Twin Cities Plant Care Calendar
A month-by-month roadmap for Minnesota gardeners — what to plant, prune, water, and protect across the Twin Cities zone 4 climate. Bookmark this page; we update it as the season changes.
January
Plan next year's garden. Order trees and shrubs for early spring delivery. Walk your yard — note bare spots and damage from drifts.
Indoor garden planning is the #1 thing pros do in January. Sketch beds while photos from last summer are fresh.
February
Prune dormant deciduous trees and shrubs (oaks, maples, lilacs). Avoid pruning maples after late February — they bleed sap.
Late winter pruning means cuts heal before insects emerge. Bring in branches of forsythia and pussy willow to force indoors.
March
Cut back ornamental grasses to 6". Apply dormant oil to fruit trees. Order bare-root trees. Start hardy annuals indoors.
Don't rake leaves out of beds yet — pollinators are still overwintering in them. Wait until consistent 50°F days.
April
Plant trees and shrubs as soon as soil is workable. Divide hostas, daylilies, and other perennials. Apply pre-emergent on lawns.
April is THE best month for planting in Minnesota. Roots have all season to establish before winter.
May
After May 15 (last frost), plant tender perennials and annuals. Mulch beds 3" deep. Stake tomatoes and tall flowers.
May 15 is the rough Twin Cities frost-free date. Watch the forecast — late frosts kill warm-season plants quickly.
June
Deadhead spring bloomers. Prune lilacs and forsythia immediately after they flower. Water deeply 1×/week if dry.
Deep watering (1" per week, all at once) builds drought-tolerant root systems. Frequent shallow watering does the opposite.
July
Watch for spider mites and Japanese beetles. Pinch chrysanthemums until July 4. Refresh mulch where it's thinned.
July heat stresses new plantings. Water in early morning before 9am — evening watering invites fungus.
August
Order trees and shrubs for fall delivery. Stop fertilizing trees and shrubs (forces vulnerable new growth). Plan fall bulb purchases.
August dry spells are the most stressful time of year for newly planted trees. Soak deeply at the drip line.
September
Plant trees and shrubs (second-best month after April). Plant fall bulbs (tulips, daffodils, alliums). Aerate and overseed lawns.
September planting gives roots 4–6 weeks of warm soil before freeze. Stop pruning so new growth doesn't emerge before winter.
October
Plant garlic. Wrap young tree trunks against rabbit and vole damage. Drain irrigation systems. Mulch perennials after first hard frost.
Wait for a hard frost before mulching — too early and rodents will nest in warm mulch over winter.
November
Wrap evergreens with burlap if exposed to wind. Stake newly planted trees. Final deep watering before ground freezes solid.
A late deep watering ("anti-desiccant" watering) is the #1 thing that protects evergreens from winter burn.
December
Knock heavy snow off evergreen branches. Avoid salt spray on shrubs near walks. Cut greenery for indoor decorating.
Don't shovel salt-laden snow onto perennial beds. Salt destroys soil structure and burns roots through winter.
Need help with this month's tasks?
We deliver MN-hardy plants right to your Twin Cities yard, and our team can answer questions about pruning, planting timing, or storm damage.
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