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Zone 1
- Plant lettuce seedlings at intervals of every few weeks
- Prune and thin out spring-flowering shrubs after bloom is finished
- After their leaves yellow and dry up, divide and transplant spring
bulbs
- Set out groundcover plants and start lawns
- Fertilize established lawns
- Consider container planting for warmth-loving vegetables (eggplant,
tomatoes, peppers)
- Continue to protect tomato seedlings, especially during cold nights
- Start perennials from seed by sowing in the ground
- Heat up new compost piles by adding garden soil and compost activator
- Remove faded flowers from cool-weather annuals to prolong their bloom
season
- Transplant warm-season vegetable seedlings; give them a warm start by
planting through mulches of thick plastic
- Set out cool-weather herbs such as chives and parsley
Zone 2
- Apply sulfur to control fungus problems on apple trees, roses and
grapevines
- Set out seedlings of warm-season annuals and vegetables
- Activate and stir compost piles weekly
- Plant summer-flowering bulbs
- Pinch off first flower buds on chrysanthemum and carnation plants to
coax bigger blooms
- Set out cool-weather herbs such as chives and parsley
- After their leaves yellow and dry up, divide and transplant crowded
spring bulbs
- Plant groundcovers
- Fertilize and aerate established lawns
- Divide and transplant spring-blooming perennials after they flower
- Fertilize, prune and thin out spring-flowering shrubs
- Plant balled-and-burlapped and container trees, shrubs and vines
Zone 3
- Set out seedlings of warm-season annuals and vegetables
- Plant summer-flowering bulbs
- Weed asparagus and strawberry beds
- Put up trellises or netting for peas, pole beans and flowering vines
- Divide and replant spring-blooming perennials after the flowers fade
- Plant container roses
- Fertilize and aerate lawns
- Plant balled-and-burlapped and container trees, shrubs and vines
- Apply sulfur to control fungus problems on apple trees, roses and
grapevines
- Pinch off first flower buds on chrysanthemum and carnation plants to
coax bigger blooms
- Protect cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, kale) from egg-laying cabbage
white butterflies with insect barrier cloth
- After their leaves yellow and dry up, divide and transplant crowded
spring bulbs
Zone 4
- Plant seedlings of warm-season annuals and vegetables
- Sow seed of fast-growing, heat-loving herbs, vegetables (basil,
squash, melons) and flowers (nasturtiums, zinnias) directly in ground
- Thin out small green fruits on apple, peach and plum trees to one
every 6 inches on the branch
- Dust potato plants to prevent infestations of potato beetle
- Set up trellises to support pole beans, morning glories and cucumbers
- Remove newest shoots from geranium plants to encourage fuller plants
- Plant new lawns and fertilize and aerate established lawns
- Plant container roses, shrubs and trees in well-amended soil
- Divide and transplant spring-flowering perennials that have finished
blooming
- Protect cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, kale) from egg-laying cabbage
white butterflies with insect-barrier cloth
- Weed asparagus and strawberry beds
- Remove new flower buds from chrysanthemums and carnations to coax
bigger blooms
Zone 5
- Divide and transplant spring-flowering perennials that have finished
blooming
- Harden off and plant seedlings of warm-weather vegetables and flowers
- Thin out small green fruits on apple, peach and plum trees to one
every 6 inches on the branch
- Sow seeds of perennials directly into the ground
- Dust potato plants to prevent infestations of potato beetle
- Pinch newest shoots on geranium plants to encourage fuller plants
- Train your lawn to grow deep roots; Mow often, at a high setting
- Plant balled-and-burlapped and container shrubs and trees
- Feed roses as the first flower buds appear; apply fungicide to
prevent powdery mildew or blackspot
- Weed asparagus and strawberry beds
- Feed young corn plants with high-nitrogen fish emulsion fertilizer
- Mulch flower and vegetable gardens to conserve water during heat
waves
Zone 6
- Prune vines (spring-blooming clematis and wisteria) after they've
flowered
- Remove spent flowers from spring annuals to stretch the blooming
season
- Mulch flower and vegetable gardens to conserve water during hot
spells
- Plant fall-blooming perennials now
- Thin out small green fruits on apple, peach and plum trees to one
every 6 inches on the branch
- Sow seeds of perennials directly into the ground
- Harden off and plant seedlings of warm-weather vegetables and flowers
- Prune once-blooming roses after they've flowered
- Continue to spray peach and apple trees to control fungal diseases
- Plant balled-and-burlapped and container shrubs and trees
- Lightly prune tips of blackberries and pinch flowers off young
grapevines to form and train growth of new canes
- Fertilize and prune azaleas, lilacs, spirea and rhododendrons after
they bloom
Zone 7
- Replace mulch and aerate soil in permanent potted gardens
- Remove spent flowers from spring annuals to stretch the blooming
season
- Plant fall-blooming perennials now
- Prune once-blooming roses after they've flowered this month
- Trim back vines (spring-blooming clematis and wisteria) after they
bloom
- Begin feeding vegetable plants as they start to flower
- Continue to spray peach and apple trees to control fungal diseases
- Plant balled-and-burlapped and container shrubs and trees
- Lightly prune tips of blackberries and pinch flowers off young
grapevines to form and train growth of new canes
- Set out seedlings of warm-weather vegetables and annuals
- Sow seeds of heat-loving vegetables (squash, pumpkins, melons)
directly into the ground
- Continue to fertilize roses and treat with fungicide as needed
Zone 8
- Pinch off flower buds to promote leafier basil plants
- Fertilize vegetable plants as they begin to bloom
- Lightly prune tips of blackberries and pinch flowers off young
grapevines to form and train growth of new canes
- Take cuttings from your favorite shrubs when the branch wood hardens
slightly
- Plant seedlings of heat-loving vegetables such as melons, peppers and
pumpkins for fall harvests
- Set out seedlings of late-summer flowering annuals
- Add a layer of mulch (2-3 inches) around newly planted trees and
shrubs
- Cut back and thin out diseased or spindly branches of
spring-flowering shrubs
- Prune once-blooming roses after they've flowered this month
- Fill flower garden gaps with larger sizes of summer-blooming annuals
- Replace mulch and aerate soil in permanent potted gardens
- Plant fall-blooming perennials now
Zone 9
- Deep water alkaline-sensitive trees, including Japanese maple and
saucer magnolias, and apply an acid fertilizer to prevent alkaline burn
- Replace mulch and aerate soil of potted plantings
- Deep soak and fertilize fig and avocado trees; mulch heavily to
protect shallow roots
- Protect trunks of young trees, especially citrus, from sunscald with
tree wrap or white latex paint
- Take cuttings from your favorite shrubs when the branch wood hardens
slightly
- Remove bloomed-out spikes from salvias, pentas and penstemons to
prolong their bloom
- Set out shallow dishes of water and overripe fruit to attract
butterflies
- Plant seedlings of heat-loving vegetables such as melons, peppers and
pumpkins for fall harvests
- Set out seedlings of late-summer flowering annuals
- Add a layer of mulch (2-3 inches) around newly planted trees and
shrubs
- Spray wilting fuchsias with water and monitor for signs of fuchsia
mite
- Pinch off flower buds to promote leafier basil plants
Zone 10
- Continue to fertilize summer annuals to encourage bursts of bloom
- Plant gladioli bulbs every few weeks for successive cut flowers
through the summer
- Harvest vegetables as soon as they reach optimum size
- Make maximum use of scarce water by drip irrigating, watering early
in the day and planting in water-needs zones
- Trim bloomed-out spikes from salvias, pentas and penstemons to
prolong their bloom
- Remove withered blooms from crape myrtles to spur new flower
formation
- Keep caladiums and coleus in high color by pinching off faded leaves,
applying an all-purpose fertilizer and watering consistently
- Apply beneficial nematodes now to destroy ground-dwelling Japanese
beetle grubs
- Give roses one last feeding for the summer
- Check moisture levels of potted gardens and new transplants
- If holes appear in geraniums or petunias, control budworm with Bt;
use diatomaceous earth to control earwig damage in dahlias
- Protect trunks of young trees, especially citrus, from sunscald with
tree wrap or white latex paint
Zone 11
- Plant gladioli bulbs every few weeks for successive cut flowers
through the summer
- If holes appear in geraniums or petunias, control budworm with Bt;
use diatomaceous earth to control earwig damage in dahlias
- Harvest vegetables as soon as they reach optimum size
- Watch plants for signs of stress (wilting, sunscald) and irrigate as
needed with long, deep soaks
- Apply beneficial nematodes now to destroy ground-dwelling grubs of
Japanese beetles
- Give roses one last feeding for the summer
- Check moisture levels of potted gardens and new transplants
- Make maximum use of scarce water by drip irrigating, watering early
in the day and planting in water-needs zones
- Protect trunks of young trees, especially citrus, from sunscald with
tree wrap or white latex paint
- Set out shallow dishes of water and overripe fruit to attract
butterflies
- Keep caladiums and coleus in high color by pinching off faded leaves,
applying an all-purpose fertilizer and watering consistently
- Deep water palm trees and treat with chelated iron if new foliage is
pale or yellowed
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Garden Reminders
