This month
May in Zone 5b
Plant
- After last frost (~May 1-15), transplant tomatoes, peppers, and basil
- Direct sow beans, corn, and squash when soil is 60°F+
- Plant dahlias, gladiolus, and tender bulbs
Prep & soil
- Mulch annual and vegetable beds 2-3 inches
- Stake peonies, delphiniums, and tall perennials
Prune & maintain
- Prune spring bloomers as they finish
- Deadhead bulb flowers but leave foliage to yellow
Indoor
- Wind down indoor seed-starting
Jan
Plant
- Nothing outdoors
- Force forsythia or quince branches indoors mid-month
Prep & soil
- Plan crop rotation and order seeds
- Sharpen and oil pruning tools
Prune & maintain
- Prune dormant fruit trees on mild days
- Knock heavy snow off shrubs
Indoor
- Start onion, leek, and slow perennial seeds late in the month
Feb
Plant
- Still too cold for outdoor sowing
Prep & soil
- Test soil pH
- Pull mulch back from emerging bulbs late in the month
Prune & maintain
- Prune apple, pear, and grape vines
- Prune summer-blooming shrubs (rose of Sharon, butterfly bush) before bud break
Indoor
- Start pansies, snapdragons, and slow flowers under lights
- Start onions, leeks, and celery
Mar
Plant
- Direct sow peas, spinach, and radishes mid-to-late month if soil is workable
- Plant pansies and violas outdoors
Prep & soil
- Top-dress beds with compost
- Apply pre-emergent for crabgrass when forsythia blooms
Prune & maintain
- Finish pruning roses, fruit trees, and summer bloomers
- Cut back ornamental grasses to 6 inches
Indoor
- Start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant 6-8 weeks before last frost (~early May)
- Start cool-season annuals
Apr
Plant
- Direct sow lettuce, carrots, beets, and chard early in month
- Plant bare-root roses and shrubs
- Plant cold-tolerant perennials
Prep & soil
- Mulch perennial beds as soil warms
- Side-dress emerging perennials with compost
Prune & maintain
- Prune spring bloomers immediately AFTER they finish flowering
- Pinch mums and asters
Indoor
- Harden off cool-season starts
- Start cucumbers, squash, and melons mid-to-late month
May (now)
Plant
- After last frost (~May 1-15), transplant tomatoes, peppers, and basil
- Direct sow beans, corn, and squash when soil is 60°F+
- Plant dahlias, gladiolus, and tender bulbs
Prep & soil
- Mulch annual and vegetable beds 2-3 inches
- Stake peonies, delphiniums, and tall perennials
Prune & maintain
- Prune spring bloomers as they finish
- Deadhead bulb flowers but leave foliage to yellow
Indoor
- Wind down indoor seed-starting
Jun
Plant
- Last call for warm-season transplants
- Direct sow second succession of beans and lettuce (heat-tolerant types)
Prep & soil
- Set up drip irrigation
- Apply mulch to all bare soil to retain moisture
Prune & maintain
- Pinch herbs and prune lavender lightly after first bloom
- Stop pruning spring-blooming shrubs by month's end
Indoor
- Take cuttings of geraniums, coleus, and impatiens for next year
Jul
Plant
- Direct sow fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) and beets
- Sow second round of carrots and beans
Prep & soil
- Deep-water 1-2 inches per week
- Side-dress heavy feeders
Prune & maintain
- Deadhead annuals and repeat-blooming perennials
- Cut back catmint and salvia for second flush
Indoor
- Start brassica seedlings indoors if direct-sown stand is thin
Aug
Plant
- Sow lettuce, spinach, and radishes for fall harvest
- Order spring bulbs for September delivery
Prep & soil
- Stop fertilizing perennials and shrubs
- Continue watering during dry spells
Prune & maintain
- Stop pruning shrubs
- Deadhead repeat bloomers one last time
Indoor
- Take cuttings of tender perennials
Sep
Plant
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs
- Best month for planting trees and shrubs
- Divide and replant overgrown perennials
Prep & soil
- Harvest and dry herbs before frost
- Mulch new plantings
Prune & maintain
- Cut back peonies, hostas, and daylilies after first frost
- Do NOT prune roses or hydrangeas
Indoor
- Bring in tender container plants before first frost (~late Sep to early Oct)
Oct
Plant
- Finish planting spring bulbs
- Plant garlic 4-6 weeks before ground freezes
Prep & soil
- Dig and store dahlia, canna, and gladiolus tubers after first hard frost
- Drain hoses and irrigation
Prune & maintain
- Cut back frost-killed annual and perennial debris
- Remove diseased material (don't compost)
Indoor
- Pot amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs for winter forcing
Nov
Plant
- Last chance for spring bulbs and garlic if ground is workable
Prep & soil
- Apply 3-4 inch winter mulch around perennials and roses
- Wrap young tree trunks for rodent protection
Prune & maintain
- Stop pruning. Wait until late winter
Indoor
- Inventory remaining seeds
Dec
Plant
- Nothing to plant
Prep & soil
- Knock heavy snow off shrubs
- Check stored bulbs and tubers
Prune & maintain
- Cut evergreens for holiday decorating
- Avoid pruning in hard freeze
Indoor
- Plan beds and order early-season seeds
