Adding conifers, small trees, and
shrubs to a perennial garden
can help reduce the burden of
maintenance.
The garden planting and maintenance schedule that follows is a guideline for
Midwest gardens; you will need to adjust it according to your regional conditions.
Contact your local county extension agent for clarification on details specific to
your growing area. Different annual weather conditions may affect the schedule
as well. I have indicated here the ideal times for certain tasks. But, as we all know,
you can’t always get to things during the ideal time. It is best to adhere to these
guidelines whenever possible, but keep in mind that perennials are very forgiv-
ing and are willing to bend on certain issues. Greater details on the how-to of
each of the jobs can be found throughout the book, and especially in the first 2
parts. Specifics on individual plants are found in the Encyclopedia of Perennials.
After the plant listings, I have compiled lists of plants by season to show when
different species may require some form of maintenance. There is also pruning
information.