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The Ultimate Oxfordshire Garden Calendar: What to Plant and When

Gardens in Oxfordshire villages don’t respond to trend or haste. They follow a deeper rhythm—rooted in soil, season, and quiet observation.

This month-by-month calendar isn’t a checklist. It’s a reference for those who want to plant thoughtfully, seasonally, and in tune with the rural pace of places like Burford, Hook Norton, or Marcham.

January

• Sow sweet peas undercover
• Plant bare root roses and hedging
• Cut back herbaceous growth if ground isn’t frozen
• Plan the year’s border rotation

A quiet month, perfect for structure—not show.

February

• Sow broad beans, onions, and chillies indoors
• Divide snowdrops after flowering
• Prepare vegetable beds with compost
• Prune late-flowering clematis and wisteria

Early light returns. Time to think ahead.

March

• Sow hardy annuals: cornflower, calendula, nigella
• Plant early potatoes and onion sets
• Feed roses and perennials
• Tidy lawns and edge paths

The start of visual change—without rushing.

April

• Plant dahlia tubers, sweet peas, and herb seedlings
• Thin direct-sown veg
• Weed borders before it gets ahead
• Protect emerging shoots from late frosts

Spring settles in. Growth becomes visible daily.

May

• Plant out tender bedding and veg after the last frost
• Direct sow courgette, beetroot, and beans
• Mulch borders for moisture retention
• Pinch out tips of leggy plants for bushier growth

The garden fills. It’s a month of bold shifts.

June

• Deadhead roses and perennials for longer flowering
• Harvest early salad and herbs
• Water deeply in dry spells
• Cut back spring-flowering shrubs

Early summer is about refinement and rhythm. A good time to Prune Hedges lightly.

July

• Sow carrots, lettuce, and chard for autumn
• Keep feeding containers and repeat-flowering roses
• Cut back faded delphiniums and hardy geraniums
• Watch for mildew and heat stress

The peak of colour. Maintenance becomes everything.

August

• Harvest veg beds and fruit
• Divide irises and daylilies
• Sow autumn salads and green manure
• Plan bulb orders for autumn

The garden shifts. You feel the year’s balance begin to tip.

September

• Plant spring bulbs: daffodils, crocus, allium
• Sow hardy annuals for early spring colour
• Trim hedges for structure through winter
• Begin selective clearing

The mood quiets. Early autumn settles beautifully in places like Milton-under-Wychwood and Witney.

October

• Lift and store tender bulbs
• Continue bulb planting with tulips
• Rake and compost leaves
• Protect pots and planters from frost

An architectural month. Structure begins to show again.

November

• Plant bare root trees and shrubs
• Prune roses lightly to prevent windrock
• Wrap young plants if frost is forecast
• Final tidy of borders, paths, and tools

The last of the colour fades. Still, work worth doing.

December

• Mulch around dormant plants
• Prune apples and pears
• Clean tools and sharpen blades
• Review the garden’s shape from bare bones

The garden rests. And so should you.

Gardening, in Oxfordshire villages, isn’t about forcing. It’s about pacing.

A quiet commitment to timing, rather than trend. To structure, over spectacle.

And if you follow this seasonal rhythm—not slavishly, but with awareness—you’ll find your garden not only survives the year, but supports it.

For ongoing care that fits this approach, see: Seasonal Garden Maintenance: What to Do and When
Or explore: Creating an Elegant, Low-Maintenance Cottage Garden

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