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The San Francisco Garden Calendar: What to Do Every Month

Updated: 23 minutes ago

Monthly garden plant labels

Gardening advice written for generic climates doesn't serve San Francisco gardeners well. Our winters are mild and wet. Our summers are cool and foggy in some neighborhoods and surprisingly warm in others. We have a rainy season instead of a cold season, and our microclimates shift dramatically from block to block.


This calendar is written specifically for Bay Area conditions. It covers the major tasks each month across planting, pruning, soil health, irrigation, and pest management, with the reasoning behind them rather than just a to-do list.


If you'd rather have a trained horticulturist manage this for you, Fyrn Landscapes offers garden maintenance in San Francisco and San Mateo County.


January: Stop Weeds Before They Start

January feels quiet in the garden, but it's one of the most consequential months for weed management. Weeds that germinate with the first winter rains will go to seed by March and April. Getting ahead of them now saves significant work later. Corn gluten-based products applied now can help prevent germination without chemical herbicides, a good fit for gardens managed with integrated pest management principles.


Pruning: January is the right time for dormant pruning of roses, shrubs, and deciduous trees, including fruit trees. Cutting back perennials and ornamental grasses now sets up strong spring growth.


Planting: Bare root is the best and most economical way to plant deciduous fruit trees, roses, and Japanese maples. Bare root plants establish quickly and are widely available this month. Not sure which fruit trees perform best in our climate? Here's a guide to the best fruit trees for San Francisco gardens.


Pest and disease management: If it has rained, continue dormant spraying fruit trees to prevent peach leaf curl, fungal rot, and overwintering insects. Copper fungicide and horticultural oil can be mixed and applied together. Apply iron phosphate slug bait and protect citrus from rodent damage.


Tools: January is a good time to clean and sharpen pruning tools. Sharp tools make cleaner cuts, which heal faster and reduce disease entry points.


February: Prune, Plant, and Feed

February is still dormant pruning season and also the start of planting season for many Bay Area gardens. Finish rose, shrub, and tree pruning before new growth begins.


Pruning: Prune hydrangeas now. Cut lavender back to emerging growth. This is the key to good spike production later in summer. Hard-pruned lavender that misses this window tends to become woody and sparse.


Raspberries: Cut back canes that fruited last year and leave new canes for this year's fruit. Raspberries fruit on second-year growth, so removing the right canes at the right time is essential. Knowing which canes are which requires understanding how the plant grows.


Planting: February is ideal for Mediterranean plants, which are well suited to our climate: lavender, rosemary, ceanothus, manzanita, and leucadendron. These plants establish well in our wet season and are adapted to dry summers. Peonies, lilacs, flowering plums, and magnolias can also go in now.


Soil: After pruning, feed plants with an organic all-purpose fertilizer to support the flush of new growth coming in spring.


Pest management: Continue slug control. Protect citrus from rodents.


Interested in adding California native plants like ceanothus and manzanita to your garden? Learn how Fyrn Landscapes approaches ecological garden design.


March: Mulch, Irrigate, and Watch for Aphids

March is when the garden accelerates. Weeds grow fast, aphids appear, and soil moisture starts to matter more as rain becomes less reliable.


Irrigation: Run a full irrigation check in March. Flush the system, check for broken heads or drip emitters, and make sure everything is ready for the season ahead. This is also the month to start adjusting your controller schedule upward as rainfall decreases.


Soil: Apply compost and mulch to planting beds now. Mulch applied in March helps suppress the weeds that want to explode this time of year. It retains moisture as the dry season begins and gradually improves soil as it breaks down. Feed citrus with a granular citrus fertilizer. Add agricultural lime to vegetable beds to provide calcium for fruits and vegetables.


Pest management: Aphids begin appearing in March. Address them early. A strong stream of water removes them from plants effectively without any chemical input. Neem oil is a good organic option if populations are high. Apply slug bait and begin monitoring for fungal disease, especially rust and powdery mildew on roses.


Irrigation management is one of the most technical parts of garden care in San Francisco, where microclimates make a one-size-fits-all schedule ineffective. Rachael is a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper and EPA WaterSense certified professional. If you're not confident your irrigation system is set up correctly for your site, an irrigation audit is a good place to start. Get in touch to learn more.


April: Plant Edibles and Prune Perennials

April is one of the most productive planting months in the San Francisco garden calendar. The soil is warm enough, rain is still providing some moisture, and the dry season hasn't fully arrived.


Edibles: Plant tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, zucchini, and berries. Sow beans, cucumbers, and winter squash seeds directly into the ground.

Pruning: Cut back herbaceous perennials including salvias to promote bushiness and strong flowering later in the season. This is one of those tasks that seems counterintuitive, but cutting back a plant that looks healthy pays off significantly by summer.


Soil: Mulch vegetable and flower beds. Work any cover crops into the soil before they set seed. Apply a gentle lawn fertilizer if needed.


Pest management: Continue monitoring for aphids and treat early. Prevent powdery mildew on roses now rather than waiting until it appears.


May: Summer Annuals and Fruit Tree Thinning

May marks the transition into summer growing mode. Irrigation needs increase and the garden is in full swing.


Edibles: Reseed radishes, carrots, and beets. Plant late summer edibles including pumpkins, squash, sunflowers, and basil. Mulch around strawberries to keep fruit clean, retain moisture, and reduce weeds. Harvest new potatoes as soon as plants begin to bloom.


Planting: Plant summer annuals for color through the season. Petunias, marigolds, begonias, lobelia, cosmos, and zinnias all perform well in Bay Area conditions.


Pruning: Prune spring-flowering shrubs after bloom has finished. Pruning too early removes the flowers. Pruning too late cuts into next year's growth. Timing matters.


Soil: Fertilize rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias with an acid-forming fertilizer suited to their needs.


Pest management: Use beneficial nematodes to manage lawn grubs this month. Stake tall perennials like dahlias before they need support rather than after.


June: Thin Fruit and Prune Camellias

June is a month for refinement. The big spring push is behind you and summer maintenance takes over.


Fruit trees: Thin fruit now. It feels wrong to remove fruit that's already formed, but thinning produces larger, better quality fruit and reduces the risk of branch breakage under heavy loads. It also helps prevent biennial bearing, where trees fruit heavily one year and barely at all the next.


Pruning: Prune camellias after their bloom period ends. Treat blueberries and citrus with iron and zinc to maintain soil acidity if leaves are showing signs of yellowing.


Pest management: Begin monitoring for mosquito larvae in any standing water. Biological larvicides are an effective and low-impact control.


A note on San Francisco's June microclimates: while inland Bay Area gardens are heating up, many San Francisco neighborhoods stay cool and foggy through June. In the Sunset, Richmond, and other fog belt areas, irrigation needs remain lower than you might expect. Adjust your controller based on your specific neighborhood rather than a generalized summer schedule.


July: Mulch, Fertilize, and Monitor for Pests

July is dry and often foggy in San Francisco, though heat waves do push through periodically. Irrigation management and pest monitoring are the priorities.


Soil: Apply mulch to garden and vegetable beds to protect soil from summer heat, reduce watering needs, and suppress weeds. Fertilize camellias, azaleas, and rhododendrons. Apply an all-purpose fertilizer to other ornamentals as needed.


Edibles: Garlic is ready to harvest when leaves begin to turn yellow and die back. Cure bulbs in a cool dry place for three to four weeks before cleaning and storing.


Pest management: Monitor for thrips and treat with horticultural oil late in the day. Spraying after bees have stopped foraging protects pollinators while still addressing the pest. Monitor for whitefly and use yellow sticky traps to track populations. Check fuchsias for fuchsia mite and cut back six inches from any infected growth.


August: Plan for Fall and Summer-Prune Fruit Trees

August is the time to start thinking about fall while still managing summer conditions.


Fruit trees: Summer-prune fruit trees in August. Summer pruning controls size, improves light penetration, and promotes fruit bud development for next year. It serves a different purpose than winter dormant pruning. Both are important and neither replaces the other. This is one of the areas where horticultural knowledge shapes outcomes significantly.


Edibles: Start planning and seeding for fall cool-season crops: broccoli, cabbage, kale, chard, beets, turnips, radishes, and peas. Remove strawberry runners to promote stronger mother plants and better fruiting next year. For a deeper look at what to plant and when, read the full guide to planting the late summer garden in San Francisco.


Soil: Add agricultural lime to fall vegetable beds if soil chemistry needs it. Fertilize containers, which deplete nutrients faster than garden beds and need more frequent feeding through the growing season.


Pest management: Monitor tomatoes, lantana, and verbena for whitefly. Use yellow sticky traps to gauge population levels before deciding on treatment.


Fruit tree care is one of the more technically demanding parts of garden maintenance. Fyrn Landscapes offers dedicated edible garden care for clients growing food in San Francisco and San Mateo County.


September: Fall Color and Fungal Prevention

September is a transition month. Summer crops wind down, fall planting begins, and the garden shifts gears.


Planting: Plant pansies, violas, mums, stock, snapdragons, and Iceland poppies for fall and winter color. Plant leeks and onions from seed or young starts to avoid bolting in early spring.


Soil: Fertilize azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons. Mulch to inhibit weeds and conserve moisture heading into fall.


Pest management: Pick up fallen fruit to prevent overwintering pests and disease. Inspect deciduous fruit trees now for pest or disease issues so you can plan winter treatment before problems compound.


October: Fall Is for Planting

Warm soil makes October ideal for root establishment. Keep in mind that with rainfall arriving later in recent years, newly planted shrubs and trees may need supplemental irrigation until the rains come.


Planting: Get shrubs, perennials, and trees into the ground this month. Plant cyclamen, ground covers, and sweet peas. Plant spring bulbs now. Violas and pansies make excellent companions over bulbs, providing color while bulbs develop underground.


Edibles: Plant garlic and shallots for harvesting the following summer. Here's a complete guide to growing garlic in San Francisco.


Pruning: Divide and separate overcrowded perennials including agapanthus, achillea, and iris. Lightly prune Japanese maples while still in leaf.


Soil: Acidify soil around blue hydrangeas now to support blue blooms next season. Top-dress perennial beds and acid-loving shrubs with compost or mulch and begin monthly feeding with a low-nitrogen bloom fertilizer through winter.


November: Weed Before the Rain Does the Work for Them

November is the beginning of the rainy season and one of the most important months for weed management in the San Francisco garden calendar. Weed seeds germinate within five to ten days of rain. Pulling weeds before they get that moisture is far more efficient than pulling them after.


Irrigation: After rains start, turn off irrigation for the rainy season. In drought years with late or light rainfall, continue monitoring soil moisture and irrigate as needed. Climate change has made our rainfall less predictable and the old rule of turning irrigation off in November doesn't always hold.


Planting: With the Bay Area's mild winters, it's possible to enjoy year round harvests. Cool-season vegetables can go in now: cabbage, kale, chard, and spinach. Sow carrots directly. These crops will feed you all through winter.


If you want to grow food at home and need support with planning, seasonal planting, fruit tree care, and year-round maintenance, Fyrn Landscapes offers dedicated edible garden services in San Francisco and San Mateo County.


Pruning: Remove dead or diseased limbs from trees and shrubs.


Soil: Top-dress perennial beds and acid-loving shrubs. Continue feeding citrus through winter. Apply corn gluten to planting beds after rain to prevent weed germination.


Pest management: Apply slug bait. Apply dormant spray to roses and fruit trees once leaves have dropped to kill overwintering insects and prevent disease.


December: Plant in the Rain and Prepare for Dormancy

December is underestimated as a planting month. Rain does the establishment work for you, and plants put in now will have a strong root system ready to support spring growth.


Planting: Plant perennials, shrubs, and trees while the rain is doing the watering. Sow wildflower seeds now for spring color. Plant violas, primroses, and pansies for winter interest. Select bare-root roses now for summer bloom. Plant pre-chilled tulip bulbs.


Pruning: Lightly prune evergreen shrubs to keep pathways clear. Thin trees if needed to prevent storm and wind damage. Remove rose leaves to bring on dormancy. The bare canes make it easier to see the framework for pruning and dormant spraying. Leave rose hips to form, then rake up fallen petals and leaves to reduce disease carryover.


Pest management: Watch cymbidium spikes for snail damage and apply slug bait around them. Remove excessive leaf litter to eliminate overwintering disease habitat.


Working With a Bay Area Garden Maintenance Professional

A garden calendar tells you what to do. A skilled horticulturist knows why, and adjusts based on what your specific plants, soil, and microclimate actually need.


Fyrn Landscapes provides garden maintenance services in San Francisco and San Mateo County, led by Rachael Fyrn, a trained horticulturist with experience at Filoli Historic Garden and Green Gulch Farm. Rachael holds certifications in soil health, water efficiency, native plant landscaping, and permaculture design.


If you'd like that level of care for your garden, reach out here. I'll get back to you within two business days.



Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to plant in San Francisco?

Fall and early spring are the best planting seasons for most shrubs, perennials, and trees. October through March gives roots time to establish with the help of winter rain before summer drought arrives. Edibles follow a different calendar depending on whether they're cool-season or warm-season crops.


How often should I water my San Francisco garden in summer?

It depends heavily on your microclimate. Fog belt neighborhoods like the Sunset and Richmond lose far less moisture through evaporation than sunnier areas like Noe Valley or Bernal Heights. A Bay Area garden maintenance schedule should be calibrated to your specific neighborhood rather than a generalized summer setting.


When should I prune fruit trees in the Bay Area?

Dormant pruning happens in winter, typically January through early February before new growth begins. Summer pruning in August serves a different purpose, controlling size and promoting next year's fruit buds. Both are important and neither replaces the other. Citrus and apricots have unique pruning schedules that differ from this traditional deciduous pruning schedule.


What should I do about weeds in a San Francisco garden?

The most effective approach is preventive. Pull weeds before winter rain triggers mass germination, mulch beds to suppress germination, and use corn gluten-based products as a pre-emergent in planting beds. Once weeds are established and going to seed, you're fighting a much harder battle.


Do you provide garden maintenance year-round in San Francisco?

Yes. Fyrn Landscapes provides year-round garden maintenance in San Francisco and San Mateo County. Winter is an active season in Bay Area gardens. Pruning, planting, soil work, and weed management all happen during our wet season.


Fyrn Landscapes offers landscape design and garden care for Bay Area homeowners. View all services.

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