The Home Garden Schedule
For most areas in northeast North America, use the following schedule as a general guide to common garden chores (west coast and southern gardeners should adjust it according to climatic differences).
January
(All outdoor plants dormant)
Plan garden
Order seeds and propagation equipment
Prune shade trees
Start slow-germinating seeds indoors
Inspect bulbs in storage
February
(All outdoor plants dormant)
Sharpen pruning shears and loppers in storage
Prune shade trees
Start seeds indoors
March
(Some growth starts outdoors towards end of month)
Prune fruit trees/shrubs
Apply dormant oil spray
Examine gardening tools; fix, sharpen and replace as necessary
April
Dig over and prepare growing beds for planting
Rake lawn
Seed bare patches
Fertilize lawn with a slow-release fertilizer
Plant bareroot trees and shrubs
Start lawn mowing toward end of month
Remove protective cover from roses and prune them
Plant perennials
Plant peas, onions, leeks, sweet peas, lettuce, radish, chervil, Swiss chard, spinach and chives outdoors
Plant asparagus and rhubarb
Start to build a compost pile
May
Set out annuals
Plant container-grown plants
Mow lawn weekly
Fertilize and mulch beds; apply manure or compost to growing areas
Dust roses
Seed new lawns
Plant perennials and summer flowering bulbs
Plant evergreen hedges
Set out brassica crops (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.)
When danger of frost is past, plant and sow frost-tender vegetables, including tomatoes, snap beans and corn
Weed growing areas weekly or biweekly, as needed
June
Mow lawn weekly
Fertilize and mulch beds
Prune evergreens
Spot kill or dig persistent lawn weeds
Support tall perennials as needed
Prune spring-flowering shrubs to remove dead flower heads
Thin vegetable garden
Plant successive crops (lettuce, carrots, beans, etc.)
Pinch chrysanthemums to force lower growth
Weed growing areas as needed
Dust roses
July
Mow lawn weekly or as needed; cut no shorter than 2"
Water growing beds during dry periods
After fruiting, prune raspberry canes
Stake tall perennials such as delphinium and peony
Dust roses
August
Prune climbing roses
Seed new lawns toward end of month
Sow fall vegetables (radish, spinach, lettuce, etc.)
Mow lawn weekly or as needed; cut no shorter than 2" in hot weather
Remove sucker growth from weeping grafted trees
Harvest vegetables
September
(First light frosts)
Plant spring-flowering bulbs and perennials
Mow lawn weekly or as needed
Harvest vegetables
Divide perennials if needed
Compost frost-killed annuals
Apply fall fertilizer to lawn
Aerate lawn
October
(First heavy frosts)
Dig and store frost-tender summer-flowering bulbs
Plant trees, shrubs and spring-flowering bulbs
Dig over vegetable and annual beds
Water evergreens liberally until freeze-up to prevent winter sun scalding
Rake leaves
November
(All plants dormant)
Mound rose bushes with soil to protect from freeze thaw cycles
Wrap evergreens to protect from wind, sun and snow damage
Clean and oil hand tools before storage; rub wooden handles with tung oil
Drain hoses and sprinklers; store in shed or basement
December
(All plants dormant)
Rest
