Perpetual Calendar

The following is a partial list of perpetual events of horticulture, turf and department practices Landscape Services Department uses on the main campus in Oxford, Mississippi. This perpetual calendar is a general guide Landscape Services attempts to follow on campus to meet the high demands and standards of Ole Miss. Products listed and links are there for convenience and are not an endorsement or recommendation, nor are they affiliated with the University of Mississippi. Products will vary at each application and season. Every landscape requires special attention, pruning, watering, fertilization, and other factors. Check with your local extension service or landscape professional for recommendations in your area.

January

  - Continue leaf clean up on campus on lawns, beds, streets and parking areas.
  - Prune trees.
  - Prune shrubs as needed.
  - Mulch with pine straw and wood chips as needed.
  - Planting new beds as needed.
  - Large tree plantings in places with no irrigation.
  - Transplanting.
  - Cut back perennials as needed.
  - Define bed lines.
  - Employee training, field trips and education classes.
  - On warm days test selective irrigation systems, prep for spring start up. Winterize system after checking.
  - Scout for insects and diseases.

February

  - Treat lawn areas pre/post-emergent in key areas.
  - Lightly trim Crape Myrtles (no tree topping or Crape murdering!)
  - Trim back Liriope, Ornamental grass as needed.
  - Tree pruning as needed.
  - Put our pre-emergent weed control in shrub beds.
  - Mulch as needed.
  - Equipment checks service and overhauls.
  - Prune campus Hydrangeas during the last week in the month.
  - Order summer flowers for seasonal beds.
  - Large tree plantings in places with no irrigation.
  - Transplanting.
  - Employee training, field trips and education classes.
  - On warm days turn test selective irrigation systems, prep for spring start up. Winterize system after checking.

March

  - Aerify the Grove and Circle turf areas.
  - Overseed/fertilize Grove and Circle with tall fescue.
  - Mowing cool season turf as needed.
  - During spring break do complete edging of turf areas to help eliminate rocks and debris from winter time.
  - Mulch as needed.
  - Prune trees and shrubs as needed. Severe prune as needed on overgrown shrubs.
  - Trim Carpet and Knock out roses on campus.
  - Finish trimming back liriope.
  - Post-emergent control of weeds on days above 55 degrees in non turf areas.
  - Employee training, plant identification classes. Review mower maintenance with operators.
  - On warm days turn test selective irrigation systems, prep for spring start up. Winterize system after checking.

April

  - Start large rotary mowing outer limits of campus.
  - Start mowing weekly as needed interior campus.
  - Fire ant control spot treatment.
  - Plant summer seasonal color beds.
  - Severe prune as needed on overgrown shrubs. Trim plants as they finish blooming.
  - Scout Azalea for lace bugs.
  - Post emergent weed control on days above 55 degrees non turf areas.
  - Trim, weed, mulch as needed.
  - Irrigation systems charged, checked and monitored. Rain sensor remain on rest of the season.

May

  - Fertilize Grove and Circle, tall fescue turf.
  - Fertilize warm season turf usually with 32-2-10, 50% Slow release or equivalent.
  - Post-emergent control for grassy weeds if need if temperature is greater than 80 degress.
  - Mowing warm season turf weekly.
  - Fertilize shrubs and trees end of month. Slow release fertilizer for ornamentals. Link to fertilizer here. http://www.sta-green.com/ProductCategories/GardenFertilizer/3MonthNurserySpecial/
  - Scout roses for aphids.
  - Prune trees and shrubs as needed.
  - Mulch as needed.

June

  - Warm season turf fertilization usually 32-2-10, 50% slow release or equivalent.
  - Raise mowing heights on Fescue, keep moist.
  - Raise mowing height on Bermuda turf.
  - Hard edging along sidewalks, curbs streets vital for clean neat look, warm season grass is pushing major growth.
  - Second application of pre-emergent weed control in shrub beds.
  - Root stimulator fertilizer on new or struggling trees.
  - Growth regulator on fast growing shrubs like Elaeagnus, Glossy Ablelia, immediately after pruning.
  - Prune trees and shrubs as needed.
  - Scout Juniper Cypress for bagworms.
  - Mulch as needed.

July

  - Mowing, mowing, mowing.
  - Post-emergent control in turf for grassy weeds if needed, day time temperature must be greater than 90 degrees.
  - Check seasonal color of fungus.
  - Scout Azaleas for lace bug.
  - Detail, trimming, mulching shrub beds as needed.
  - Do not fertilize Camellias after July 1.
  - Remove faded flowers from Crape myrtle to encourage a second blooming.
  - Remove dead limbs from trees and shrubs.
  - Roses pruned to encourage fall blooms.
  - Water Azaleas well because they are setting flower buds this month.

August

  - No pruning of Azaleas or Camellias until spring after plants bloom.
  - If acid loving plants including Azaleas, Camellias, and Gardenia show signs of chlorosis (yellowing of leaves), a treatment of Iron Chelate should help leaves to regain their green color.
  - Scout Azaleas for lace bugs.
  - Cut back annuals such as Impatiens and Vinca to encourage fall blooms.
  - Continue to remove dead heads in the on perennials to stimulate blooming.
  - Trim Carpet and Knock out rose canes for autumn blooms.
  - Remove dead and damaged wood from trees and shrubs.
  - Mulch as needed.

September

  - Over seed turf grass in key focal points on campus. Perennial rye at 8 to 10 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet.
  - Ordered daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs for planting in November/December.
  - Fall mum planting.
  - Application of pre-emergent weed control as needed in shrub beds.
  - Mulch as needed.
  - Football season prep and clean up entire campus.

October

  - Winter weed control pre-emergent in turf.
  - Winterize turf with potash, 0-0-60 or similar.
  - Winter weed control pre-emergent in turf.
  - Mulch and clean up leaves.
  - Continue detail, weed shrub beds.
  - Prep seasonal beds for winter seasonal color.
  - Pray for cool snap and a good frost.
  - Football season prep and clean up entire campus.

November

  - Post and pre-emergent in turf for winter weeds.
  - Aerify Grove and Circle overseed/fertilize after last home football game. Ideally this is done in September, but football games pushes this back to November for the Grove.
  - Leaf clean up, recycling on campus.
  - Plant seasonal flower beds for winter.
  - Plant daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs.
  - Split daylilies and replant on campus.

December

  - Spot treatment weed control in turf after turf has gone dormant.
  - Soil test taken in key locations on campus.
  - Lime areas as needed.
  - Cut back perennials/mulch for winter.
  - Mulch leaves, clean streets, parking areas.
  - Tree pruning as needed.
  - Training classes.
  - Access the year.
  - Go to MSU Cares for more information on specific questions.