What makes you cry? A friend’s good news? When does your candidate win an election? For me, it’s the sight of the first spring color in my garden. After months of punishing winter, that first hint of spring is proof that Mother Nature is indeed kind. Since we all want more of a good thing, here are ten ways to add color to your spring garden now.
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1. Plant Colorful Annuals
These plants are great for gardeners who didn’t plan and plant bulbs months ago. Pansies, petunias, and snapdragons are great choices because they like cool weather, add vibrant color, and grow well in containers. Ideally, your spring garden will showcase both annuals and perennials, so read on.
2. Plant Iconic Bulbs
Flowers that grow from bulbs such as crocus, tulip, and daffodil fare best when planted in the fall and given time in the garden to establish their roots. However, if you didn’t get bulbs in the ground months ago, you can still try planting them now. Take heart in knowing that if they don’t bloom this spring, they will stay in the ground and bloom next year.
Broaden your flower palette by trying lesser-known varieties of iconic flowers. For tulips, try white emperor, stresa, and Tsar Peter varieties. For daffodil, try monal, Pueblo, and narcissus poeticus. Looking for something completely different? Try Glory-of-the-snow, Cape cowslip, Flowering onion, and Summer snowflake.
3. Containers Are Perfect for Spring Gardens
Spring can surprise gardeners by turning really cold, really fast. If a late spring snow or killer frost is in the forecast, you can easily bring the container inside for a night. Ensure your container is getting enough sunlight while inside, though.
4. Weeding Is Necessary
By weeding your garden early in the growing season, you’re making room for your spring garden. The process of weeding not only rids your garden of undesirable plants but also tills the soil.
5. Don’t Overlook Soil
Now is the time to get manure and compost in your garden. Not only will it help your spring flowers grow, but it will also help the soil’s long-term health as you start to think about a brilliant summer garden.
6. Spring Flower Crave the Sun
Every garden needs a few essentials to thrive, including water and sunlight. Make sure that your garden is located to optimize the sun’s rays. This means planning out how much sun your garden gets before planting your preferred flowers.
7. Expand Your Horizons
Does your neighborhood have an eyesore, such as a dark alley or abandoned lot? Make your own eco-friendly seed bombs and spread colorful flower seeds around your neighborhood.
8. Consider Garden Ornaments
There’s nothing better than sprucing up your garden with stunning ornaments. While some might be cliche or tacky, like gnomes, others can make your garden pop. Even a birdbath would be a perfect addition, welcoming both birds and butterflies. Paint you some cheerful rock creatures (use acrylic paint so it stands up to the weather).
9. Learn Basic Garden Design Principles
Choose a focal point for your spring garden, such as a patch of tulips and daffodils clustered under a bird bath. Or a brilliant azalea bush. Mix colors and shapes for visual interest; consider red crocosmias and yellow cone flowers.
Complementary colors (colors that are on opposite sides of the color wheel, i.e. red and blue) pop out of your landscape and give it life. Grouping similar plants (i.e. a bunch of lilies or a group of lilac trees) is more appealing than random flowers strewn haphazardly throughout a landscape.
Tall plants should go in the back and short plants in the front. Know how tall your flowers will grow and place them appropriately.
10. Plan for Future Springs
Plant flowering trees and bushes now. You will be able to enjoy their color now and make an investment in spring gardens to come. Also, having a variety of plants, such as annuals, perennials, bushes, and trees, adds visual interest to your garden. Consider red bud, lilac, azalea, crab apple, rhododendron, and cherry blossom.
For me, gardening is therapeutic at any time of year, but never more so than in the spring. Remember that when you plant a beautiful spring garden, you aren’t only brightening your world but also sharing that color with all who pass by your garden.
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