When to plant what in a Mallorca garden
On Mallorca the main planting season is autumn, roughly October to December. Plants put in then root through the mild, wet months and face their first summer with an established system. Spring planting works for some things. Summer planting mostly creates work, cost and disappointment.
Key takeaways
- October to December is the main window for trees, shrubs and most planting.
- February and March suit summer colour, herbs and anything frost-sensitive.
- June to August is for maintaining what is already there, not for planting.
- Autumn planting needs far less irrigation in year one than the same plant put in during spring.
Why is autumn the main season?
Because the ground is still warm and the rain is returning. Roots grow through a Mallorcan winter, which is mild by northern standards, so a shrub planted in November has three or four months of quiet root growth before it has to cope with heat. The same shrub planted in April has a few weeks.
It is also the cheapest way to plant. Less irrigation in the first year, fewer losses and fewer replacements.
The year, month by month
| Months | What suits it |
|---|---|
| October to December | Trees, shrubs, hedges, ground cover, new lawns and meadows |
| January | Pruning olives and deciduous trees, structural work |
| February to March | Herbs, summer perennials, citrus in sheltered spots |
| April to May | Last planting before the heat, mulching, irrigation checks |
| June to August | Watering, deadheading, keeping things alive |
| September | Preparing ground, ordering plants, repairing irrigation |
What can be planted in spring?
Things that want warmth to get going: basil and other soft herbs, summer perennials, and citrus in a sheltered position once the risk of a cold snap has passed. Anything planted in spring needs a committed watering plan through its first summer, because there is no time for roots to reach down before the heat arrives.
What about summer?
Keep what you have alive and leave the ground alone. Planting in July on this island means daily watering, high losses and plants that never establish properly even if they survive. The exception is a pot, which can be planted any time because the whole root zone is under your control.
Summer is also when irrigation faults show up fastest. A blocked dripper in January is invisible. The same fault in August kills the plant in a fortnight.
When to prune what
- Olives: late winter, once the worst cold has passed and before growth starts.
- Deciduous fruit trees: winter, while dormant.
- Mediterranean shrubs such as rosemary and lavender: after flowering, lightly, never into old wood.
- Oleander: after the main flush, and remember the sap is toxic.
- Palms: outside peak red palm weevil activity, treating the cuts.
Does the calendar change with altitude?
Enough to matter. A garden in the Tramuntana at 400 metres runs a few weeks behind the coast and gets frost that Palma does not see. If your plot is high or in a valley that collects cold air, treat the calendar above as the coastal version and shift it accordingly.
How the matching works
We do not plant gardens. We keep a list of vetted planting companies on Mallorca and pass your job to those covering your area. Ask now for autumn work and you will be in the queue for the season that actually suits the plants.
When is the best time to plant in Mallorca?
October to December. The ground is still warm, the rain is returning, and plants root through the mild winter before facing their first summer.
Can I plant in summer on Mallorca?
It is best avoided. Summer planting needs daily watering and losses are high. Pots are the exception, because you control the whole root zone.
When should olive trees be pruned?
Late winter, once the worst of the cold has passed and before new growth starts.
Does the planting calendar change inland or in the mountains?
Yes. Gardens at altitude run a few weeks behind the coast and can get frost, so shift the calendar later and be more careful with tender plants.
Order in September, plant in November
The autumn window fills up, and good stock is easier to get before everyone wants it. Send the job through now and vetted Mallorca companies will quote for planting in season. This calendar covers when to plant; the garden maintenance calendar covers what an established garden needs month by month.
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