These notes were written in answer to member’s request for directions for maintenance jobs in the Global Medicine Garden. They will help to direct less experienced gardeners towards seasonal tasks, on a monthly basis, and also act as a handy reminder to keen gardeners here or at home.

The month-by-month guide is subject to variability due to external factors such as weather and availability of volunteers – so it is a good idea to also glance at the month either side of the current one.

If you are not a member why not join us and take part in this annual gardening cycle? Coffee breaks, camaraderie, and chat mean it is not all hard work.

JAN

• With a Staff gardener, select some hazel from the gardens for use as obelisk poles, if required.
• Coppice our own willows (ie cut rods to the ground) to produce rods for weaving projects and to enhance the display for next year.
• Cover the leaf mould heap, once the leaves are well wetted, to encourage composting.
• Continue general maintenance as weather permits.
• Catch up with additions to website, records, accessioning and labels.

FEB

• Sweep paths, add leaves to heap.
• Prune buddleias (B. davidia ) hard back.
• Tie in Solanum (potato vine) and Passiflora (passionflower)
• Dig out surplus, misplaced or perennial weed plants. Split and divide over-large clumps and pot up for plant sales.
• Prepare a list of plants for Derek (propagator) to sow; supply the seeds if necessary. Include at least some of these:  Matricaria recutita (annual (German) chamomile), Cleretum bellidiforme (Mesembryanthemum), Acmella (toothache plant), Tagetes (‘Gem’ series with scented foliage), Coriandrum, Anethum (dill), Calendula (pot marigold), Ammi, Artemisia annua, Tetragonia (New Zealand spinach). 
• Remind Derek that we shall need a plant of Catharanthus roseus (Madagascan periwinkle).
• Give a coat of preservative to the potting bench if required.

MAR  

• While weeding or hoeing, dig up good seedlings for sale eg fennel, anise hyssop, cowslip, salsify etc (check which are required). These may be potted up using compost etc at our GMG potting bench.
• Spread mulch thickly (our own and brought-in New Leaf) after weeding.
• Refresh/replant/top up troughs with a compost mix.
• Put out the signage for the new season of visitors. Check that all necessary repairs were done.
• Replenish (after weeding ) bark paths.

APR    

• Weed, or if dry, hoe. Multitudes of seedlings germinate in mild spells especially if you leave seed-heads on ‘for the birds’. Be sure to leave some of the useful seedlings to provide plants for next year. 
• Continue potting up, for plant sales. Continue mulching the beds.
• Continue planting herbaceous perennials and shrubs in mild spells, though tender subjects may be better left till next month, or provide protection eg mulch or fleece. Water in and mulch if necessary. If planting lavender in heavy soil, add extra grit, or slightly ‘mound’ plant. 
• Move plants that are badly positioned or that need grouping for better effect.
• If mild, remove winter protection or leave in place till next month.

MAY  

• Put supports in place for climbers such as hops, passionflower, jasmine, solanum and repair or replace existing ones. These may be easily and sustainably constructed from coppiced hazel. 
• Continue planting perennials, shrubs; last chance to divide large clumps eg marshmallow, daylily, monkshood (wear gloves), Chinese lantern.
• Identify useful seedlings: poppy, marigold, evening primrose, borage, perennial borage, shoo-fly and re-locate (remember to water in) or pot up for sale.
• Put in supports (twigs, bamboos and string, hazel) for herbaceous material that requires it, ie is likely to flop: valerian, weld, fennel. Continue mulching.
• Plant out annuals and tender species: Aloysia, Zingiber, Buddleia globosa, Dichroa, Pelargonium, Smallanthes and remove frost protection.

JUN-OCT use garden for classes gatherings and meetings weather permitting           

JUN

• Ensure there is a watering plan in place in case of drought.  
• Continue with planting, watering in, mulching. Check troughs are planted and looking good.
• Cut back rampant species such as comfrey (use for liquid feed or compost) if they threaten to become floppy or a threat to other species.
• Top up bark paths as required, and source plants to fill gaps.
• Plant out late annuals: Ammi species, Tagetes and dahlias from cuttings/seed.

JUL    

• Collect seeds as they ripen. Dry and store in paper bags: angelica, lovage, valerian, salsify, foxglove, weld for resowing or exchange.
• Cut mint, lemon verbena, balm for teas; trim back NZ spinach and eat!
• Continue hoeing and weeding and general maintenance, to strike a balance between keeping order and enabling full expression of each plant.

AUG   

• Continue general maintenance; keep paths clear. Selectively cut back excessive seeders: foxglove, shoofly, teasel, weld, self-heal. Hoe when dry.
• Take cuttings: fuchsia, elder, lavender, rosemary, roseroot.
• Collect seed: false balm of Gilead, scurvy-grass, cowslip, rue, pregnant onion.
• Strip mildewy leaves from poppies, clear rotting lower leaves from cardoon.
• Treat perennial weeds such as bindweed if necessary.

SEPT  

• Hoe and weed. Thin out self-sown seedlings and relocate if required.
• Continue seed-collection: teasel, dyers’ greenweed, shoo-fly.
• Continue to dead-head dahlia, lavender etc to prolong display.

OCT   

• Sweep and collect leaves to keep paving clear; store to make leaf-mould.
• Prune out damaged or fallen branches.

NOV   

• Alternate weekly visits are adequate at this time.
• Wrap with fleece or mulch subjects requiring protection. 
• Take hardwood cuttings: willow, buddleia, rose, elder.

DEC    

• Spruce up the garden before Christmas. 
• Take in hand-written labels and store indoors till spring. Add to the number as time permits and repair any worn or broken ones.