Garden Care Guide

Rosemary Care

Rosmarinus officinalis

An evergreen Mediterranean shrub that likes full sun and well-drained, poor soil and is extremely drought tolerant. It is used as a spice in the kitchen and as a hardy ornamental plant in the landscape; its worst enemy is overwatering.

Half-hardy · -12 °C / 10 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Pruning: Only if really necessary, a light cleanup pruning can be done.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Keep the area around it clean to ensure good air circulation.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -12 °C.
February
  • Fertilizing: In very poor soils, a very small amount of slow-release balanced fertilizer can be given; do not overapply.
  • Pruning: Remove only dead or damaged branches. Do not do major pruning before flowering.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: For new plantings, improve drainage by adding sand or gravel to the soil.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -12 °C.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: Spittle (spittlebug) may be seen; it is harmless and can be washed off with water.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering begins.
April
  • Watering: Before deciding to water, check the soil around the roots at a depth of about 5 cm. For established rosemary, let the soil dry out between waterings; do not keep the base of the stem constantly wet. Skip if: the soil is still moist at a depth of about 5 cm.
  • Pruning: After flowering, shorten the elongated shoots with a clean, sharp tool. Do not make hard cuts into thick old wood with no leaves on it; do not heavily reduce the total green volume in one go. Skip if: there is frost, extreme heat, or drought stress, or if the cut would fall only on leafless old wood.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering continues.
May
  • Watering: Before deciding to water, check the soil around the roots at a depth of about 5 cm. For established rosemary, let the soil dry out between waterings; do not keep the base of the stem constantly wet. Skip if: the soil is still moist at a depth of about 5 cm.
  • Pruning: After flowering, shorten the elongated shoots with a clean, sharp tool. Do not make hard cuts into thick old wood with no leaves on it; do not heavily reduce the total green volume in one go. Skip if: there is frost, extreme heat, or drought stress, or if the cut would fall only on leafless old wood.
  • General care: Flowering continues. Drainage is vital for this plant. In heavy soil that holds water, plant it on a raised mound or berm 20-30 cm high, so the root collar stays above the surrounding soil level.
June
  • Watering: Before deciding to water, check the soil around the roots at a depth of about 5 cm. For established rosemary, let the soil dry out between waterings; do not keep the base of the stem constantly wet. Skip if: the soil is still moist at a depth of about 5 cm.
  • Pruning: After flowering, shorten the elongated shoots with a clean, sharp tool. Do not make hard cuts into thick old wood with no leaves on it; do not heavily reduce the total green volume in one go. Skip if: there is frost, extreme heat, or drought stress, or if the cut would fall only on leafless old wood.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: It can be harvested continuously for culinary use.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for cottony white clusters in the leaf axils (mealybugs).
July
  • Watering: Before deciding to water, check the soil around the roots at a depth of about 5 cm. For established rosemary, let the soil dry out between waterings; do not keep the base of the stem constantly wet. Skip if: the soil is still moist at a depth of about 5 cm.
  • Pruning: Light shaping pruning can be continued.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Harvesting can be continued.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for cottony white clusters in the leaf axils (mealybugs).
August
  • Watering: Before deciding to water, check the soil around the roots at a depth of about 5 cm. For established rosemary, let the soil dry out between waterings; do not keep the base of the stem constantly wet. Skip if: the soil is still moist at a depth of about 5 cm.
  • Pruning: Light shaping pruning can be continued.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Harvesting can be continued.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for cottony white clusters in the leaf axils (mealybugs).
September
  • Watering: Before deciding to water, check the soil around the roots at a depth of about 5 cm. For established rosemary, let the soil dry out between waterings; do not keep the base of the stem constantly wet. Skip if: the soil is still moist at a depth of about 5 cm.
  • Pruning: A final light pruning and shaping can be done to prepare the plant for winter.
  • General care: Harvest may continue.
  • Pests & diseases: The risk of powdery mildew may increase with the autumn rains; good air circulation is important.
October
  • Watering: Before deciding to water, check the soil around the roots at a depth of about 5 cm. For established rosemary, let the soil dry out between waterings; do not keep the base of the stem constantly wet. Skip if: the soil is still moist at a depth of about 5 cm.
  • Pruning: Avoid heavy pruning.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
November
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: In winter rains, make sure water does not pool in the root zone; for this plant, drainage is more critical than irrigation.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
December
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -12 °C.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

Browse all plant guides