Table of Contents
Creating a beautiful and thriving front yard requires understanding the best planting times for various plants throughout the year. This seasonal planting guide will help you decide what to grow each month to keep your yard vibrant and healthy all year round.
January: Planning and Early Preparations
January is the perfect time to plan your garden layout and order seeds. Focus on cool-season vegetables like kale, spinach, and lettuce. You can also start planning for early bloomers such as crocuses and snowdrops that will appear in late winter or early spring.
February: Starting Seeds Indoors
Begin sowing seeds indoors for vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Hardy bulbs such as tulips and daffodils can be planted outdoors if the soil is workable. This month is ideal for preparing garden beds and composting.
March: Early Planting and Soil Preparation
As the weather warms, plant cool-season crops directly outdoors. Consider planting peas, carrots, and radishes. Prepare flower beds for spring blooms by adding compost and mulch. Early flowering bulbs like hyacinths can also be planted now.
April: Spring Planting
April is ideal for planting annual flowers such as marigolds and petunias. Continue planting vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and broccoli. Keep an eye on the weather forecast to protect young plants from late frosts.
May: Main Growing Season Begins
Plant warm-season vegetables including tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. This is also a good time to sow herbs like basil and cilantro. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
June: Peak Growing Time
Continue planting and caring for your garden. Add summer flowers such as zinnias and sunflowers. Water regularly, especially during dry spells, and fertilize to promote healthy growth.
July: Maintenance and Harvesting
Harvest early crops like lettuce and radishes. Plant late-season crops such as beans and squash. Deadhead flowers to encourage more blooms and keep your yard looking its best.
August: Preparing for Fall
Plant fall vegetables like broccoli and kale. Start sowing seeds for late-season flowers such as asters and chrysanthemums. Begin reducing watering as the weather cools.
September: Fall Planting and Cleanup
Plant bulbs for spring blooms, including tulips and daffodils. Remove spent plants and tidy up garden beds. Sow cover crops to improve soil health over winter.
October: Preparing for Winter
Plant hardy vegetables such as Brussels sprouts and garlic. Mulch garden beds to protect roots from frost. Prune trees and shrubs as needed.
November: Final Preparations
Finish planting bulbs and remove annuals that have finished blooming. Clean and store gardening tools. Protect delicate plants from cold weather.
December: Rest and Reflection
This is a quiet month for gardening. Reflect on the past season and plan improvements for next year. Keep an eye on indoor gardening projects to stay engaged during the winter months.