Garden Calculator

Free year-round guide

The UK Gardener's Calendar

What to do in the garden, month by month — the key jobs, what to sow and plant, and the materials you'll need, with a free calculator behind every project.

January

Winter

The planning month. Gardens are dormant — use the quiet to design, measure up and order.

  • Plan spring projects and measure plots while beds are bare
  • Order seeds, seed potatoes and summer-flowering bulbs
  • Sharpen and service tools; book mower servicing early
  • Keep bird feeders topped up and break ice on ponds

Sow & plant: Bare-root trees, hedging and roses — whenever the ground isn't frozen.

What you'll needPrice a new fencePlan a spring deck

February

Winter

Preparation month — get beds ready so spring planting hits the ground running.

  • Dig over empty beds and work in compost or well-rotted manure
  • Prune roses, wisteria and late-summer-flowering shrubs
  • Chit seed potatoes on a bright, frost-free windowsill
  • Order topsoil, turf and mulch before the spring rush and price rises

Sow & plant: Last month for bare-root plants; shallots and garlic in mild spells.

What you'll needWork out topsoil volumesTopsoil vs compost guide

March

Spring

The gardening year starts here — first lawn care and the sowing season opens.

  • Give lawns their first cut on a high setting, then seed bare patches
  • Mulch borders 5–7.5cm deep before weeds wake up
  • Plant early potatoes and sow hardy veg directly outside
  • Lay turf — mild, moist March weather is ideal for rooting

Sow & plant: Onion sets, shallots, early potatoes, broad beans and hardy salads.

What you'll needTurf or seed? Compare costsMulch quantities

April

Spring

Peak sowing and lawn month — everything grows at full speed, weeds included.

  • Sow or lay new lawns — jointly the best month with September
  • Stay ahead of weeds with a weekly pass of the hoe
  • Harden off indoor seedlings before planting out
  • Top-dress and feed containers and baskets

Sow & plant: Maincrop potatoes, carrots, beetroot, salads — most veg can go in now.

What you'll needNew lawn calculatorTopsoil under turf guide

May

Spring

Frost risk fades and the garden fills fast. Mow weekly and water new lawns.

  • Plant out tender veg and summer bedding after the last frost
  • Mow weekly, lowering the blades gradually
  • Water new turf and seed daily in dry spells
  • Ideal month for deck and fence projects before summer entertaining

Sow & plant: Courgettes, runner beans, squash and sweetcorn from mid-month, frost permitting.

What you'll needDecking board calculatorFence panel calculator

June

Summer

The longest days — growth peaks and watering becomes the daily ritual.

  • Water containers and new plantings deeply, morning or evening
  • Mow little and often; raise the blades in dry spells
  • Trim hedges once nesting birds have fledged
  • Enjoy the patio — and fix it properly if you're not

Sow & plant: Winter brassicas — sprouts, kale and purple sprouting broccoli — plus successional salads.

What you'll needPatio slab calculatorGravel for paths

July

Summer

Harvest month — and the best building weather for big landscaping projects.

  • Harvest veg little and often to keep plants producing
  • Deadhead borders to prolong the flowering season
  • Water deeply rather than little-and-often
  • Dry ground is perfect for raised beds, paths and hard landscaping

Sow & plant: Quick autumn crops — salads, radish, dwarf beans and spring onions.

What you'll needRaised bed sleepersSand for paving beds

August

Summer

Keep things watered, harvest the glut, and start planning next spring.

  • Order spring bulbs while choice and stocks are good
  • Prune wisteria and summer-fruiting raspberries after harvest
  • Top up mulch to lock soil moisture in through the heat
  • Last realistic month for summer turf-laying before heat stress

Sow & plant: Spring cabbage and overwintering onion sets towards the end of the month.

What you'll needTop up the mulchLast-call turf quantities

September

Autumn

The second spring — the single best month of the year for new lawns.

  • Lay turf or sow seed — warm soil and reliable rain do the work
  • Plant spring bulbs: daffodils, crocus, alliums and tulips by November
  • Scarify, aerate and autumn-feed tired lawns
  • Clear spent veg beds and mulch them ready for winter

Sow & plant: Spring bulbs, overwintering broad beans and garlic from late September.

What you'll needNew lawn calculatorGround prep for turf

October

Autumn

Tidy-up and planting month — set the garden up to sail through winter.

  • Mulch borders thickly before the cold arrives
  • Plant trees, shrubs and hedging while the soil is still warm
  • Clear leaves from lawns and paths; compost or bin them
  • Give the lawn its final cut and clean the mower before storage

Sow & plant: Garlic, overwintering onions and bare-root fruit trees and bushes.

What you'll needBulk mulch quantitiesHow deep should mulch be?

November

Autumn

Batten down the hatches — protect, repair, and plant bare-root bargains.

  • Fix loose fences and posts before winter storms find them
  • Raise pots onto feet to stop waterlogging and frost cracks
  • Fleece or move tender plants under cover
  • Wash, oil and store tools; drain hoses and outside taps

Sow & plant: Bare-root trees, roses and hedging — the cheapest way to plant, all month.

What you'll needPrice the fence repairs

December

Winter

Short days and quiet beds — dream, sketch and order for next year.

  • Sketch next year's beds and projects while this year's is fresh in mind
  • Prune apple and pear trees while fully dormant
  • Check sheds, ties and plant protection after every storm
  • Watch for winter clearance deals on materials for spring jobs

Sow & plant: Little outside — garlic can still go in if the ground isn't frozen.

What you'll needThis season's dealsMeasure for spring topsoil