• 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

• 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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