lawns continue growing. Avoid walking on frozen lawns that aren't covered by snow.
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   Refresh the mulch of trees and shrubs in spring and apply organic or controlled-release fertilizer over the plants' drip line, and water thoroughly. Prune spring-blooming shrubs after flowers fade. During the summer, keep the area around the plants weed-free with mulches or cultivation. Shear hedges after flush of new growth. Prune faded blooms from spring-flowering shrubs (such as lilacs). Plant most varieties by early fall or mid- or late-fall where hard frosts don't threaten. In cold regions, mulch after the soil freezes. In the winter, water if rainfall is light. Wrap the trunks of young trees to protect them from rodents. In late winter, prune shrubs or trees that flower later in summer (such as crape myrtle, butterfly bush andhydrangea).
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   For vines and ground cover in spring, lightly cultivate and renew mulch and fertilize both plant types with organic or controlled-release fertilizer. Thin out overgrown and tangled vines by removing oldest stems to base of plant. Cut back and trim edges of the ground covers to encourage new growth. In the summer, water as needed. Prune spring-flowering vines (such as wisteria) after blooms fade. Groom and trim edges of ground cover beds. In fall, water and lightly fertilize plants to make sure they enter winter in optimum health. Plant ground covers. In the winter, In mild winter areas, fertilize lightly with a nitrate-containing fertilizer (it's active in cold weather). As soon as the soil is workable in late winter, plant cool-season annuals (such as pansies, primroses and snapdragons).
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   Prune most roses in early spring, just before growth begins, cutting out old and damaged branches and shortening remaining branches. Watch new leaves for aphids and wash them off with water when or if they appear. In the summer, prune off the flowers--cutting just above a leaflet, at least a foot (30 cm) below the flower--to enjoy indoors and promote repeat flowering. During fall, leave faded flowers in place and allow seed pods to develop in order to help plant move into dormancy and become more tolerant of cold. Where winter temperatures dip to 10 degrees F (-12 C) or lower, mound soil or mulch over graft union to protect it. Prune to remove dead and damaged branches and to thin the center of the bush in late winter before spring growth resumes.
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   Prepare planting vegetable-garden beds in the spring by cultivating and adding organic matter.Plant cool-season crops (such as broccoli and radishes) as soon as the soil is workable. Plant warm-season crops (such asbeans, corn and tomatoes) after the soil is thoroughly warm. In the summer, mulch the crops with straw or similar material to conserve moisture and cool the soil. Harvest frequently to prolong the crop. Harvest vegetables in the fall, before they are cut down by frost (green tomatoes can ripen indoors). Clean up garden residue and add compost to soil. Test soil pH and use dolomitic limestone or sulfur to bring into optimum range of 6.5 to 7.0. In early winter, plant a soil-improving cover crop of rye grass where winters are cold. Where winters are mild, plant mustard or fava beans.

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Don't Be Too Anxious To Do Yard Work