This month
May in Zone 6a
Plant
- Last call for warm-season transplants and direct sowing
- Plant heat-loving herbs (basil, rosemary)
- Plant tropical containers
Prep & soil
- Set up drip irrigation
- Apply final mulch where bare
Prune & maintain
- Finish pruning spring bloomers
- Pinch herbs for bushier growth
Indoor
- Take cuttings of geraniums and coleus for fall containers
Jan
Plant
- Plant bare-root roses and fruit trees on a thaw day
- Direct sow nothing yet
Prep & soil
- Plan rotations and order seeds
- Sharpen tools and inventory supplies
Prune & maintain
- Prune dormant fruit trees, grapes, and summer-blooming shrubs
- Avoid pruning in temps below 20°F
Indoor
- Start onions, leeks, and slow perennial seeds late January
Feb
Plant
- Direct sow peas, spinach, and radishes late month if soil is workable
Prep & soil
- Test soil pH and amend as needed
- Top-dress beds with compost late month
Prune & maintain
- Finish dormant pruning of roses, fruit trees, and butterfly bush
- Cut back ornamental grasses
Indoor
- Start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost (~mid-April)
- Start cool-season annuals
Mar
Plant
- Direct sow peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, and radishes
- Plant pansies, violas, and snapdragons
- Plant bare-root roses and small shrubs
Prep & soil
- Apply pre-emergent for crabgrass when forsythia blooms
- Pull spring weeds early
Prune & maintain
- Finish pruning roses and summer bloomers before bud break
- Do NOT prune spring bloomers yet
Indoor
- Start cucumbers, squash, and melons late month
- Harden off cool-season transplants
Apr
Plant
- After last frost (~Apr 10-25), transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, and warm-season annuals
- Direct sow beans, corn, and squash when soil reaches 60°F
- Plant dahlias, gladiolus, and tender bulbs
Prep & soil
- Mulch beds 2-3 inches
- Stake peonies and tall perennials before they grow up
Prune & maintain
- Prune spring bloomers (lilac, forsythia, azalea) right after they finish flowering
- Pinch back mums and asters
Indoor
- Harden off warm-season starts for 7-10 days
May (now)
Plant
- Last call for warm-season transplants and direct sowing
- Plant heat-loving herbs (basil, rosemary)
- Plant tropical containers
Prep & soil
- Set up drip irrigation
- Apply final mulch where bare
Prune & maintain
- Finish pruning spring bloomers
- Pinch herbs for bushier growth
Indoor
- Take cuttings of geraniums and coleus for fall containers
Jun
Plant
- Direct sow okra, sweet potatoes, and southern peas
- Sow second succession of bush beans and heat-tolerant lettuce
Prep & soil
- Water deeply 1-2 inches per week
- Side-dress tomatoes and heavy feeders
Prune & maintain
- Pinch herbs
- Light prune of lavender after first bloom
- Stop pruning spring shrubs by month's end
Indoor
- Wind down indoor sowing for the season
Jul
Plant
- Direct sow fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) by mid-July
- Sow second round of beans and cucumbers
Prep & soil
- Deep watering during heat waves
- Mulch heavily to keep roots cool
Prune & maintain
- Deadhead annuals and repeat-blooming perennials
- Cut back catmint, nepeta, and salvia for second flush
Indoor
- Start fall transplants (brassicas, lettuce) under lights if needed
Aug
Plant
- Direct sow lettuce, spinach, radishes, and arugula for fall harvest
- Order spring bulbs for October planting
Prep & soil
- Continue deep watering
- Stop fertilizing perennials and shrubs
Prune & maintain
- Stop pruning shrubs (new growth won't harden)
- Deadhead repeat bloomers
Indoor
- Take cuttings of tender perennials to overwinter
Sep
Plant
- Plant garlic late month (or early October)
- Best month for planting trees, shrubs, and perennials
- Divide and replant overgrown perennials
- Sow cool-season annuals (pansies, snapdragons)
Prep & soil
- Harvest and dry herbs
- Top-dress beds with compost
Prune & maintain
- Light shearing of evergreens (last chance)
- Do NOT cut back roses or hydrangeas yet
Indoor
- Bring in tender container plants if frost is forecast (~mid-Oct)
Oct
Plant
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs (daffodils, tulips, alliums)
- Plant garlic if not done in September
- Continue planting trees and shrubs
Prep & soil
- Dig dahlia, canna, and gladiolus tubers after first hard frost
- Drain hoses and irrigation
- Mulch new plantings after first frost
Prune & maintain
- Cut back frost-killed perennials
- Remove diseased material (don't compost)
Indoor
- Pot amaryllis and paperwhites for winter forcing
Nov
Plant
- Last call for spring bulbs and garlic
- Plant pansies for winter color
Prep & soil
- Apply 3 inch winter mulch around perennials, roses, and new plantings
- Wrap young tree trunks for rodent protection
Prune & maintain
- Stop pruning. Wait for late winter dormant pruning
Indoor
- Inventory seeds for next year
Dec
Plant
- Nothing to plant
Prep & soil
- Check stored tubers monthly
- Knock heavy snow off shrubs
Prune & maintain
- Cut evergreens for holiday use
- Avoid pruning in hard freezes
Indoor
- Plan next year's beds and order seeds
