When to plant in Quebec
In southern Quebec the frost-free season runs from roughly late May to late September, shorter as you head north. Plant most natives after the last frost, and put woody plants in through the cool of fall.
Month by month
Map your garden free →The bloom year at a glance
Taller bars mean more natives in flower. Peak: June
January
Planning season. Leave last year's stems and seed heads standing, they shelter overwintering insects and feed birds.
February
Order seed and sketch your beds. Hold off on any cutting back while the cold holds.
March
12 in bloomWait for a warm stretch before cutting back, so overwintering insects can emerge. Start hardy seed indoors.
April
72 in bloomDirect-sow hardy natives and plant bare-root stock as the soil thaws and dries.
May
198 in bloomPlant out most natives once the frost risk passes. Water them in well.
JunePeak
251 in bloomKeep new plantings watered through their first summer. Enjoy the early bloom.
JulyThis month
194 in bloomPeak of the season. Deadhead for a second flush, or leave blooms to set seed for the birds.
August
127 in bloomWater through dry spells and note any gaps in your bloom to fill this fall.
September
75 in bloomPrime planting month: cool air over warm soil. Put in perennials, shrubs, and trees.
October
26 in bloomCollect and sow ripe seed, and keep planting woody stock while the soil is workable.
November
1 in bloomMulch new plantings and leave the garden standing. The seed heads carry wildlife through winter.
December
Rest and plan. Standing stems and leaf litter are winter habitat, not mess.
Build your Quebec garden
Pick the natives that suit your yard, get a free report card of the wildlife they bring back, and find a nursery near you that carries them.
Calendars for other provinces