in the garden....

Beautiful flowering bulbs and shrubs take us from the dark, gray days of winter to the promise of spring and brighter days ahead. Crocus, snowdrops and bluebells are among the first to show, with daffodils, primroses and tulips not far behind.

Now is the time for spring cleanup.

Remove fallen tree limbs and other debris left by the stormy days of winter. Consider adding a fresh coat of paint to window boxes, fences and outdoor furnishings.
Tidy up perennial beds, cutting back dead stems to 2 to 3 inches above ground level, but don't be tempted to prune spring-flowering shrubs until AFTER they have finished blooming. You can take a few stalks of forsythia and bring them indoors to "force" them into blooming. Just place them in a container with water, make sure they get sunlight, like any other plant, and watch them bloom.

Take a look around and start planning next year's bulb display. What bare areas of your garden could be improved with additional color? There are early-, middle-, and late-blooming varieties of daffodils, tulips and other classic bulb flowers. With a little careful planning now, you can greatly improve next year's spring display.

If you love to garden, you probably can't wait to go outside and play in the dirt. There's lots to keep you busy this time of year, but you are limited as to when you can start working the soil and plant. Make sure all danger of frost is gone. Consult these frost maps to find and locate your zone.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Maps

As soon as the soil can be worked, you can direct-sow hardy annuals such as cosmos, sweet alyssum, calendula and larkspur. Have some extra seed on hand in case of late frost that might damage young seedlings.

If you do a little careful planning now, you'll be rewarded later. Start planning your garden. What will you plant this year? Bookmark this page and check back with us soon for more gardening tips.