The Calendar
Twelve months of what to do, written for Wichita Falls.
This is the calendar I keep at the front counter, updated as I learn things. It's not the universal-USDA version — it's specifically tuned for Zone 7b/8a, heavy clay soil, hot dry summers, and the occasional 11° February that ruins everything.
Print it. Tape it to the inside of a cabinet. Come back when something goes wrong.
— Katherine
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January · in the North Texas garden. 01 · January
January
"The quiet month. Plan, prune, order seeds, refill the bird feeders — winter is hardest on them."
— Katherine
- § Plant onion sets and asparagus crowns
- § Prune dormant trees and shrubs
- § Order seeds for spring
- § Watch the forecast — protect tender plants before any hard freeze
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February · in the North Texas garden. 02 · February
February
"Start your tomato seeds before Valentine's Day or you'll be playing catch-up all spring."
— Katherine
- § Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors
- § Apply pre-emergent for warm-season weeds
- § Prune roses by Valentine's Day
- § Plant bare-root fruit trees
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March · in the North Texas garden. 03 · March
March
"Cool crops out, warm crops still inside. Watch for one last hard freeze — they always come."
— Katherine
- § Transplant cool-season vegetables outside
- § Fertilize lawns lightly as green-up begins
- § Plant gladiolus and dahlia bulbs
- § Keep frost cloth handy
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April · in the North Texas garden. 04 · April
April
"Tomatoes go in the ground after April 1. Earlier and you're rolling the dice."
— Katherine
- § Plant tomatoes, peppers, and warm-season annuals after April 1
- § Mulch all beds before summer heat
- § Divide perennials
- § Hummingbirds arrive — put out feeders
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May · in the North Texas garden. 05 · This month
May
"Last chance for tomatoes. Bearded iris on parade. Plant the rest of the annuals now."
— Katherine
- § Last chance for tomatoes — plant by mid-May
- § Deep-water trees and shrubs
- § Fertilize roses for summer blooms
- § Begin pest scouting
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June · in the North Texas garden. 06 · June
June
"The work shifts to keeping things alive. Mulch heavy, water deep, water early."
— Katherine
- § Mulch deeply — 3–4 inches
- § Water established plants 1" per week
- § Pinch back basil and herbs
- § Plant heat-lovers: okra, southern peas, sweet potato
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July · in the North Texas garden. 07 · July
July
"Survival mode. Most plants stop growing. Don't fertilize. Just keep them hydrated."
— Katherine
- § Water deep, water early morning
- § Shade cloth for vulnerable plants
- § Plant fall vegetable starts indoors
- § Harvest figs and stone fruit
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August · in the North Texas garden. 08 · August
August
"The second spring of the Texas garden starts late this month. Plant your fall brassicas."
— Katherine
- § Start fall garden — broccoli, cabbage, lettuces
- § Lightly fertilize lawns
- § Take cuttings of favorite tropicals before frost
- § Deadhead perennials for second blooms
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September · in the North Texas garden. 09 · September
September
"The single best month to plant trees in North Texas. Take advantage."
— Katherine
- § Plant fall annuals — mums, pansies, snapdragons
- § Plant trees and shrubs (best month!)
- § Overseed Bermuda with rye for winter color
- § Stop pruning trees — let them harden off
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October · in the North Texas garden. 10 · October
October
"Last call for fall trees and shrubs. Plant bulbs now for spring color."
— Katherine
- § Plant spring bulbs — tulips, daffodils, hyacinth
- § Bring tropicals indoors before first frost
- § Plant garlic for next summer's harvest
- § Last call for fall trees & shrubs
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November · in the North Texas garden. 11 · November
November
"Compost the leaves. Wrap the irrigation. Drink something warm."
— Katherine
- § Protect tender plants on first hard freeze
- § Drain irrigation, wrap exposed pipes
- § Compost fallen leaves — don't bag them
- § Plant pansies and ornamental cabbage
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December · in the North Texas garden. 12 · December
December
"Christmas trees arrive. Water evergreens before the deep freezes. Plan next year."
— Katherine
- § Christmas trees, wreaths and poinsettias arrive
- § Water evergreens before deep freezes
- § Plan next year's garden over hot chocolate
- § Refill bird feeders weekly
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