Spring
January: Schedule deliver of wood mulch for garden. Spread liberally before slugs arrive.
Dahlia imperialis: Cut back to ground after flowering. Donate cuttings to fellow gardeners. Feed.
Narcissus (Daffodil): Deadhead
Lavatera: Prune hard if needed to maintain shape
Salvia and other herbaceous plants: propagate from cuttings
Summer
After last rain: Schedule improvements to decomposed granite pathways
Agapanthus: Deadhead.
Aloe: Deadhead.
Agave, Aloe, most cacti: Now is a great time to move these plants
Ceanothus spp.: Prune branches back to trunk if needed; otherwise only tip back spent blooms.
Chasmanthe: cut back dead foliage to ground.
Cynara (Cardoon): Cut to ground after flowering
Kniphofia: Deadhead.
Salvia: Deadhead, remove dead growth, and shear very lightly to keep dense. Can also be pruned around perimeter to limit spread. Do not cut into old wood/interior of plant!
Philadelphus: Prune branches that flowered this year to 1/3 of their height. Then prune 1/3 of those to the base. Leave new branches alone - this shrub flowers on 2nd year growth
Prunus cerasifera (Cherry Plum trees): Thin branches after flowering
Stachys: Cut spent flower heads to ground
Fall
Achillea: Cut back dead flower stalks to ground
Artemisia californica (Sagebrush): Cut by 1/2
Athanasia pinnata: Cut back leggy branches to 6" above base.
Brugmansia: Prune or coppice after flowers are done
Eriogonum spp.: Deadhead and prune dead growth in fall; coppicing can renew woody specimen but may kill plant
Euphorbia: Shrubby species - cut back spent flowers to base
Fuchsia: Prune by 1/2 after flowers are done
Leonotus: Prune or coppice after flowers are done
Narcissus (Daffodil), Amaryllis belladonna (Naked Lady): Plant bulbs, move or divide them now.
Santolina: Shear after flowering
Salvia canariensis: Prune by 1/2 after flowers are done
Narcissus (Daffodil), Amaryllis belladonna (Naked Lady): Plant bulbs, move or divide them now.
Santolina: Shear after flowering
Salvia canariensis: Prune by 1/2 after flowers are done
Winter
Cotinus coggygria: Coppice every other year or prune. Flowers on old wood only.
Crocosmia: Cut back dead foliage to ground.
Lycianthes (Potato Bush): Prune back to 1/3 before flowering starts
Narcissus (Daffodil and Paperwhite): Plant bulbs now
Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy ): Prune entire plant to 6" tall.
Salvia - shrubby spp. like S. leucantha: Cut down to 6".
Verbena bonariensis: Cut back to ground when flowering is over.
