This month
May in Zone 9a
Plant
- Last call for spring vegetables before heat sets in
- Switch to true heat lovers (okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes, peanuts)
- Plant zinnias, vinca, portulaca for summer color
Prep & soil
- Water early morning to reduce evaporation
- Mulch heavily
Prune & maintain
- Stop pruning spring bloomers
- Pinch summer annuals for branching
Indoor
- Plan fall garden
Jan
Plant
- Plant cool-season vegetables (lettuce, spinach, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, peas)
- Plant cool-season annuals (pansies, snapdragons, petunias, dianthus)
- Plant bare-root roses, fruit trees, and citrus
- Plant strawberries
Prep & soil
- Top-dress beds with compost
- Cover tender tropicals if freeze is forecast
Prune & maintain
- Prune dormant deciduous trees and roses
- Prune citrus lightly after harvest
Indoor
- Start tomato and pepper seeds for early spring transplant
Feb
Plant
- Last call for cool-season vegetables
- Transplant tomatoes and peppers late month after last freeze (~Feb 15-Mar 1)
- Direct sow beans, corn, and squash late month
- Plant gladiolus and lily bulbs
Prep & soil
- Apply pre-emergent for crabgrass
- Refresh mulch
Prune & maintain
- Finish pruning roses and deciduous fruit trees
- Prune crepe myrtle lightly
Indoor
- Continue indoor seed starts for spring planting
Mar
Plant
- Plant warm-season vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, squash, cucumbers)
- Plant heat-loving annuals (lantana, pentas, vinca, zinnia)
- Plant subtropicals (hibiscus, mandevilla, plumbago)
Prep & soil
- Mulch beds 2-3 inches
- Set up drip irrigation
Prune & maintain
- Prune azaleas, camellias, and other spring bloomers IMMEDIATELY after flowering
Indoor
- Wind down indoor sowing
Apr
Plant
- Plant heat-tolerant herbs (basil, rosemary, oregano)
- Direct sow okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes
- Plant tropicals and palms
Prep & soil
- Deep watering as heat builds
- Top off mulch
Prune & maintain
- Pinch herbs
- Light shaping of shrubs
Indoor
- Take cuttings of coleus and geraniums
May (now)
Plant
- Last call for spring vegetables before heat sets in
- Switch to true heat lovers (okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes, peanuts)
- Plant zinnias, vinca, portulaca for summer color
Prep & soil
- Water early morning to reduce evaporation
- Mulch heavily
Prune & maintain
- Stop pruning spring bloomers
- Pinch summer annuals for branching
Indoor
- Plan fall garden
Jun
Plant
- Heat lovers only (okra, southern peas, sweet potato slips)
- Plant cassava, malanga, and other tropical staples
Prep & soil
- Deep weekly watering
- Hurricane prep: secure tall plants and containers
Prune & maintain
- Deadhead repeat bloomers
- Stop pruning by mid-month
Indoor
- Plan fall planting schedule
Jul
Plant
- Same as June; heat is at peak
- Start tomatoes and peppers indoors for fall garden
Prep & soil
- Watch for fungal disease in humid conditions
- Mulch heavily
Prune & maintain
- Trim hedges only if necessary; avoid heavy cuts
- No structural pruning
Indoor
- Sow cool-season seeds (broccoli, cabbage, kale) under shade for fall transplant
Aug
Plant
- Start fall tomato and pepper transplants late month
- Sow second round of okra and southern peas
- Begin fall brassicas late month
Prep & soil
- Continue deep watering
- Stop fertilizing tropicals
Prune & maintain
- Cut back leggy summer annuals
- Light hedge trimming only
Indoor
- Continue sowing fall vegetables
Sep
Plant
- Plant fall tomatoes and peppers
- Direct sow lettuce, spinach, kale, beans (second crop)
- Plant subtropical perennials
Prep & soil
- Top-dress beds with compost
- Refresh mulch
Prune & maintain
- Resume light pruning
- Cut back overgrown perennials
Indoor
- Sow cool-season annuals for fall containers
Oct
Plant
- Plant cool-season vegetables (lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, beets, peas)
- Plant cool-season annuals (pansies, snapdragons, dianthus)
- Plant trees, shrubs, and palms (best season here)
Prep & soil
- Mulch new plantings
- Wind down irrigation if rains return
Prune & maintain
- Cut back perennials that are done
- Light shaping of shrubs
Indoor
- Bring tender tropicals inside if cold front forecast
Nov
Plant
- Continue planting cool-season vegetables and annuals
- Plant garlic and shallots
- Plant pre-chilled bulbs (tulips, hyacinths) after fridge chilling
Prep & soil
- Cover tender tropicals ahead of cold fronts
- Top off mulch
Prune & maintain
- Begin dormant pruning of deciduous trees late month
Indoor
- Pot amaryllis for holiday bloom
Dec
Plant
- Plant cool-season vegetables and herbs
- Plant strawberries and onions
- Plant bare-root roses and fruit trees late month
Prep & soil
- Cover tropicals before any freeze
- Apply dormant oil to fruit trees
Prune & maintain
- Prune dormant fruit trees and roses
- Prune citrus after harvest
Indoor
- Plan next year's rotations
