Gardening is a year-around process. Here's what you need to do to keep up winter, spring, summer and fall.

• Plant perennials. Fall installation gives plants time to develop a stong root system; most perennials flower in the spring, but if planted then, they may not bloom the first year.

• Split and replant overgrown bulbs. Dig up the bulb after the foliage has died an allow it to dry thoroughly. (After drying, bulbs can be split and replanted.)

• Cut perennials to the ground after hard frost and use foliage for compost.

• Gather fallen leaves for mulch and compost use.

• Dig summer-blooming bulbs after the first killing frost and save for next planting season.

• Take advantage of cool weather by planting trees, shrubs, and evergreens; use root-stimutating fertilizer to promote root growth.

• Plant spring-flowering bulbs and work bone meal into bottom of planting holes for better growth.

• Divide and replant perennials such as peonies and irises.

• Water young trees and shrubs.
• Now is the best time to seed new lawn, patch bare spots, and install sod (also, there isn't as much competition with weed seeds now). Do it before September 15.
• Plant chrysanthemums, pansies, asters, and flowering kale for fall color.

• Apply weed-killer and fertilizer for lawn care (but not to newly seeded areas).

• Clean garden beds and work compost into soil for spring plantings.

• Remove dead annuals and add them to compost.

• Cover tender roses before temperatures dip below 25 degrees.

• Rake and recycle leaves for better air circulation and lawn-disease control.

• Mow lawn until frost stops growth-tall, matted grass encourages snow mold.

• Wrap young and thin-barked trees to protect against sunscald and animals.

• Remove garden debris after the first frost to help minimize soil diseases and insects.

• Early to mid-month, cover perennials with mulch to protect the crowns of the plants from the alternate freezing and thawing.

• Put down an inch of hay or straw mulch over shallow-rooted perennials to prevent frost heaving (plants being pushed out of soil by freezing temperatures).

• Plant large shade trees.

• Water all the trees, shrubs, and evergreens (especially new plantings) just before the ground becomes frozen.

• Install hardware cloth or other fencing that extends above snow level to keep animals away.

• Check perennials for signs of heaving; if this occurs, re-cover with mulch.

• Oaks, honey locusts, crab apples, pears, mountain ash, and hawthorn are best pruned now.

• Keep evergreens and shrubs free of heavy snow.

• Determine what flowers and planting techniques worked last season and plan accordingly.

March

• Finish dormant pruning of ornamental trees.

• Remove black-knot swellings on plum, chokecherry, and cherry trees.

Spring General Season Tips Begin feeding bulbs with liquid fertilizer as they emerge from the ground. Remove dead leaves from hostas. Prune summer-flowering shrubs in early spring before new growth, since they usually bloom from new wood.

• Uncover and remove winter mulch from roses, spring bulbs, and perennials.

• Divide and replant overgrown perennials.

• Till flower-and vegetable-garden soil and add composted cow manure, rice hulls, peat moss, or composted leaves.

• Remove rose cones

• Plant frost-tolerant pansies and Johnny-jump-ups for early spring color.

• Plant trees and shrubs as soon as the ground is dry enough for digging; late frost and snow will not hurt newly planted trees.

• Apply fresh mulch around trees and shrubs for weed control.

• Prune hedges and summer-flowering shrubs; check for damage; remove broken branches.

• Remove tree wrap when snow melts.

• Fertilize trees and shrubs.

• Apply crabgrass preventer to lawns.

• Fertilize spring bulbs when foliage emerges.

• Wait until the ground is frost free before removing mulch; is temperatures rise early in the season, remove part of the mulch but leave at least two to three inches

• Till or spade the soil deeply; if desired, add a slow-release flower-garden fertilizer.

• Evrgreens can be pruned at almost any time except late in the growing season.

• Work fertilizer into vegetable and flower gardens before they are planted.

• Fertilize roses and begin manitenance program against black spot and mildew.

• Mulch flower gardens to conserve moisture and reduce weed growth.

• Install peony hoops.

• Protect gardens from deer browsing.

• Plant summer-blooming bulbs.

• Plant Minnesota Grown annuals and geraniums after frost is no longer a danger.

• Apply pre-emergent weed control in shrub and planting beds.

• Remove accumulated leaves and debris from underneath evergreens and shrubs.

• Prune fosythia, azaleas, and lilacs after they have flowered; all spring flowering shrubs should be pruned right after flowering.

• Begin apple-tree spray programs after blossoms drop.

• Make sure freshly planted trees and shrubs are watered weekly, especially during dry periods; continue to water throughout the season.

• Prune mugho pines when new growth is fully grown soft.

• Fertilize established trees, evergreens, and shrubs; start a fertilizer program.

• Rake, overseed, and fertilize the lawn; avoid applying crabgrass preventer to newly overseeded areas; seed new lawns while nights are still cool and the weather is wet.

• Control dandelions and creeping Charlie by applying hericide before heads are formed.

• Deadheading (removing faded flowers and seed heads) directs the plants energy to more flowering rather than to producing seeds-it's especially recommended for annuals.

• Pinch back phlox, and mums to make them more flower-productive.

• Fertilizers are best applied to azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries in spring or early summer.

• Use grass clippings as mulch around flowers. (But, do not use those that have had herbicides applied.)

• Leave the last rose blossoms of summer to encourage dormancy.

• Apply slow-release fertilizer in midsummer to provide good plant performance until frost.

• Stake larger varieties of perennials such as delphiniums.

• Begin leaf-spot control on tomato plants and stake young tomato plants; late-staking contributes to blossom end rot.

• Tie climbing roses to trellises.

• Perform last pinching of chrysanthemums to promote compact, bushy plants.

• Do last picking of rhubarb at month's end to allow roots to store energy for next season.

• Mulch your garden after the soil has warmed up later this month.

• Fertilize lawns, flowers, and gardens, and continue weeding.

• Prune and shape new growth on arborvitae, junipers, and yews.

• Trim evergreens and hedges.

• Prune pines, spruce, and fir trees in early to mid month.

• Remove spring bulb foliage as it browns

• If spring-flowering bulbs aren't doing well, dig up bulbs after the foliage has died and divide.

• Before late summer, transplant and divide perennials.

• Water, weed, fertilize, and harvest vegetables.

• Trim maple tress.

• Continue to water young trees and shrubs

• Deadhead annuals for more blooms.

• Divide irises and day lilies.

• Complete evergreen pruning before the end of the month to prevent winter injury.