Seasonal Landscaping Calendar for Missouri Yards

Great landscapes aren't built in a single weekend — they're tended in rhythm with the seasons. Here in Farmington, we're in USDA hardiness zone 6 (6a–6b), with four real seasons: warm springs, hot humid summers, colorful falls, and cold winters. Each one calls for different work, and timing tasks right is the difference between a yard that limps along and one that thrives.

Here's a season-by-season game plan for a Missouri landscape — what to do, and when.

Spring (March – May)

Spring is wake-up time. Everything you do now sets up the whole year.

• Clean up the beds. Cut back the perennials and ornamental grasses you left standing over winter, and clear out debris. Wait until temperatures are reliably warming so you don't disturb overwintering pollinators too early.
• Check your drainage. Spring rains and snowmelt reveal every low spot and soggy corner. If water is pooling or running toward the house, this is the time to address it — see our drainage solutions.
• Refresh your mulch. Top beds up to a 2–3 inch layer to hold moisture and block weeds for the season. Don't overdo it, and keep mulch pulled back from trunks and stems (the diagram above shows the right depth). Our mulch & rock bed installation covers the details.
• Plant. Spring is a prime window for installing trees, shrubs, and perennials while the soil is moist and temperatures are mild.
• Prune and divide. Prune summer-blooming shrubs before they leaf out, and divide crowded perennials to spread them around.
• Start your design projects. Spring is when the building season opens up — if you're planning a landscape design or installation, getting on the calendar early matters.

Summer (June – August)

Summer is about keeping things healthy through the heat — and enjoying the yard.

• Water deeply and early. New plantings especially need consistent water their first season. Water deeply in the morning rather than a light sprinkle every day, to encourage deep roots.
• Let mulch do its job. A good mulch layer is your best friend in July, holding moisture and keeping roots cool.
• Deadhead and tidy. Removing spent blooms keeps many perennials flowering longer.
• Watch the storms. Summer downpours can expose erosion and drainage trouble — note any new problem spots to fix in fall.
• Light it up. Long summer evenings are the perfect reason to add landscape lighting and actually use the yard after dark.

Fall (September – November)

Fall is the most underrated season in the yard — and arguably the most important.

• Plant — this is the best window. Cooler air and warm soil let trees, shrubs, and perennials establish roots before winter, with far less heat stress than spring planting. Fall-planted landscapes come back stronger.
• Renovate the lawn. Early fall is the ideal time for one-time lawn renovation — aeration and overseeding — for our cool-season grasses, while the soil is still warm and weeds are fading. The diagram above shows how it works; see our lawn renovation service.
• Do your final drainage check. Clear downspout outlets and make sure water has a path away from the house before winter freeze-thaw sets in.
• Mulch for winter. A fresh layer protects roots through the cold months.
• Leave some habitat. Standing seed heads and stems feed birds and shelter beneficial insects — you can cut them back in early spring.

Winter (December – February)

The quiet season is for planning and structure work.

• Plan next year's projects. Winter is the perfect time to design — when we map a project now, you're ready to build the moment spring arrives. Start a design consultation or just reach out.
• Prune in late winter. Many dormant trees and shrubs are best pruned in late winter before new growth begins.
• Appreciate the bones. Evergreens, ornamental grasses, peeling bark, and seed heads carry the winter landscape — a reminder that good design works in every season.
• Watch for ice and water issues. Freeze-thaw cycles can shift soil and worsen drainage problems; note anything to address come spring.

Work With a Local Team

Knowing when is half the battle — doing it well is the other half. Our full-service landscaping team handles the seasonal heavy lifting, from spring installs to fall renovation, and we plan projects around the right timing for our climate so your investment pays off.

Frequently Asked Questions