San Francisco Bay Area Work Calendar and Seasonal Suggestions

As a beginner you may want guidance on what trees you can work on during particular months and what work you need to perform. This overview is simplified and does not take into account all scenarios. Tree health considerations may override all timing and seasonality in some cases.

The timing discussed in this table is for the San Francisco Bay Area only. Notes compiled April 2024.

Elongating conifers - Spruce, Coast Redwood, Larch etc.

Two-flush pines - Japanese Black Pine, Japanese Red Pine, Loblolly Pine.

Single-flush pines - Scots Pine, Japanese White Pine, Limber Pine, Shore Pine, Mugo Pine, Western white pine, etc.

Broadleaf Evergreens - Olive, Yaupon Holly, Silverberry, etc.

Tropicals - Ficus species (except edible fig), Premna, Tamarind, Fukien Tea, etc.

Wild Junipers - e.g. Rocky Mountain, Western, Sierra, One-Seed, California.

Nursery Junipers - Itoigawa, Kishu and similar, Prostrata etc.

Month	Young Trees Development Notes	Mature Trees Refinement Notes	Species Focus
Jan.	Potting down trees from large containers to smaller ones. Protect from freezing temperatures after repotting.	Repotting is the primary task in January-February for maintenance. Start with species that leaf out early like elm and work through other deciduous before starting on conifers, leave junipers until later.	All temperate climate species - deciduous, broadleaf and conifers.
Feb.	Good timing for seed propagation and for potting up of 1-3 year old seedlings. Treat all stock with a fungicide prior to buds opening. (e.g. Copper spray, not Lime Sulfur.)	Repotting is the primary task in January-February for maintenance. Start with species that leaf out early like elm and work through other deciduous before starting on conifers, leave junipers until the end.	All temperate climate species.
March	Allow deciduous trees and conifers to grow freely, selective pinching can be used to differentiate strong growth for trunk or branch fattening from fine growth for the start of refinement. By default trees in development should be allowed to run.	Pinch refined deciduous and elongating conifers. Repot Junipers and other trees that are just starting to push. NO work on 2-flush pines.	Deciduous and Broadleaf evergreens - Maples, Spruce, Redwood.
April	Wire semi-hardened new growth, major cuts on deciduous material that has at least 6" of growth can be started, and continue in May.	Pinch refined trees, light wiring. Pinch/break strong single-flush pine candles, leaving some needles.	Deciduous and elongating conifers.
May	Continue Deciduous / Broadleaf evergreen wiring and/or cutback. No juniper pinching on trees in development.	Thin or Defoliate mature deciduous trees or forests to maintain light to interiors. Pinch juniper runners. Repot tropicals if you are in an area with cool summers.	Tropicals
June	Selective decandling of 2-flush pines. Thin out shaded growth on junipers.	Decandle 2-flush pines, thin junipers.	2-flush pines, Tropicals
July	Watch wire carefully, wire new whips on junipers/cypress.	Juniper and cypress thinning and wiring. Protect deciduous trees from windy conditions. Repot tropicals if you are in a warmer area.	Junipers, Cypress, Tropicals
Aug.	A slow month - spend your time attending to pest, water and fertilizer or tasks that you meant to do in June-July.	Scout for pests carefully, protect trees during excessive heat. Check watering. Continue work from June-July as needed.	Any.
Sept.	Broadleaf evergreen wiring, pines, junipers, cypress wiring and thinning.	Wire and style single-flush pines, junipers, protect from fall heat waves using shade cloth. Light thinning of Broad Leaf evergreens.	1-Flush pines, elongating conifers
Oct.	Fall repotting. Wiring new growth on elongating conifers, juniper and cypress growth.	Protect all trees from late-season heat waves using shade cloth. Wire conifers except 2-flush pines.	Any
Nov.	Selective thinning of needles/foliage.	Fall repotting (light root work only) Thin, wire and refine all conifers. Remove dead leaves and lightly trim twigs on deciduous and broadleaf trees once they begin to drop.	All temperate climate species - deciduous, broadleaf and conifers
Dec.	Potting up stock, Continue Nov. work. Heavy repots only if you can protect from cold temps until March.	Continue Nov work. Protect repotted trees from cold.	All temperate climate species - deciduous, broadleaf and conifers.