Gardening Tasks by Month for New Bern, NC

Continue planting winter vegetables, such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, onions, radishes, and spinach.

Continue planting herbs that like cooler weather, such as dill, sage, thyme, cilantro, fennel, and parsley.

Plant cool-season flowers, such as carnations, pansies, petunias, and snapdragons.

Now is a good time to plant ornamental trees and shrubs.

Use dormant oil sprays to control scale on ornamental plants, trees, and shrubs.

Protect citrus trees if freezing temperatures are predicted. Water a day prior and you may also use covers.

Avoid any heavy pruning jobs, as they will encourage growth that may be damaged during the winter.

Remember the birds. As you prune, make a small pile in the back of the yard for your feathered friends.

Remember to water your lawn during dry weather to keep it healthy.

Plant hardy annuals, such as poppies, pansies, and larkspur.

Top-dress your perennial beds with a layer of compost.

Be sure to water your shrubs and trees throughout the winter, especially if the weather is dry.

Refresh the mulch around your plants to help retain moisture and control weeds.

Remove the leaves from your lawn, as they can encourage disease.