Planting Summer Flowers and Bulbs

Get as head start on tender bulbs such as begonias, cannas, colacassia (elephant’s ear), dahlia and ranunculus. Started indoors in pots. they will be larger and bloom sooner after you put them outdoors once the weather has warmed sufficiently. Check the details for individual bulbs or corms, but most can be potted now in a lightweight, well drained potting mix. When the shoots appear, move them to a site where they get several hours of sunlight a day. As the temperatures rise, increase their sunlight exposure. Once the danger of frost is past, you will have plants on their way for your summer gardens or containers.

 

Cold Frames and Hotbeds

Clean off cold frames and hotbeds and plant them now for early crops of spinach, kale, oriental greens like bok choy, and even peas. Some varieties of peas only grow to 18 inches and will do well in a cold frame, but it may be well after St Patrick’s Day before most of us get to plant peas this year. If you haven’t ordered your vegetable and flower seeds yet, do so immediately!

 

Time to Prune

 Pruning time, but keep your pruners away from spring blooming plants. Go into the yard and remove any damaged branches on your trees and shrubs, prune late bloomers and those that don’t bloom for shape or size while the ground remains frozen. Prune most fruit trees and shrubs, blueberries and raspberries, now.

Prune back any broken branches such as rose canes and vines that were left in place last fall. They need to go so the new growth can emerge. 

 

Patience is Golden!

Do not be too hasty in removing protective mulches or covers from roses, perennials, bulb beds and so forth. Winter storms and snow can still make a re-appearance.

 

Last Call

Last call to order seeds and clean garden tools. You will already find seed houses out of some varieties. Tools that haven’t been cleaned, sharpened and repaired will make your work in the garden harder when you begin cleaning up from winter and prepare for spring planting. Lawn mowers and rototillers should be sent out now for a tune-up before the warm weather creates a rush at the repair shop.