2007 Northwest Planting Calendar

JANUARY

Choose and plant conifers, shrubs and deciduous trees. Water deeply even if rain is falling. | Roses and fruit trees ordered bare-root (without soil around their roots) grow quickly if planted now. | Check drainage of major garden areas and note standing water.

FEBRUARY

Prune now, especially conifers, summer-blooming shrubs such as hydrangea and potentilla and fruit trees. | Don't prune your spring-bloomers until after flowering. | Prune roses after President's Day or when the yellow spring forsythia blooms. | Cut off tall yellowed stems of all perennials, especially ornamental grasses.

MARCH

Fertilize trees and shrubs, as well as bulbs and perennial flower gardens. | Pull weeds, spread coarse mulch. | Plant peas, onions and potatoes early in the month. | Get stored fuchsias and geraniums fertilized, watered and into bright light. | Renovate lawns: Aerate, thatch and overseed with a Northwest seed mix.

APRIL

Plant cool-weather spring vegetables: onions, snowpeas and spinach. | Daffodils may be trimmed back six weeks after bloom, even if foliage stays a bit green. | Plant fuchsias, red hot pokers and phygelis to attract hummingbirds. And plant native red-flowering currant.

MAY

Fertilize young trees until they turn 3. | Plant summer-blooming exotics such as begonias, gladiolus, callas and cannas. | Weed and mulch before weeds go to seed. | Mow lawns every 5 to 7 days. Allow fine clippings to fall back on the turf to add nutrition.

JUNE

Plant flowering containers early this month. Warmer night temperatures perk up petunias, marigolds and other heat-lovers. | Set out tomato starts, peppers and eggplant. | Tuck culinary basil into the warmest spot. | Hanging baskets need immersing once a month to wet soil completely.

JULY

Water, water! Concentrate on the newest plants, those installed this year or last. | Trim lavender directly after bloom. | Plant gladiolus up to July 15 for late flowering. | Cut back delphinium and hardy geraniums for crisp new leaves and flowers.

AUGUST

Sow leafy greens in pots or garden areas. | Patrol for slugs on new seedlings. Look for piles of pearly slug eggs tucked under mulch and garden debris. | Divide, reset and fertilize all iris. | Water and fertilize dahlias to keep them producing flowers.

SEPTEMBER

Tote houseplants inside, washing off any unwanted insects. | Discard tropicals if they look sick. | Reduce water and fertilizer indoors. | Photograph the garden now, and at each equinox and solstice, to record change and help with planning.

OCTOBER

Visit nurseries for plants in leaf to see the best choices for fall colors. | Wait until all leaves fall before moving any deciduous trees. | Start a leaf pile or add fallen leaves to compost for great plant nutrients.

NOVEMBER

Improve soils by mulching 2-3 inches deep with wood chips. Chips also keep pesky winter weeds from sprouting. | Don your woolies to prune and transplant this month; new roots grow during winter. Dig planting holes just as deep as the root ball, but two to three times as wide. Settle plants just at soil level, not deeper.

DECEMBER

Rake leaves and twigs to let the lawn breathe. Don't tromp on frozen grass — roots can be damaged. | Check nursery sales for bargains — you can plant spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils and tulips until mid-January. | Visit local parks for winter-flowering shrub ideas.

Compiled by Mary Robson, Seattle Times garden writer and author of "Month by Month Gardening in Oregon and Washington" (Cool Springs Press, 2006).