There is no secret, for a beautiful garden, it is necessary to maintain its plants . And when you do not have a very green hand, it's not always easy to do the right things at the right time. Do not panic ! You are told how to properly care for your plants, month after month.

In January :
- Outside freezing periods, winter treatments are continued on fruit trees.
- At the end of January, we prune the vines and actinidias (kiwis) which can start very early if the winter is rather mild.
- Wisteria are trimmed by shortening the lateral branches.
- Leeks, lamb's lettuce and winter lettuce are protected from freezing and can be harvested at any time. A plastic tarpaulin will do just fine.
- We take care not to trample the frozen lawn so as not to break grass blades.
- Outside, perennials are sown such as gentians and primroses that need cold to germinate.
- Morning and evening, the leaves of orchids are misted.

In F ebruary:
- We cut the clematis.
- Trunks of trees and shrubs attacked by animals are protected with a mesh sleeve.
- We plant the borders of boxwood.
- We check and, if necessary, release the guardians of the trees that we planted in the fall.
- We cut the shrubs that we sheltered in veranda or greenhouse, type fuschias daturas.
- We change the soil and clean the bulbs of our indoor amaryllis from last year to get them started.

In March :
- At the beginning of March, we begin the spring treatment by passing Bordeaux mixture on peaches.
- We cut all the summer blooming shrubs.
- The first lettuces, radishes and peas are sown and covered with a tarpaulin.
- We repair small damage to the lawn (wear and bumps).
- We fight against moss on lawns with agricultural lime.

In April :
- The faded flowers of the tulips, daffodils and daffodils are removed but without touching the leaves until May or June.
- We take the fertilizer input on indoor plants.
- At the end of April, we remove the forcing veil that protected the chilly plants during the winter.
- Artificial ponds and streams are returned to water, as well as watering circuits.

In May :
- We plant the chilly summer vegetables like tomato, squash, zucchini, eggplant and pepper.
- The late beans are pinched against aphids.
- We begin a preventive treatment on roses to fight against diseases and small fungi.
- In the middle of May, indoor plants are taken out. For 8 days, they are left in the shade in a sheltered corner.
- Last opportunity before the heat to sow grass!

In June :
- We clean and prune the spring shrubs that have faded.
- Spring biennials such as wallflowers, daisies or pansies and perennials are sown.
- We regularly water the succulents to place in full sun.
- Aquatic plants like the lotus and the water lily are installed.

In July :
- Under the sun, we clean the greenhouse at rest with bleached water. We rinse it well.
- At night, we water massive ornament and lawn.
- Faded flowers of annuals and perennials are regularly cleaned to cause new blooms.

In ugust:
- Fruit trees are heavily loaded with fruit to avoid breakage.
- The second size of hedges of the year and topiaries are made.
- The faded stems of the hollyhocks are trimmed to eliminate the heifer larvae that are mining them.

In September :
- We transplant the spring onions.
- We sow lamb's lettuce, spinach, winter turnips.
- Before frosts, indoor plants are taken away from heat sources.
- End of September until the beginning of November, we plant evergreen trees and shrubs.
- We set traps against wasps on trellises and pear trees.

In October :
- Rustic annuals are planted for bloom in May, poppy or blueberry type.
- The peach trees are treated against blister in the Bordeaux mixture after the fall of the leaves.
- We sow and remake the lawns until May.
- We begin a careful weeding of unwanted youngsters. It's always won for spring!

In November :
- We stop all fertilization on indoor plants.
- We pick up the last dead leaves.
- We open, fifteen days in advance, the planting holes of trees and shrubs.
- We mow the lawn one last time with a good cutting height: the grass a little high is less invaded by moss.

In D ecember:
- Sorting of fertilizers and treatment products. We clean and revise the gardening equipment: forks, secateurs or spades.
- Forced bulbs are warmed and lighted when the flower buds are clearly visible.
- The fallen flowers of the camellias, vectors of diseases, are regularly removed.
- Buttoned stems of early spring shrubs are picked to make them bloom in the vase, warm.

Find all these tips and more in the book "Agenda pratique du jardin 2014" from the collection "100 Ideas Garden" (Marie-Claire editions).