Month-by-Month Landscaping Guide for Bend, Oregon

Timing is everything in Bend's landscape. Our short growing season, late spring frosts, and early fall freezes create a compressed window for many landscaping tasks. Here's a month-by-month guide to what to do — and when — in your Central Oregon landscape.

January–February: Plan and Prepare

Winter is the best time to plan spring projects. Our design team is less busy, we can give your project more attention, and you'll be at the front of the installation queue when spring arrives.

Review your landscape for winter damage: frost-heaved pavers, broken irrigation heads, winter-killed plants. Document issues so you can address them in spring.

March–April: Early Spring Prep

Apply pre-emergent weed control before soil temperatures reach 55°F (typically late March to early April in Bend). This is the most important weed control timing of the year.

Begin spring cleanup as temperatures consistently reach 40°F+. Remove dead plant material, rake thatch, edge beds. Hold off on planting until after May 15th.

May–June: Prime Planting and Installation Season

After May 15th (average last frost date), it's safe to plant annuals and tender perennials. Activate your irrigation system after nighttime temperatures are consistently above 32°F.

May–June is the best time for sod installation, patio and hardscape projects, and landscape design and installation. Aerate your lawn in May or June.

July–August: Summer Maintenance

Focus on irrigation management — water deeply 3x/week, watch for signs of heat stress and fungal disease. Raise mowing height to 3–3.5 inches.

Late August is the best time to begin fall aeration and overseeding. Soil is still warm enough for germination but air temperatures are cooling.

September–October: Critical Fall Tasks

Aerate and overseed in September. Apply fall fertilizer (high potassium). Schedule sprinkler winterization before October 15th.

Plant spring bulbs in September–October. Apply 3 inches of mulch to planting beds before the ground freezes.

November–December: Winterize and Rest

Ensure irrigation is winterized. Cut back perennials (leave ornamental grasses for winter interest). Wrap newly planted trees and shrubs if needed.

This is a great time to plan next year's projects and get on our schedule for spring services.