A planting calendar for the Kingdom: what to plant and when

Autumn is the best planting season

October to December is the ideal window for planting most trees and shrubs. The soil is still warm so roots stay active, while the air has cooled enough that the foliage is not under stress. That gives the plant a full winter and spring to build a root system before it meets its first summer — the difference between a sapling that establishes and one that is simply drained.

Winter is pruning season

From December to February deciduous trees are dormant, which is the best time to prune them: the structure is visible so you can see what you are cutting, and the wound heals before growth restarts. This is when to prune figs, pomegranates, grapes and olives. Winter also suits leafy vegetables and herbs in the centre of the Kingdom.

Spring is for growth and feeding

March to May is when growth takes off. This is the season's first feed, the moment to prune palms and clear dead fronds, and the window for pruning summer-flowering shrubs like bougainvillea. Avoid planting new trees in late spring — they will enter summer with an unfinished root system.

Summer is maintenance, not expansion

From June to September the rule is to maintain rather than add. Avoid planting, transplanting and hard pruning entirely; each stresses the plant at the worst possible moment. Stick to consistent watering, mowing, and watching for the pests that thrive in heat.

• Don't plant new saplings in July and August
• Don't move an established plant at peak heat
• Check the irrigation system weekly for blocked drippers or leaks
• Raise the mowing height slightly so the blades shade their own soil