January
Zone 3
- Order seeds
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Water cymbidiums weekly until they bloom
Zone 4
- Order seeds
- Sow seeds indoors for hardy spring-blooming plants
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
Zone 5
- Order seeds
- Sow seeds for hardy spring-blooming plants
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Sow frost-tolerant perennials indoors
February
Zone 3
- Order seeds
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Water cymbidiums weekly until they bloom
- Sow seeds for tender perennials
Zone 4
- Order seeds
- Sow seeds indoors for hardy spring-blooming plants
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Sow seeds for cool-weather vegetables
- Sow frost-tolerant perennials indoors
Zone 5
- Order seeds
- Sow seeds for hardy spring-blooming plants
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Sow seeds for cool-weather vegetables
- Sow frost-tolerant perennials indoors
March
Zone 3
- Order seeds
- Sow seeds for hardy spring-blooming plants
- Remove mulch from early bulbs
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Sow seeds for cool-weather vegetables
- Sow frost-tolerant perennials indoors
Zone 4
- Plant bare root trees
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Sow seeds for cool-weather vegetables
- Sow frost-tolerant perennials indoors
Zone 5
- Plant dormant, hardy container and balled and burlapped plants
- Sow seeds of warm-season annuals indoors
- Remove winter mulch, lightly cultivate soil if thawed
- Prune out winter damage
- Apply dormant spray to fruit trees
- Plant or transplant frost-tolerant perennials
- Sow seeds for tender perennials indoors
- Plant bare-root roses
- Plant bare-root trees, shrubs, and vines
- Prune winter-blooming shrubs and vines just after bloom
April
Zone 3
- Sow seeds of warm-season annuals indoors
- Water cymbidiums weekly until they bloom
- Plant seedlings of cool-weather vegetables
- Sow frost-tolerant perennials indoors
- Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
- Sow seeds for tender perennials
- Divide and replant summer and fall-blooming perennials
- Plant bare-root and container roses
- Uncover roses for spring and apply dormant spray
- Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root shrubs and vines
- Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
- Plant frost-tolerant trees
Zone 4
- Set out cool-season annuals
- Sow seeds of warm-season annuals
- Set out summer-flowering bulbs
- Plant fall-blooming bulbs
- Plant balled and burlapped, container, and bare-root fruit trees
- Apply dormant spray to fruit trees before buds swell
- Spray apples, peaches, and pears that have been affected with canker problems
- Plant, feed and aerate cool-season lawns and loosen thatch
- Plant bare-root perennial vegetables
- Plant seedlings of cool-weather vegetables
- Sow fast-growing warm-season vegetables
- Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
- Plant container and bare-root roses
- Uncover roses for spring and apply dormant spray
- Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root trees, shrubs and vines
- Apply dormant spray to trees, shrubs, and vines
- Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
- Plant frost-tolerant trees
- Plant needle-leafed evergreens
Zone 5
- Set out cool-season annuals
- Sow seeds of warm-season annuals
- Set out summer-flowering bulbs
- Plant fall-blooming bulbs
- Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root fruit trees
- Apply dormant spray to fruit trees before buds swell
- Spray apples, peaches, and pears that have been affected with canker problems
- Plant cool- and warm-season lawns • Plant bare-root perennial vegetables
- Plant seedlings of cool-weather vegetables
- Sow fast-growing warm-season vegetables
- Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
- Sow seeds for tender perennials
- Plant container and bare-root roses
- Uncover roses for spring and apply dormant spray
- Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root trees, shrubs, and vines
- Apply dormant spray to trees, shrubs, and vines
- Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
- Plant frost-tolerant trees
- Plant needle-leafed evergreens
May
Zone 3
- Set out cool-season annuals
- Set out seedlings of warm-season annuals
- Set out summer-flowering bulbs
- Plant fall-blooming bulbs
- Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root fruit trees
- Plant cool-season lawns and permanent ground covers
- Feed and aerate cool-season lawns and loosen thatch
- Plant bare-root perennial vegetables
- Plant seedlings of cool-weather vegetables
- Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
- Divide and replant summer- and fall-blooming perennials
- Divide and replant spring-blooming perennials after bloom
- Plant bare-root and container roses
- Uncover roses for spring and apply dormant spray
- Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root trees, shrubs, and vines
- Apply dormant spray to trees, shrubs, and vines before buds swell
- Plant tender shrubs and vines
- Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
- Plant frost-tolerant trees
- Plant needle-leafed evergreens
Zone 4
- Set out cool-season annuals
- Set out seedlings of warm-season annuals
- Set out summer-flowering bulbs
- Plant fall-blooming bulbs
- Divide and replant crowded winter and spring-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
- Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root fruit trees
- Apply dormant spray to fruit trees before buds swell
- Spray apples, peaches, and pears that have been affected with canker problems
- Plant permanent ground covers
- Plant, feed, and aerate cool-season lawns and loosen thatch
- Plant bare-root perennial vegetables
- Plant seedlings of cool-weather vegetables
- Set out herbs
- Sow fast-growing warm-season vegetables
- Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
- Divide and replant spring-blooming perennials after bloom
- Plant container roses
- Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root trees, shrubs and vines
- Apply dormant spray to shrubs and vines
- Plant tender shrubs and vines
- Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
- Plant frost-tolerant trees
- Plant needle-leafed evergreens
Zone 5
- Set out cool-season annuals
- Set out seedlings of warm-season annuals
- Set out summer-flowering bulbs
- Plant fall-blooming bulbs
- Divide and replant crowded winter and spring-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
- Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root fruit trees
- Apply dormant spray to fruit trees before buds swell
- Spray apples, peaches, and pears that have been affected with canker problems
- Plant permanent ground covers
- Plant cool and warm-season lawns
- Plant bare-root perennial vegetables
- Plant seedlings of cool-weather vegetables
- Sow fast-growing warm-season vegetables
- Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
- Sow seeds for tender perennials
- Divide and replant spring-blooming perennials after bloom
- Plant container roses
- Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root trees, shrubs, and vines
- Apply dormant spray to shrubs and vines
- Plant tender shrubs and vines
- Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
- Plant balled-and-burlapped trees
- Plant trees in containers
- Plant frost-tolerant trees
- Plant needle-leafed evergreens
June
Zone 3
- Set out seedlings of warm-season annuals and vegetables
- Plant summer-flowering bulbs
- Weed asparagus and strawberry beds
- Put up trellises or netting for peas, pole beans and flowering vines
- Divide and replant spring-blooming perennials after the flowers fade
- Plant container roses
- Fertilize and aerate lawns
- Plant balled-and-burlapped and container trees, shrubs and vines
- Apply sulfur to control fungus problems on apple trees, roses and grapevines
- Pinch off first flower buds on chrysanthemum and carnation plants to coax bigger blooms
- Protect cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, kale) from egg-laying cabbage white butterflies with insect barrier cloth
- After their leaves yellow and dry up, divide and transplant crowded spring bulbs
Zone 4
- Plant seedlings of warm-season annuals and vegetables
- Sow seed of fast-growing, heat-loving herbs, vegetables (basil, squash, melons) and flowers (nasturtiums, zinnias) directly in ground
- Thin out small green fruits on apple, peach and plum trees to one every 6 inches on the branch
- Dust potato plants to prevent infestations of potato beetle
- Set up trellises to support pole beans, morning glories and cucumbers
- Remove newest shoots from geranium plants to encourage fuller plants
- Plant new lawns and fertilize and aerate established lawns
- Plant container roses, shrubs and trees in well-amended soil
- Divide and transplant spring-flowering perennials that have finished blooming
- Protect cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, kale) from egg-laying cabbage white butterflies with insect-barrier cloth
- Weed asparagus and strawberry beds
- Remove new flower buds from chrysanthemums and carnations to coax bigger blooms
Zone 5
- Divide and transplant spring-flowering perennials that have finished blooming
- Harden off and plant seedlings of warm-weather vegetables and flowers
- Thin out small green fruits on apple, peach and plum trees to one every 6 inches on the branch
- Sow seeds of perennials directly into the ground
- Dust potato plants to prevent infestations of potato beetle
- Pinch newest shoots on geranium plants to encourage fuller plants
- Train your lawn to grow deep roots; Mow often, at a high setting
- Plant balled-and-burlapped and container shrubs and trees
- Feed roses as the first flower buds appear; apply fungicide to prevent powdery mildew or blackspot
- Weed asparagus and strawberry beds • Feed young corn plants with high-nitrogen fish emulsion fertilizer
- Mulch flower and vegetable gardens to conserve water during heatwaves
July
Zone 3
- Now’s the time to start seeds of cool-season vegetables for fall growing
- Rogue out (remove) virus-infected plants from the garden and control leaf-hopping insects to prevent virus spread
- By pruning off faded blooms from annuals, you can prevent seed formation and coax additional flowers
- Mulch flowerbeds with dried grass clipping or compost to maintain moisture and reduce weeds
- Save maintenance and water by allowing perennial rye and Kentucky blue grass lawns to go dormant during the summer
- Raspberries are ripe when they pull readily from the central core
- Prune water sprouts (upright, vigorous shoots) from apple trees
- Avoid deep cultivation around shallow rooted trees and shrubs such as evergreens
- Add a water-soluble fertilizer to hanging baskets and patio pots every 2 weeks to keep plants blooming their best
- Cut flowers for drying at their prime or when just opening
Zone 4
- Add one last planting of gladioli bulbs for flowers into fall
- Harvest veggies as soon as they’re ripe to encourage further production
- Avoid the sight of a weed-infested garden: weed first before you leave on vacation
- Harvest sweet corn when silks are brown and punctured kernels produce a milky juice
- Prevent blossom-end rot on tomatoes by providing plants with at least an inch of water each week
- Let melons ripen on the vine — this is where they will develop their best flavor
- Start fall garden transplants from seed
- Petunias, coleus and other summer annuals might be leggy by now
- Pinch them back just above a leaf to encourage bushy growth and more flowers
- Leave faded flowers on those plants that form ornamental seed heads, pods, or berries
- Provide water in a shallow pan or birdbath for your feathered and fluttering friends
Zone 5
- Remove annuals with stunted or unusual color; these are usually virus infected and the disease can spread to neighboring healthy plants
- To control disease on fruit trees, maintain a summer spray schedule
- Clean hummingbird feeders filled with nectar solution regularly to ward off mold and bacteria
- Consider drip irrigation and/or soaker hoses for watering in the flowerbed and vegetable garden
- Bats help control mosquitoes; attract these friendly mammals with bat houses
- Muskmelons and cantaloupes are ready for picking when the stem “slips” easily from the fruit with gentle pressure
- Harvest veggies as soon as they’re ripe to encourage additional production
- Sharp mower blades prevent leaf blade damage and lawn stress
- Prevent diseases on susceptible rose varieties: apply fungicide every 7-10 days
- Lanky annuals need your help! Pinch them back now to encourage bushy growth and more flowers
August
Zone 3
- Sow seeds of wildflowers, spring-blooming annuals and fall veggies
- Lift, divide and transplant perennials
- Plant hardy Oriental and Asiatic lilies
- Aerate, dethatch and fertilize the lawn
- Start moving houseplants and other tender plants indoors to acclimatize
- Pick herbs to dry for winter soups, stews and baking
- Order trees and shrubs now for fall planting
- Plan ahead for an extended harvest by building or buying a cold frame
- Blanch tomatoes for freezing and canning by boiling them for just a few minutes and slipping off the skins
- Order spring bulbs to forcing
Zone 4
- Lift, divide and transplant perennials
- Order peonies for fall planting
- Divide and transplant bearded iris
- Start moving houseplants and other tender plants indoors to acclimatize
- Enjoy a case of the late summer “blues” with a palette of aconitum, caryopteris, fall asters and reblooming iris in your planting schemes
- Blanch tomatoes for freezing and canning by boiling them for just a few minutes and slipping off the skins
- Plant fall-blooming crocus and colchicum for late-season flowering
- Prepare beds for planting bulbs and divide any existing bulbs that might be overcrowded
- Build up weather resistance of trees and shrubs with deep waterings now throughout the fall
Zone 5
- Sow seeds of fall vegetables
- Order peonies for fall planting
- Divide and transplant bearded iris
- Plan perennial beds for fall and winter color with ornamental grasses, fall-blooming bulbs and hardy heaths and heathers
- Harvest vegetables continuously to stretch their season
- Sprinkle compost starter to speed up composting for fall soil building
- Prune summer-blooming shrubs (hydrangea, clethra, caryopteris) after flowers finish
- Plant garlic now for spring harvests
- Enjoy a case of the late summer “blues” with a palette of hardy ageratum, caryopteris, fall asters and reblooming iris in your planting schemes
September
Zone 3
- Divide peonies and other spring and summer-blooming perennials
- Plant perennials
- Plant bare-root and containerized trees and shrubs
- Sow wildflower seed for spring bloom
- Plant spring-blooming bulbs
- Dethatch and aerate lawns
- If September rainfall is scarce, water trees and shrubs to keep them supple and prevent winter damage
- Clean and restock birdfeeders
- Plant garlic for harvest next summer
- Set out bareroot peonies
Zone 4
- Harvest apples and store in a cool place
- Plant garlic
- Dethatch and aerate the lawn
- Clean out rose beds and apply fungicide one last time to susceptible varieties
- Plant perennials
- Move tender houseplants, etc. indoors after rinsing and reporting, and set up a grow light to supplement natural light
- Clean and restock bird feeders
- Begin to move tropical water lilies and other tender aquatics indoors
- Plant spring-blooming bulbs; refrigerate those you intend to force
- Set out bareroot peonies
Zone 5
- Set out transplants of cool-weather vegetables
- Plant winter-hardy pansies and fall annuals (calendula, dianthus, ornamental cabbage and kale)
- Plant tag teams of perennials and spring-blooming bulbs that will complement each other or bloom in sequence next season
- Water trees and shrubs when rainfall is scarce to “winterize” them
- Dethatch and aerate the lawn
- Deadhead chrysanthemum plants to keep flower buds forming through the fall
- Clean out rose beds; apply fungicide; leave hips for winter color and bird food
- Prune summer-bearing raspberries
- Mow back strawberry plants; remove weeds and remulch
- Move tender houseplants, etc. indoors after rinsing and repotting, and set up a grow light to supplement natural light
October
Zone 3
- Start fall compost pile
- Cover perennial, vegetable, bulb, and strawberry beds for winter
- Plant winter and spring-flowering bulbs
- Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Protect roses for winter
Zone 4
- Start fall compost pile
- Cover perennial, vegetable, bulb, and strawberry beds for winter
- Plant winter and spring-flowering bulbs
- Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
- Buy spring-blooming bulbs
- Plant container and balled-and-burlapped fruit tree
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Plant, feed, and aerate cool-season lawns and loosen thatch
- Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
- Divide and replant summer and fall-blooming perennials after bloom
- Protect roses for winter
- Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
- Plant balled-and-burlapped trees
- Plant trees in containers
- Plant frost-tolerant trees
Zone 5
- Start fall compost pile
- Plant winter and spring-flowering bulbs
- Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
- Buy winter and spring-blooming bulbs
- Plant container and balled-and-burlapped trees fruit trees
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Plant cool and warm-season lawns
- Aerate cool-season lawns and loosen thatch
- Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
- Divide and replant summer- and fall-blooming perennials after bloom
- Plant container roses
- Protect roses for winter
- Plant container and balled-and-burlapped trees, shrubs, and vines
- Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
- Plant frost-tolerant trees
November
Zone 3
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
Zone 4
- Cover perennial, vegetable, bulb, and strawberry beds for winter
- Plant winter and spring-flowering bulbs
- Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
- Buy spring-blooming bulbs
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Protect roses for winter
Zone 5
- Plant winter and spring-flowering bulbs
- Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
- Buy winter and spring-blooming bulbs
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Protect roses for winter
December
Zone 3
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
Zone 4
- Cover perennial, vegetable, bulb, and strawberry beds for winter
- Plant winter and spring-flowering bulbs
- Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
- Buy spring-blooming bulbs
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Protect roses for winter
Zone 5
- Plant winter and spring-flowering bulbs
- Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs after leaves yellow
- Buy winter and spring-blooming bulbs
- Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
- Protect roses for winter
