This month
May in Zone 3a
Plant
- Direct sow lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots in early May
- Plant cold-tolerant perennials and shrubs
- Wait until late May or after last frost (~May 25-Jun 5) to plant warm-season annuals
Prep & soil
- Mulch perennial beds 2-3 inches deep after soil warms
- Side-dress emerging perennials with compost
Prune & maintain
- Prune spring bloomers (lilac, forsythia, azalea) immediately after flowering
- Pinch back mums and asters for bushier fall growth
Indoor
- Harden off all warm-season starts for 7-10 days before transplant
Jan
Plant
- Nothing outdoors yet
- Browse seed catalogs and finalize orders
- Force paperwhite or amaryllis bulbs indoors for color
Prep & soil
- Inventory and clean seed-starting supplies
- Sharpen and oil pruning tools
- Check stored dahlia and canna tubers for rot
Prune & maintain
- Knock heavy snow off evergreen branches
- Avoid pruning in deep cold (below 20°F damages tissue)
Indoor
- Order seeds for early starts (onions, leeks, perennials)
Feb
Plant
- Still too cold to direct sow anything outside
Prep & soil
- Test soil pH on stored samples or send out for analysis
- Check overwintering containers for snow load
Prune & maintain
- Prune apple and pear trees on a mild day
- Cut back ornamental grasses if not done in fall
Indoor
- Start onions, leeks, and slow perennials (lavender, salvia) under lights
- Start pansies for early spring color
Mar
Plant
- Still too early for direct sowing in most years
Prep & soil
- Top-dress garden beds with compost when ground thaws
- Pull mulch back from emerging bulb foliage
Prune & maintain
- Prune dormant fruit trees, summer-blooming shrubs, and roses before bud break
- Cut back perennial debris left for winter interest
Indoor
- Start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant 8-10 weeks before last frost
- Start cool-season annuals (snapdragons, calendula)
Apr
Plant
- Plant pansies, violas, and primroses outdoors when nighttime temps stay above 25°F
- Direct sow peas as soon as soil can be worked
- Plant bare-root roses and shrubs
Prep & soil
- Apply pre-emergent for crabgrass when forsythia blooms
- Pull spring weeds before they seed
Prune & maintain
- Finish pruning roses and summer-blooming shrubs
- Do NOT prune spring-blooming shrubs (lilac, forsythia) until after they bloom
Indoor
- Start cucumbers, squash, and melons 3-4 weeks before transplant date
- Harden off cool-season transplants
May (now)
Plant
- Direct sow lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots in early May
- Plant cold-tolerant perennials and shrubs
- Wait until late May or after last frost (~May 25-Jun 5) to plant warm-season annuals
Prep & soil
- Mulch perennial beds 2-3 inches deep after soil warms
- Side-dress emerging perennials with compost
Prune & maintain
- Prune spring bloomers (lilac, forsythia, azalea) immediately after flowering
- Pinch back mums and asters for bushier fall growth
Indoor
- Harden off all warm-season starts for 7-10 days before transplant
Jun
Plant
- Direct sow beans, corn, and squash after soil reaches 60°F
- Transplant tomatoes, peppers, and basil after last frost is confirmed
- Plant dahlias, gladiolus, and tender bulbs
Prep & soil
- Stake tall perennials before they flop
- Set up drip irrigation or soaker hoses
Prune & maintain
- Deadhead spent bulb foliage only after it yellows
- Pinch herbs for bushier growth
Indoor
- Wind down indoor seed-starting
Jul
Plant
- Sow a second round of bush beans and lettuce (heat-tolerant varieties)
- Direct sow fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) by mid-July
Prep & soil
- Water deeply 1-2 inches per week, early morning preferred
- Side-dress heavy feeders with compost or balanced fertilizer
Prune & maintain
- Deadhead annuals and repeat-blooming perennials
- Cut back leggy salvia and catmint for a second flush
Indoor
- Start brassica seedlings for fall planting if you missed direct sowing
Aug
Plant
- Plant fall-blooming bulbs (autumn crocus, colchicum)
- Sow spinach, lettuce, and radishes for fall harvest
- Order spring-flowering bulbs for September planting
Prep & soil
- Keep watering during late-summer dry spells
- Stop fertilizing perennials and shrubs to let them harden off
Prune & maintain
- Stop pruning shrubs (new growth won't harden before frost)
- Deadhead repeat bloomers one last time
Indoor
- Take cuttings of tender perennials (geraniums, coleus) to overwinter
Sep
Plant
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs (daffodils, tulips, alliums) when soil cools below 60°F
- Plant trees and shrubs (best month for woody plants in cold zones)
- Divide and replant overgrown perennials
Prep & soil
- Bring in tender container plants before first frost (~Sep 5-10)
- Harvest and dry herbs before frost
Prune & maintain
- Cut back peonies, daylilies, and hostas after first hard frost
- Do NOT cut back roses or hydrangeas until spring
Indoor
- Pot up amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs for winter forcing
Oct
Plant
- Finish planting spring bulbs by month's end
- Plant garlic 6 weeks before ground freezes
Prep & soil
- Dig and store dahlia, canna, and gladiolus tubers after first frost blackens foliage
- Mulch newly planted perennials and shrubs after the ground freezes
Prune & maintain
- Cut back frost-killed perennial foliage
- Remove and destroy diseased plant debris (don't compost)
Indoor
- Move overwintering houseplants and tropicals to bright indoor spots
Nov
Plant
- Last chance for garlic and bulbs if ground is still workable
Prep & soil
- Drain and store hoses and irrigation lines
- Wrap young trees with hardware cloth for rabbit protection
- Apply 4-inch winter mulch around perennials and roses
Prune & maintain
- Stop pruning. Wait until late winter for most woody plants
Indoor
- Inventory remaining seeds and supplies for next year
Dec
Plant
- Nothing to plant. Enjoy the rest
Prep & soil
- Knock heavy snow off shrubs to prevent breakage
- Check stored bulbs and tubers monthly
Prune & maintain
- Cut greens for holiday decorations from healthy evergreens
- Avoid pruning in deep cold
Indoor
- Plan next year's beds and order early-season seeds
