Care routines

At a glance

Care routines automate your garden care schedule. Set up recurring tasks for watering, feeding, and maintenance that appear automatically at the right time for each plant type. Use proven templates or create custom schedules that match your garden’s needs.

When to use it

  • You want consistent care for your plants without remembering every task
  • You need regular watering, fertilizing, or pruning schedules
  • You want care tasks to appear automatically based on seasons or plant growth
  • You’re looking for proven care schedules for specific plant types
  • You want to adjust care routines as your garden grows

What you can set up

  • Watering schedules for different plant needs and weather conditions
  • Feeding routines with specific fertilizers and timing
  • Maintenance tasks like pruning, deadheading, and cleanup
  • Protection measures for pests, diseases, and weather
  • Seasonal care that appears at the right time of year

Creating effective care routines

1. Choose your plants

Start by selecting which plant types need the care routine. You can apply one routine to multiple similar plants, making it easy to care for entire garden sections.

2. Define the care type

Select the main category of care:

  • Watering: Different schedules for various water needs
  • Feeding: Fertilizing with specific products and timing
  • Maintenance: Pruning, deadheading, and general upkeep
  • Protection: Pest control and weather protection
  • Other: Custom care tasks unique to your garden

3. Set the schedule

Choose how often the care should happen:

  • Daily: For high-maintenance plants or intensive periods
  • Weekly: Regular care for most garden plants
  • Monthly: Less frequent feeding and maintenance
  • Seasonal: Tasks that happen during specific months
  • Custom intervals: Exact spacing between care sessions

4. Add seasonal timing

Limit routines to specific months when the care is relevant:

  • Spring routines focus on growth and planting
  • Summer care handles heat and water needs
  • Fall work includes cleanup and preparation
  • Winter protection for dormant plants

5. Use proven templates

Start with recommended care patterns:

  • Templates provide proven schedules for specific plants
  • Include proper timing and quantities for best results
  • Update automatically as care recommendations improve
  • Can be customized to match your specific conditions

Smart care features

Growth-based timing

Some care should wait for plants to reach certain stages:

  • Seedlings: Extra care until plants establish
  • Young plants: More frequent attention during growth
  • Flowering plants: Special care during bloom periods
  • Fruiting plants: Additional support during fruit development
  • Mature plants: Stable maintenance schedules

Seasonal awareness

Routines adapt to your growing season:

  • Tasks appear when plants need specific care
  • Seasonal protection during harsh weather
  • Increased frequency during peak growing periods
  • Reduced care during dormant seasons

Flexible plant coverage

Apply routines the way that works for your garden:

  • Individual plants: Separate tasks for each planting
  • Plant types: Group tasks for all plants of one type
  • Garden sections: Care schedules for entire beds or areas

Managing your care routines

Review routine coverage

Check that all your plants have appropriate care:

  • Group routines by plant type to spot gaps
  • Filter by category to ensure balanced care
  • Review seasonal timing for year-round coverage

Update routines seasonally

Adapt care as your garden changes:

  • Add new routines for additional plant types
  • Adjust timing based on your local climate
  • Modify frequency based on plant performance
  • Archive routines for plants you’re no longer growing

Fine-tune with experience

Improve routines based on results:

  • Add notes about what works in your garden
  • Adjust timing for your specific conditions
  • Modify quantities based on plant response
  • Create custom versions of template routines

Best practices for care routines

Start with templates

Use proven schedules as your foundation:

  • Begin with recommended templates for your plants
  • Adjust timing to match your local climate
  • Customize based on your soil and conditions
  • Observe results and refine as needed

Create balanced schedules

Ensure comprehensive care without overwhelming work:

  • Space out major tasks throughout the week
  • Group similar activities for efficiency
  • Consider weather patterns in your timing
  • Leave flexibility for unexpected needs

Track and adjust

Monitor how routines work in your garden:

  • Note which plants thrive with current care
  • Watch for signs of over- or under-care
  • Adjust based on seasonal variations
  • Update routines as you learn what works best

Routine types and timing

Watering routines

  • New plantings: More frequent watering until established
  • Mature plants: Consistent schedules based on needs
  • Seasonal adjustments: More water in heat, less in cool weather
  • Soil-based timing: Consider drainage and water retention

Feeding schedules

  • Growing season: Regular feeding during active growth
  • Dormant periods: Reduced or no feeding
  • Plant-specific needs: Different requirements for various types
  • Soil considerations: Adjust based on your soil conditions

Maintenance timing

  • Spring cleanup: Prepare beds and remove winter damage
  • Summer care: Deadheading and pruning for continued growth
  • Fall preparation: Clean up and protect plants for winter
  • Winter work: Dormant season pruning and equipment maintenance
  • See your automatic care tasks in action on the Task list
  • Monitor daily care needs on your Dashboard overview
  • Track individual plant responses to care routines in plant records
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