Planting calendar

Zone 8 Planting Calendar

In zone 8 the last spring frost typically passes early to late March and the first fall frost arrives mid to late November. Mild winters: fall becomes the best planting season of the year. The calendar below hangs every planting window on those two dates.

January in zone 8

One more month of winter in zone 8: hardy planting opens in February, as the soil loosens ahead of the early to late March last frost. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in January in zone 8.

February in zone 8

Frost is still likely until early to late March, but the soil is opening: hardy plants can go in as soon as it is workable.

Start a zone 8 February planting list in the Studio

March in zone 8

Frost danger in zone 8 typically ends early to late March, 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 February is still open (904 plants).

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

Start a zone 8 March planting list in the Studio

April in zone 8

The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in February is still open (904 plants).

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

May in zone 8

The big spring windows have closed in zone 8; May is for tending, and the next big planting window opens in September, ahead of the mid to late November first frost. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in May in zone 8.

June in zone 8

The big spring windows have closed in zone 8; June is for tending, and the next big planting window opens in September, ahead of the mid to late November first frost. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in June in zone 8.

July in zone 8

Zone 8 sits well between frosts this month; the season runs until mid to late November.

Perennials, shrubs and trees1

August in zone 8

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

September in zone 8

The soil is still warm and the first frost (mid to late November) 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 8 September planting list in the Studio

October in zone 8

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

The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in September is still open (889 plants).

Start a zone 8 October planting list in the Studio

November in zone 8

The bulb window that opened in October is still open (145 plants).

December in zone 8

December sits just past zone 8's typical first frost (mid to late November): 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 December in zone 8.

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.

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