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The Greener Gardener
Calendar

When to use Vital Earth Organic Peat Free Compost & other green tips including grow your own

 

PLUS Your monthly green idea entries

 

 

 

We have created a garden calendar to help you understand when to use

different growing media, soil improvers, mulches and feeds from grow your

own to composting.

 

What we haven't done is create a calendar of everything you need to do in the garden throughout the year. To be honest BBC GARDENERS WORLD do an excellent job on what to do each week, so we thought you would appreciate the link.

 

Where this calendar is different is we want your GREEN IDEAS for the month, to help our little community. So why not send your entries and if we put your idea on our calendar.



We would truly appreciate your ideas to make this page really interesting - so don't forget to click and find out what the great prize is.

 

 

Spring Garden IdeasSummer Garden IdeasAutumn Garden IdeasWinter Garden Ideas


John Innes No1John Innes No2 Organic Peat Free

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peat Free Multi Purpose Compost MPCBark Chips

 

Peat Free Eco MulchPeat Free Soil Improver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic MPC and JIOrganic Farmyard Manure

 

 

Organic Garden CompostSeed and Cutting Compost

 

Organic Chicken Poo

March

Soil

Fork top soil over and work in Soil Improver, Organic Garden Compost, Farmyard Manure or Chicken Poo™. After planting shrubs etc, apply mulch (EcoMulch or Bark Chips) - saves work later in the season, reduces chances of weeds germinating, reduces evaporation and gets worms working for you!

 

Containers

It’s not to late to plant up tubs etc with primroses and other spring flowering plants for a splash of colour. Use Multi Purpose Compost with added John Innes

 

Seedlings

Look to pot up any self-sown seedlings. For tiny seedlings, Use No.1 Seed Sowing or Seed and Cutting Compost in seed trays or cell trays. For stronger seedlings, use Multi Purpose Compost, Multi Purpose Compost with added John Innes or No. 2 Potting in trays or small pots.

 

Grow Your Own Vegetables

Pick Brussels sprout tops for Spring greens. Harvest purple and white sprouting broccoli, kale and other winter greens. Line a runner bean trench with a minimum of 10cm of Soil Improver - this will hold water and boost your crop.

 

Lawn

Spring is the next best time after Autumn to create a new lawn - if the ground is not too wet. Use Soil Improver - provides a long lasting nitrogen source, nutrients, humus and water retention

 

Greenhouse

Sow tomato, sweet pepper and other growbag crops, plus leeks, onions and early salads and green vegetables using Seed and cutting compost or No. 1 Seed Sowing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken PooEricaceous Compost

 

Rose, Tree and Shrub CompostBark Chips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pine Bark ChipsEco Mulch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lawn DressingBulb Compost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soil ImproverVegetable Compost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Soil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grow Your Own Growbag

 

 

 

 

 

Grow Your Own Planter

April

Roses, Shrubs, Trees

Feed roses, borders, hedges, trees and shrubs with Chicken Poo™. This ensures they have a good kick start of nutrients - work in with a rake, hoe or fork. Also a good time for planting - use Ericaceous Compost for lime hating / acid loving plants and Rose, Tree and Shrub Organic Compost for other plants.

 

Ericaceous Plants

Mulch Azaleas and other acid loving plants with Ericaceous Organic Compost then Bark Chips. A great time to mulch those ornamental areas. Pine Bark looks good and helps acidify the soil. Mulch other shrubs etc with bark chips or Eco Mulch.

 

Lawn

A good month to apply Organic Lawn Dressing - rich in slow release nutrients. A well fed lawn helps reduce moss and weeds - more grass means less space for them to work their way in.

 

Evergreens Conifers

Plant evergreens and conifers - best planted April or September. They will need constant watering until they are well rooted. Use Rose, Tree and Shrub Organic Peat Free Compost in the bottom of the planting hole and backfill.

 

Grow Your Own Herbs and Vegetables

Clear remnants of winter vegetables to brown bins or compost heap. Lift last leeks and heel them back into a corner of the vegetable patch, where you won't be replanting straight away. Time for vegetable and herb sowing. First prepare the soil using Organic Soil Improver.

Use Premium Top Soil and/or Vegetable Compost if you are creating a new raised vegetable bed.

Grow your own tomatoes in Kayak Growbag or Planter under glass. Plant them now!!!.

Continue sowing seeds, partly to enjoy a succession of lettuce and other salads.

 

Summer Bulbs

Don't be tempted to plant Summer bedding plants quite yet but look to put Summer bulbs in pots. Use Vital Earth Bulb Organic Peat Free Compost to encourage strong roots and eliminate sourness from pots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Vegetable CompostFarmyard Manure

 

Tub and Basket CompostChicken Poo

 

Organic Garden CompostSoil Improver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Innes No3Vitalizer

May

Soil

Prepare the top soil for summer. Clear spring bedding plants and fork in Farmyard Manure, Vitalizer® or Organic Chicken Poo™.

 

Hanging Baskets and Tubs

Time to start planting up those hanging baskets, tubs and window boxes ready for that blaze of colour.

Leave until the middle of the month or June if it is still cold/windy. We recommend Vital Earth's specially formulated Tub & Basket Organic Compost or No.3 Container - both will sustain plants longer before feeding is required.

 

Vegetables

The key message here is keep on top of it all - watering is essential in dry areas, as is feeding. If you are just planting out frost-tender vegetables make sure the soil is prepared. Use plenty of Farmyard Manure, Organic Garden Compost, or Soil Improver, plus Chicken Poo™ or Vitalizer®.

Remember to plant vegetables in hoed-out channels to save water and feed, and maximise the benefit.

 

Leeks and Brassicas

Leeks and winter brassicas will be ready for transplanting from now - make sure your new soil is ready for them.

Farmyard Manure, Organic Garden Compost or Soil Improver will ensure the soil is invigorated and aid water retention. A sprinkling of Organic Chicken Poo™ – rich in slow-release phosphate – will give the roots an extra boost.


Summer Bedding Plants

Plant out Summer bedding plants after working in Organic Garden Ccompost or Soil Improver and water regularly. In the north beware of late frosts: you might need to wait until June!

 


Vegetable CompostNo1 Seed Sowing Compost

 

Seed and Cutting CompostVitalizer

 

Chicken Poo

June

Organic Vegetables

Sow more vegetables including, lettuce, rocket, spring onions, carrots, peas, beans, courgettes and sweetcorn. Harvest some of the crops you started to grow earlier. Plant tomatoes etc in Growbags or Organic Vegetable Compost outdoors to get great tasting, bountiful crops.

Don't leave the ground empty for long - before sowing the next batch work some Chicken Poo™ or Vitalizer® into the soil.

Hanging Baskets and Tubs

Bring out hanging baskets and other container plants when the weather is kind and make sure they are fed with plant food.

 

Winter and Early Spring Bedding Plants

Time to sow winter and early bedding plants in pots and trays under glass. Use No.1 Seed Sowing or Seed and Cutting Compost.

Note: during these long days plants grow faster and need more feeding. This is the key time to keep them topped up with nutrients.Vitalizer® is ideal: one application last for months.

To deter pigeons push twiggy sticks in to the ground where young brassicas are growing and dangle cast-off CDs overhead.

Shade greenhouse if it is open to the South.


Vitalizer

Chicken Poo

July

Roses

These will be ready for feeding in July (once the first flush of flowers is over, apply Vitalizer® and water in to bring on the next batch of flowers. Water in.

 

Herbaceous Perennials

Give these (particularly late flowering ones) a Feed by working in Vitalizer® or Chicken Poo™ between plants and watering well.

 

Containers

This is the season where the roots are jam packed and there is loads of great colour. Maintain it with plenty of water. If you forgot to apply Vitalizer® in June, do it now

 

Grow your Own Organic Vegetables

As with June keep sowing those vegetables. Also sow spring cabbages around this time of year.

 

Eco MulchChicken Poo

 

Pine Bark ChipsVitalizer

 

Bark Chips No2 Potting On Compost

August

Lawns

Don't be tempted to feed them. If you plan to create a new lawn in Autumn, - now is a good time to start digging it over and getting rid of weeds. Work in Chicken Poo™ to provide long-lasting organic phosphate to boost root growth and thus good establishment.

 

Beds and Borders

Remove weeds before they re-seed and use our Eco-Mulch or Bark Chips to keep them at bay.

 

Self Sewn Seedlings

A time for finding self-sewn seedlings - you can pot them indoors using No.2 Potting Compost to give them the best possible start - ensuring they will make a good size plant for planting out next year.

 

Containers

Still blooming; keep up with the watering. Indoor containers will benefit from a second application of Vitalizer®.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lawn DressingMPC and JI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soil ImproverRose, Tree and Shrub Compost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bulb CompostSeed and Cutting Compost

 

No1 Seed Sowing CompostNo2 Potting On Compost

 

 

 

September

Lawns

Once you have raked out moss and removed weeds, you should spike the lawn and topdress with Lawn dressing. Spiking makes sure the lawn doesn't become compacted, leaving you with poor surface drainage, encouraging moss.

Vital Earth Soil Improver is enriched with a  long-lasting nitrogen sources and is high in humus to improve soil structure.

Lawn Dressing is particularly beneficial to gardens on chalky or sandy soils. Some Lawn Dressing will fill the spiky holes - the rest will be dragged down by worms.

If you plan to start a new lawn in October or November, start preparing the top soil now. If the top soil is in good condition, grass seed can be sown late September or early October. Again, we recommend Soil Improver before seeding or turfing, which can be done up to November, weather permitting.

 

Evergreens and Conifers

Plant evergreens and conifers now or April. They will need watering until they are well rooted.

Use Rose, Tree and Shrub Compost to line the planting hole and backfill soil to conserve moisture and aid root growth.

 

Plant Spring Bulbs

Make sure you bury bulbs to the correct depth. Plant winter pansies etc. in beds or containers.

Vital Earth's Bulb Compost contains oyster shell and charcoal to eliminate odours and protect young roots.

Trim off dying foliage to reduce the risk of disease. Harvest your vegetables and enjoy your BBQ while you still can.

 

Grow Your Own Organic Vegetables

Time to sow Japanese (over-wintered) onions (white or red) in Seed and Cutting Compost or No. 1 Seed Sowing Organic Compost. To give you onions at least one month before the normal varieties. Prick-out into No.2 Potting or Multi purpose Compost with added John Innes.

 

Rose, Tree and Shrub Compost

Houseplant Compost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lawn Dressing

 

 

 

October

Lawns

If the Summer was long and hot - OK maybe we don't get much of that - but if you didn't get around to lawn care - now is the time to quickly use Lawn Dressing ASAP. This is also a good month for turfing.

Container Grown Trees, Shrubs and Climbers

Grown Trees, Shrubs, Roses and Climbers

A perfect time for planting - soil will be moist and warm. The long lasting reserves of plant foods in Rose, Tree and Shrub Compost will ensure future rich green foliage next year and sustain the plant through the winter months.

Trim hedges and lop trees. Shred or take to the re-cycling centre. If you have a hatchback, estate car or van, we recommend getting 1 or 2 "dumpy bags" from a builders merchant.

It's a great way to collect green waste.

Sweep up leaves for your compost bin or re-cycling centre.

 

Grow Your Own Organic Vegetables

Green tomatoes don’t have to be made into chutney! Put them in a cardboard box with an apple and you’ll spin out your supply of ripe home-grown tomatoes by several weeks – and they’ll still taste much sweeter than imported ones!

 

Vegetables

Sow Broad Beans and plant garlic for early crops next year.

 

Houseplant Compost

 

 

 

November

House Plants

A good time of the year to enjoy house plants - using our House Plant Organic Compost should ensure you get greener leaves and vibrant colours even if the garden has lost much of its colour.

November 5th - only good excuse for a bonfire (watch out for hedgehogs!) Put bonfire ash on the garden – it’s a useful source of potash.

Rake up more leaves.

 

 

 

 


Soil ImproverOrganic Garden Compost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farmyard ManureChicken Poo

December

Soil

A good time to fork over the veg plot, beds and borders- ready for new lawns, beds and ready for the Spring. It will reduce the likelihood of pests and improve soil structure – especially with heavy soils. As you turn the soil, work in Organic Garden Compost, Soil Improver or Farmyard Manure. For light/sandy soils, apply Chicken Poo™ too.

 

Deciduous Tree and Shrubs

Providing the soil is in a suitable state - moving these plants is best done in November and December, or in early March.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No1 Seed Sowing CompostSeed and Cutting Compost

 

Vegetable Compost

January

Seeds

You should have ordered by now! Seed potatoes should be stood in a frost-free place to chit. Old egg boxes are ideal for this.

 

Re-cycle

Re-cycle your Christmas Tree.

 

Grow Your Own Vegetables and Herbs

Sow early crops in greenhouse e.g. onions, herbs, lettuce. to produce a fantastic selection of grow your own vegetables and herbs

 

 


Vegetable CompostSeed and Cutting Compost

 

No1 Seed Sowing CompostSoil Improver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic Garden CompostFarmyard Manure

 

Chicken Poo

 

 

 

February

Soil

If you haven't done your winter digging now is the time to work in Soil Improver, Organic Garden Compost, Farmyard Manure and, for light soils, Chicken Poo™.

 

Plug Plants

Get your orders in.

 

Year Round Tubs

Even in the wet, tubs can dry out.

 

Grow Your Own Vegetables

Plant spuds indoors in Vital Earth Vegetable Compost. If weather and soil permit, sow parsnips with radish.

 

Radish will grow quicker remind you where the parsnips have been sown.

 

Greenhouse

Sow tomato, sweet pepper and other growbag crops, plus leeks, onions and early salads and green vegetables using Seed and cutting Organic Compost or No. 1 Seed Sowing.