Seasonal Planting Calendar: A Year-Round Guide for Memphis Gardeners

Your Month-by-Month Guide to Seasonal Planting in Memphis

If you’re a Memphis gardener, you already know that our city’s mild winters and hot, humid summers make for a unique planting environment. From January’s bare-root trees to December’s holiday-ready evergreens, every month brings opportunities to grow, maintain, and enjoy a thriving landscape. Ready to dig in? Here’s your month-by-month guide to keeping your yard beautiful all year long!

January: Prune, Protect, and Plan

The new year is the perfect time to start fresh. Begin by pruning deciduous trees like oaks and crape myrtles to remove deadwood and shape them for future growth. Add a layer of mulch around trees and shrubs to protect roots from temperature swings.

What to Plant:
January is ideal for bare-root trees and shrubs like dogwoods or forsythias. Want greenery all year? Try evergreen hollies or junipers to add structure and vibrancy to your yard.

February: Prepare for Spring

Spring is just around the corner, so it’s time to prepare your garden beds! Add organic compost or soil amendments to set the stage for healthy growth. Check your evergreens for pests—better safe than sorry.

What to Plant:
Early bloomers like camellias and witch hazel bring color to those last gray days of winter. If you’re thinking about hedges, deciduous options like privet are a great choice this month.

March: Spring Into Action

March is when Memphis gardens truly come alive! Fertilize shrubs like azaleas and boxwoods to give them a boost. Got clumps of ornamental grasses? Divide and replant to refresh your beds and promote growth.

What to Plant:
Flowering trees like cherry blossoms and magnolias bring elegance and charm to your yard. Add shrubs like hydrangeas or spirea for lush, colorful accents.

April: Bloom Boom

April is a busy month in the garden. Apply pre-emergent herbicides to keep weeds at bay, and start watering newly planted greenery as needed.

What to Plant:
Add broadleaf evergreens like rhododendrons for year-round greenery and ornamental trees like redbuds for that perfect pop of spring color.

May: Mulch and Monitor

As temperatures rise, mulch your flower beds and around shrubs to lock in moisture and keep roots cool. This is also a great time to check your irrigation system for leaks or clogs.

What to Plant:
Heat-tolerant shrubs like butterfly bushes and hardy perennials like daylilies thrive in the Memphis sun. Plant now, and enjoy their beauty all summer long.

June: Beat the Heat

June is all about maintenance. Prune spring-flowering shrubs after their blooms fade and water deeply to help your plants handle the heat.

What to Plant:
This is the time to add summer stunners like crepe myrtles for vibrant blooms and ground covers like liriope to fill in those tricky spots.

July: Survive and Thrive

Memphis summers are hot, but your garden doesn’t have to suffer. Monitor plants for pests like spider mites or Japanese beetles, and water deeply in the morning to keep your landscape hydrated.

What to Plant:
Focus on drought-tolerant plants like succulents, which love the heat and need minimal care.

August: Refresh and Prepare

As summer starts to wind down, give your plants a little love. Deadhead flowering shrubs to encourage reblooming and lightly fertilize summer-blooming plants.

What to Plant:
This is the perfect time to plant ornamental grasses that will shine through fall and into winter.

September: Fall into Gardening

Cooler weather means it’s time to tidy up. Remove spent blooms and dead branches as you prep for fall planting.

What to Plant:
Start planting deciduous trees like maples and oaks, as well as shrubs like viburnums and hollies. These will establish strong roots before winter.

October: Prime Planting Season

October is peak planting time in Memphis. Add a fresh layer of mulch to insulate plants and fertilize cool-season grasses like fescue.

What to Plant:
Plant shrubs like nandina and firethorn for seasonal color, and trees like dogwoods and ginkgo for lasting beauty.

November: Prep for Spring

It’s bulb-planting season! Rake fallen leaves and compost them for a nutrient-rich addition to your soil.

What to Plant:
Add spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils for a burst of color when winter ends. Evergreen trees and ground covers like ivy or pachysandra are also great for filling in bare spots.

December: Wrap It Up

Finish the year with a little holiday cheer. Prune evergreens for seasonal décor, and protect young plants with burlap wraps during cold snaps.

What to Plant:
Keep planting bare-root trees and shrubs while the ground is still workable. It’s the perfect way to ensure a lush start in spring.

Pro Tips for Memphis Gardeners

• Drought-Tolerant Choices: Plants like lantana, crape myrtle, and yucca are summer superstars.
• Companion Planting: Pair plants with similar water and light needs—like hostas under tree canopies—for a harmonious garden.
• Seasonal Adjustments: Watch the weather! Adjust your watering schedule based on rainfall and heat intensity.

With a little planning and care, you can enjoy a gorgeous garden in Memphis no matter the season. Need help making your landscaping dreams a reality? Greenview Landscape is here for you. Visit greenviewmemphis.com to learn more and get started today!