Pruning a plant at the wrong time might remove potential flowers or invite disease. Otherwise, pruning can cause more damage than the cutting is worth. Pruning triggers plants to produce new growth. Credit:Con Poulos Ample moisture is needed to fully form new leaves and stems. Drought-stressed plants usually direct all available moisture to essential plant needs. Pruning during drought diverts water from essential plant needs and often results in overall plant dieback....

Knowing exactly when you should aerate your lawn will help you revive a struggling lawn without chemicals. So when should youaerate your lawn? It depends on thetype of grass, along with the amount of soil compaction. Credit:Andy Lyons Here’s how to time it right so your lawn will get the most benefit from aeration. Why You Should Aerate Lawns Aeration is a vital tool for improving the health of a lawn....

Find out when to cut back irises to keep these perennials healthy and looking their best. But when to cut back irises? After their colorful flowers wither, or should you wait until fall, or even until after winter? Credit:Robert Cardillo This guide explains how and when to cut back irises to encourage healthier plants and more flowers. Dean Schoeppner After Blooming Dont cut back the foliage but do cut off the flower stalk....

Get more flowers by knowing exactly how and when to fertilize hydrangeas. Hydrangeas are such a joy to grow. With just a little TLC, your hydrangeas will get better each year. Credit: Blaine Moats But for the best blooms, you’re gonna wanna fertilize hydrangeas properly. Dont fertilize at planting time. There is no need to add additional fertilizer when you plant ahydrangea. Start fertilizing the year after planting. There areseveral different types of hydrangeasbigleaf, panicle, smooth, oakleaf, and mountain....

Get the most benefit from turf fertilizer by applying it at the right time. This seasonal guide will lead the way. Take time to perform a soil test through a reputable testing lab. Credit:Blaine Moats Your local extension service can be a resource, and there are also several online soil testing companies. Timely tool of a lawnfertilizer with the N-P-K ratioindicated by the soil test will supply ample nitrogen. Know Your Grass Thetype of grass that makes up your lawnhelps determinefertilizer timingby season....

From burger toppings in the summer tocozy French onion soup in the fall, onions are useful year-round. Fortunately, they areeasy to grow in your garden. Best Onion Varieties for Storage Properly stored, onions can last for months. Compassionate Eye Foundation/Natasha Alipour Faridani/Getty Images. The best storage onion varieties have a high sulfur contentthey’ll make you cryand a strong flavor. Mild-flavored orsweet onion varietieswill likely only keep for a few weeks....

Find out when to plant hydrangeas to get your plants off to a strong start. And there areall sorts of varieties to choose from, thanks to plant breeding efforts. This guide explains the best time to plant hydrangeas and provides step-by-step instructions for planting these shrubs properly. Credit:Jason Wilde Transplanting is often a shock to the plant. Its a one-two punch that can cause significant setbacks for the plant. Planting in the fallmeans less water loss from the leaves while the roots are still establishing....

Well-timed trimming keeps these beautiful plants blooming and healthy. But exactly when to prune varies according to the bang out of magnolia you have. Most types are low-maintenance, but once in a while they may need a little pruning. Credit: Janet Loughrey Some are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves for the winter, and some are evergreen. Thesepruning rulesare based on when each of these magnolias flowers. Hardy inUSDA Zones 610,Southern magnolia(Magnolia grandiflora) does everything in a big way....

This northern migration generally aligns with thebloom times of spring flowers. They might not return to gardens that dont have any flowers or feeders available when they arrive in spring. This guarantees that any early arrivals have something tasty to eat after their long migration. Credit:Jay Wilde Male hummingbirds often leave a week or two before female hummingbirds and arrive at destinations a little earlier. When is the best time totake your hummingbird feeder down?...

Should you start shoveling while the snow is coming down, or wait until the weather has cleared? Here’s what you gotta know. Once it’s time to venture outside, you’ll likely need toclear the snowfrom your driveway or walkways. Credit:SanyaSM / Getty Images But what’s the best time to start removing snow? Below, were answering all your snow removal questions, and explaining the best time toshovel or snowblowpathways. Its nearly impossible to remove snow thats been compacted, so its important to remove it when its fresh....

Here’s exactly when to start mowing your lawn, depending on your growing conditions and grass key in. Should you start your engines after a warm spell and a soaking rain in early spring? The right combination of hours of sunlight, air temperature, and moisture spurs grass growth. Credit:Andrija Nikolic / Getty Images The grass develops new roots in early spring, long before the green leaves emerge. Dont be concerned about mowing if the forecast predicts a short warm spell....

Here’s when to stop mowing your lawn in fall for healthier grass in spring. Smart mowing in the fall leads to a healthy lawn in spring. Cut your lawn too short at the end of the growing season, and winter damage is more likely. Credit:Saklakova / Getty Images Bothtimely mowingand mowing height are important factors infall lawn care. Mow While Grass Is Growing Simply put, if your lawn is still growing, keep mowing....

Keep new grass seed thriving with these watering techniques, including when to turn off your sprinklers. Help your grass seed develop deep, resilient root systems and lush shoot growth with these tips and techniques. This technique of deep, infrequent watering encourages deeper root systems to develop. Credit:Taniche / Getty Images When to Stop Watering New Grass Seed Let growth be the indicator to stop watering. After the new turf has been mowed three times, it’s possible for you to safely stop watering....