Planting calendar
Zone 4 Planting Calendar
In zone 4 the last spring frost typically passes mid to late May and the first fall frost arrives late September. A compact season with a fast, generous summer. The calendar below hangs every planting window on those two dates.
January in zone 4
Deep winter in zone 4: the ground is closed and the last frost is still ahead (mid to late May). A month for planning, not planting. Browse the guides.
February in zone 4
Deep winter in zone 4: the ground is closed and the last frost is still ahead (mid to late May). A month for planning, not planting. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in February in zone 4.
March in zone 4
One more month of winter in zone 4: hardy planting opens in April, as the soil loosens ahead of the mid to late May last frost. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in March in zone 4.
April in zone 4
Frost is still likely until mid to late May, but the soil is opening: hardy plants can go in as soon as it is workable.
Perennials, shrubs and trees641
- Abbotswood
- Adirondack
- Alaska
- Alba
- Alexandrina Magnolia
- Alma Pötschke
- Amazing Grace
- Amber Jubilee
- American Gold Rush
- Amethyst
- Ann Folkard
- Ann Magnolia
- Anna's Red
- Annabelle
- Anthony Waterer
- Apricot Delight
- Apricot Sparkles
- April Night
- Arborvitae
- Arizona Apricot
- Arizona Sun
- Arrowwood
- Aster
- Astilbe
- Astolat
- Astra Double Blue
- August Moon
- Autumn Brilliance
- Autumn Colors
- Autumn Damask Rose
Showing 30 of 641; every plant hardy here is on the zone 4 hub.
Bulbs to plant4
Start a zone 4 April planting list in the Studio
Already planted? See what is in flower in April in zone 4.
May in zone 4
Frost danger in zone 4 typically ends mid to late May, so the tender plants below go in as that date passes where you are, not before it.
After the last frost503
- African Daisy
- African Marigold
- Agapanthus
- Ageratum
- Angelface Raspberry
- Angelonia
- Annual Phlox
- Apricot Calendula
- Apricot Lemonade
- Apricot Lisianthus
- Apricot Marguerite Daisy
- Apricot Statice
- Apricot Strawflower
- Apricot Sweet Alyssum
- Apricot Tuberous Begonia
- Apricot Vinca
- Arabian Night
- Australia
- Autumn Beauty
- Bachelor's Button
- Bacopa
- Bandana Cherry
- Bandana Pink
- Bandana Rose
- Basil
- Begonia
- Benary's Giant Wine
- Bengal Tiger
- Bicolor Geranium
- Bicolor Marigold
Showing the first 30 of 503 by name.
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in April is still open (641 plants).
The bulb window that opened in April is still open (4 plants).
Start a zone 4 May planting list in the Studio
Already planted? See what is in flower in May in zone 4.
June in zone 4
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in April is still open (641 plants).
The tender planting window that opened in May is still open (503 plants).
Already planted? See what is in flower in June in zone 4.
July in zone 4
The soil is still warm and the first frost (late September) is weeks away: the fall planting window opens now.
Perennials, shrubs and trees17
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in April is still open (641 plants).
Start a zone 4 July planting list in the Studio
Already planted? See what is in flower in July in zone 4.
August in zone 4
About a month remains before the typical first frost (late September): prime time for fall planting.
Bulbs to plant110
- Actaea
- Alba
- Album
- Alpine Squill
- Angelique
- Anna Marie
- Apeldoorn
- Apricot Beauty
- Asiatic Lily
- Autumn Crocus
- Ballerina
- Black Parrot
- Blue Giant
- Blue Jacket
- Blue Pearl
- Blue Shades
- Carnegie
- Charmer
- Checkered Lily
- Checkered Lily Alba
- Cheerfulness
- City of Haarlem
- Couleur Cardinal
- Cream Beauty
- Crocus
- Daffodil
- Delft Blue
- Drumstick Allium
- Dutch Master
- Early Squill
Showing 30 of 110; every plant hardy here is on the zone 4 hub.
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in April is still open (600 plants).
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in July is still open (17 plants).
Start a zone 4 August planting list in the Studio
Already planted? See what is in flower in August in zone 4.
September in zone 4
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in July is still open (1 plant).
The bulb window that opened in August is still open (110 plants).
Already planted? See what is in flower in September in zone 4.
October in zone 4
October sits just past zone 4's typical first frost (late September): the ground is closing, and next year's plan is the best thing to plant. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in October in zone 4.
November in zone 4
The garden sleeps in zone 4 through November; hardy planting returns in April, ahead of the mid to late May last frost. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in November in zone 4.
December in zone 4
The garden sleeps in zone 4 through December; hardy planting returns in April, ahead of the mid to late May last frost. Browse the guides.
Timing here is anchored to typical zone frost averages (NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, as summarized in university extension frost tables). Your local dates can differ by several weeks, so confirm the last and first frost dates for your own area.
Design your garden
Drop plants onto a 3D plan, see how they fill in, and watch the whole garden bloom across the year.