Planting calendar

Zone 6 Planting Calendar

In zone 6 the last spring frost typically passes mid-April and the first fall frost arrives mid to late October. A long, forgiving season on both ends. The calendar below hangs every planting window on those two dates.

January in zone 6

Deep winter in zone 6: the ground is closed and the last frost is still ahead (mid-April). A month for planning, not planting. Browse the guides.

February in zone 6

One more month of winter in zone 6: hardy planting opens in March, as the soil loosens ahead of the mid-April last frost. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in February in zone 6.

March in zone 6

Frost is still likely until mid-April, but the soil is opening: hardy plants can go in as soon as it is workable.

Start a zone 6 March planting list in the Studio

April in zone 6

Frost danger in zone 6 typically ends mid-April, so the tender plants below go in as that date passes where you are, not before it.

The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in March is still open (935 plants).

The bulb window that opened in March is still open (5 plants).

Start a zone 6 April planting list in the Studio

May in zone 6

The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in March is still open (935 plants).

The tender planting window that opened in April is still open (503 plants).

June in zone 6

June falls between zone 6's main spring and fall windows; the calendar picks back up as the first frost (mid to late October) draws nearer. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in June in zone 6.

July in zone 6

Zone 6 sits well between frosts this month; the season runs until mid to late October.

Perennials, shrubs and trees1

August in zone 6

The soil is still warm and the first frost (mid to late October) is weeks away: the fall planting window opens now.

The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in July is still open (1 plant).

Start a zone 6 August planting list in the Studio

September in zone 6

About a month remains before the typical first frost (mid to late October): prime time for fall planting.

The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in July is still open (1 plant).

The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in August is still open (907 plants).

Start a zone 6 September planting list in the Studio

October in zone 6

The bulb window that opened in September is still open (119 plants).

November in zone 6

November sits just past zone 6's typical first frost (mid to late October): 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 November in zone 6.

December in zone 6

The garden sleeps in zone 6 through December; hardy planting returns in March, ahead of the mid-April 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.

Open BloomsEye Studio →