Gardeners often experience an intense case of spring fever, and the cure lies in incorporating an abundance of early blooms into their landscape. To achieve an extraordinary display of flowers in your garden, adhere to these helpful tips that will ensure a greater number of blossoms than ever before.
Choose Early Bloomers
Gardeners in colder climates eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring in their landscapes. By planting early blooming bulbs, you can experience the delightful sensation of outsmarting winter itself. These resilient bulbs have the remarkable ability to burst into bloom just as the holiday decorations are being packed away. Although individually these petite flowers may not create a significant impact, their affordability allows for the possibility of planting a hundred or more, making the endeavor quite manageable.
- The common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis
- Winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis
- Glory-of-the-snow, Chionodoxa luciliae
Pair Bulbs and Hardy Annuals
If you found yourself lacking energy last autumn after planting only one bag of fifty tulips, you may be disappointed with the abundance of your spring flower display. However, there’s a solution. To achieve a lush and vibrant garden, consider interplanting sizable bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths with cold-hardy annuals. This combination will create a visual spectacle reminiscent of magazine spreads or the impeccable displays found in public gardens.
To ensure the bulbs remain undisturbed, exercise care while digging and plant a nursery six-pack of hardy annual transplants alongside them. As soon as these transplants become available at your local nursery, seize the opportunity to plant them. By this time, you should already notice green foliage tips emerging from the bulbs. This spring, why not try incorporating these four planting partners for a remarkable result:
- Tulips and primroses
- Hyacinths and pansies
- Daffodils and scented stock
- Dutch iris and sweet alyssum
Include Flowering Shrubs
When designing a blooming landscape, it’s important to adhere to the principle of garden design by starting with trees, followed by shrubs, and then plants. Shrubs not only provide texture and dimension to the garden but also serve as reliable sources of spring flowers for both sunny and shady areas. In many southern gardens, azaleas symbolize the arrival of spring, while forsythia performs a similar role in temperate climates.
If the idea of a plain green shrub amidst your flowers fails to excite you, consider selecting a shrub that produces vibrant berries once its flowers fade, such as viburnum. Additionally, you can explore newer cultivars of beloved shrubs that feature variegated foliage. For warm climates, daphne ‘Marginata’ is a delightful option, while cold climates can benefit from the captivating appeal of elderberry ‘Madonna.’ These choices add a touch of visual interest to your landscape.
Grow Spring Container
Incorporating flowering containers into your spring garden introduces earlier blooms to your outdoor space. Small hanging baskets can be conveniently brought indoors to a shed or garage during nights when temperatures drop, while larger containers can be relocated to a sheltered area if equipped with casters.
Certain container plants, such as snapdragons, petunias, and annual lobelia, are cherished favorites that flourish in the cool temperatures of spring. These cool-season annuals reach their peak of flowering beauty when daytime temperatures hover around the 70s. Furthermore, container flowers like viola and nasturtium demonstrate resilience by enduring early spring frosts, allowing them to thrive in various conditions.
Plant a Crocus Lawn
Planting bulbs beneath a lawn requires no exceptional expertise. Simply permit them to naturalize by postponing mowing until the foliage of the bulbs has fully matured. Opt for bulbs that bloom early unless you are willing to allow the grass to grow while the slender foliage of the bulbs persists.
While crocus bulbs are the most popular choice for flowering in a lawn, you can also experiment with snowdrops or iris reticulata. Use a sharp spade to slice through the sod, and plant clusters of bulbs at least three inches deep below the soil surface. This straightforward method will allow these lovely blooms to emerge and enhance the beauty of your lawn effortlessly.
Plant Bare Root Perennials
When it comes to flower gardening, the sight of a bag filled with tangled roots at the garden center might not spark immediate excitement. However, there are advantages to purchasing and planting bare root flowers at the start of the gardening season.
Imagine unearthing your favorite daylily on the first day of March. How would it appear? Resembling one of the root clusters sold in plastic bags, with a delicate stem tentatively emerging. In this semi-dormant state, plants are less susceptible to damage from late spring frosts compared to those with fully developed foliage. Remarkably, by the middle of summer, bare root perennials can be virtually indistinguishable from potted plants. As an added benefit, bare root perennials are significantly more affordable than their potted counterparts.