University of California
Sonoma County
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Suggestions for seasonal plantings as well as other gardening tips. For more gardening ideas, check out our links and publications pages.
Click on the month of your choice.
January
- Plant bare root trees, shrubs, roses, strawberries.
- Prune roses, fruit trees, summer-flowering shrubs and vines.
(Prune shrubs and vines that bloom in early spring - such as lilacs and some clematis - immediately after bloom.) - Spray fruit trees and roses with dormant oil spray.
Spray after pruning, before buds start to open.
February
- Complete pruning and spraying (see January). Spray for peach leaf curl.
- Plant early cool season vegetables: salad greens, peas, spinach, Swiss chard, broccoli, cauliflower. Start seedlings in flats in a greenhouse or indoors, under lights.
- Finish cutting back and cleaning up perennials (see November).
- Apply fungicide to fruit trees during bloom period.
March
- Start to fertilize fruit trees and ornamentals. Either apply a slow-release fertilizer or fertilize on a monthly basis until late summer.
- Plant cool season vegetables: salad greens, peas, spinach, Swiss chard, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes.
- Plant perennials and early annual flowers.
- Start seedlings of warm season vegetables in greenhouse or indoors, under lights. Allow six to eight weeks for seedlings to be ready to set out in the garden. Don’t set out warm season vegetables until after the last frost (see April).
April
- The average last frost date is April 1 (may have frost as late as early May).
- In warmer areas, plant set out warm season vegetables: Set out seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant; direct seed squash, beans, corn. Wait until the soil is warm and all danger of frost is past.
- Plant perennials, annual flowers, summer-flowering bulbs.
- Apply mulch to keep down weeds.
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs and vines after flowering.
- Start irrigation when the rains end.
May
- Set out and direct seed warm season vegetables (see April).
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs and vines after flowering.
June
- Prune trees and shrubs. To limit growth, prune in summer; to encourage growth, prune in winter.
July
- Deadhead roses and other flowers to encourage more blooms.
August
- Start seedlings for fall and winter vegetables.
- Deadhead roses and other flowers to encourage more blooms.
September
- After harvest, clean up fallen fruit and feed fruit trees.
- Deadhead roses and other flowers to encourage more blooms.
October
- Start cutting back and cleaning up perennials that have finished flowering.
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
- Plant trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials.
Fall is an especially good time to plant natives and other plants that are adapted to dry summers. Be sure to irrigate these plants in summer for a year or so, until they are established.
November
- The average first frost date is November 15 (may have frost as soon as mid-October).
- In frosty areas, protect tender plants such as citrus.
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
- Continue cutting back and cleaning up perennials that are finished flowering.
- Spray fruit trees with fungicides.
Spray for peach leaf curl, brown rot.
December
- In frosty areas, protect tender plants such as citrus.
- Start pruning roses, fruit trees, summer-flowering shrubs and vines.
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