| Zone 7 Monthly Gardening To Do List
January
Sow seeds of warm-season annuals
Set out summer-flowering bulbs
Plant fall-blooming bulbs
Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root fruit trees
Apply dormant spray to fruit trees before buds swell
Spray apples, peaches, and pears that have been affected with canker problems
Plant bare-root perennial vegetables
Plant seedlings of cool-weather vegetables
Sow fast-growing warm-season vegetables
Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
Sow seeds for tender perennials
Plant container and bare-root roses
Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root trees, shrubs, and vines
Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
Plant frost-tolerant trees
Plant conifers and broad-leaf evergreens
February
Order seeds
Sow seeds of warm-season annuals indoors
Plant ornamental trees
Prune flowering fruit trees while in bloom
Prune winter-flowering shrubs and vines after bloom
Sow seeds of warm-season vegetables indoors
Sow seeds for hardy spring-blooming annuals
Plant or transplant cool-season vegetable seedlings
March
Sow seeds of warm-season annuals
Set out summer-flowering bulbs
Plant fall-blooming bulbs
Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root fruit trees
Apply dormant spray to fruit trees before buds swell
Spray apples, peaches, and pears that have been affected with canker problems
Plant bare-root perennial vegetables
Plant seedlings of cool-weather vegetables
Sow fast-growing warm-season vegetables
Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
Sow seeds for tender perennials
Plant container and bare-root roses
Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root trees, shrubs, and vines
Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
Plant frost-tolerant trees
Plant conifers and broad-leaf evergreens
April
Prune winter-flowering shrubs and vines after bloom
Plant summer- and fall-flowering bulbs
Spray for peach leaf curl, peach leaf blight, and canker
Plant permanent ground covers
Plant or repair lawns
Plant ornamental grasses
Plant bare-root and container roses
Plant or transplant warm-season annuals
Plant fruit trees
Spray dormant fruit trees
Prune frost-sensitive fruit trees
Feed houseplants that are growing or blooming
Plant heat-loving perennials
Uncover roses and apply dormant spray
Plant ornamental and evergreen trees, shrubs, and vines
Apply dormant spray to trees, shrubs, and vines
Prune spring-flowering or tender shrubs and vines during or just after bloom
Plant vegetable seedlings
May
Plant summer- and fall-flowering bulbs
Spray for peach leaf curl, peach leaf blight, and canker
Plant permanent ground covers
Plant or repair lawns
Plant ornamental grasses
Plant annuals for summer and fall color
Plant balled-and-burlapped or container fruit trees
Spray dormant fruit trees
Prune frost-sensitive fruit trees
Feed houseplants that are growing or blooming
Plant heat-loving perennials
Plant container roses
Plant balled-and-burlapped or container trees, shrubs, and vines
Prune spring-flowering or tender shrubs and vines during or just after bloom
Plant or transplant warm-season vegetable seedlings
June
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
July
Remove faded flowers from perennials after they finish blooming. Deadheading redirects energy towards healthy roots.
Maintain a 3 to 4 inch mulch layer around trees and shrubs to protect them from mower and weed whacker damage.
Check plants regularly for insect problems; hand pick or use suitable control measures if found
Fertilize warm-season grasses
Plant butterfly nectar and larval food plants such as asclepias, buddleia, and passionflower
Replace spent annuals with heat-tolerant lantana, verbena, pentas, and hibiscus
Consider drip irrigation and/or soaker hoses as efficient watering alternatives
Harvest raspberries and blackberries daily to avoid attracting insects to overripe fruit
Prune water sprouts from apple trees
Water flowerbeds and vegetable gardens deeply. This encourages a deep root system
August
Harvest vegetables continuously to stretch their season
Sprinkle compost starter to speed up composting for fall soil building
Prune summer-blooming shrubs (hydrangea, clethra, caryopteris) after flowers finish
Plant garlic now for spring harvests
Dig gently to harvest potatoes a few plants at a time
Look forward to something different next spring: try alliums in your bulb garden
Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley, garlic chives, cilantro and dill)
Plan perennial beds for fall and winter color with ornamental grasses, fall-blooming bulbs and hardy heaths and heathers
Enjoy fall fragrance by planting autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata), flowering tobacco and annual stock
Keep cool during summer’s dog days with a shade garden embroidered with hostas and hardy ferns
Color up your bulb garden with fall bloomers (lycoris, fall crocus, colchicum)
September
Set out transplants of cool-weather vegetables
Prune cane fruits such as raspberries and blackberries
Plant winter pansies and fall annuals (calendula, dianthus, ornamental cabbage and kale)
Plant peonies
Plant fall-blooming bulbs to brighten up fading window boxes, planters and in drifts among ornamental grasses
Continue to harvest herbs and flowers for drying
Divide peonies, bearded iris and other spring- and summer-blooming perennials
Plant bareroot trees and shrubs
Order sweet pea seedlings for fall planting
Plant herbs and groundcovers as the weather cools
October
Plant or repair lawns
Plant ornamental grasses
Cover perennial, vegetable, bulb, and strawberry beds for winter
Plant winter- and spring-blooming bulbs
Pre-chill tulips and hyacinths for indoor forcing
Plant balled-and-burlapped or container fruit trees
Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
Rake lawn to remove debris
Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
Plant container roses
Plant balled-and-burlapped or container trees, shrubs, and vines
Prune fall-flowering shrubs just after bloom
Protect tender plants from frost
November
Plant ornamental trees
Cover perennial, vegetable, bulb, and strawberry beds for winter
Plant winter- and spring-blooming bulbs
Pre-chill tulips and hyacinths for indoor forcing
Cut back on feeding houseplants (do not feed dormant houseplants)
Rake lawn to remove debris
Protect roses for the winter
Prune fall- and winter-flowering shrubs during or just after bloom
Prune hardy deciduous and evergreen shrubs and vines
Protect tender plants from frost
December
Order seeds
Plant ornamental trees
Apply dormant spray to ornamental trees
Prechill tulips and hyacinths for forcing indoors
Water living Christmas trees
Sow frost-tolerant perennials
Prune winter-flowering shrubs during or just after bloom
Prune hardy deciduous and evergreen trees
Protect tender plants from frost
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