Spring Forward!

Greetings, Plant Parents. It’s the first day of Spring and time to move forward! 

​This specific day of the year is unique because the length of day and night (sunlight and darkness) are close to being equal.  Spring is one of the two milder, transitional seasons between the extremes of hot and cold.  A shift from something ending into something new beginning.  Spring is the anticipation of change for renewal and growth.  What better time to launch a new business for garden design services!

The beginning of Spring is a cue to gardeners to check your outdoor environment for signs of new growth.  This includes faithful perennials re-emerging with new vigor and the brightest of greens in color.  Trees budding out new foliage in preparation to filter and shade our gardens from the intense sun.  You’ll also come across weeds sprouting in flower beds, sidewalks and lawn areas ready for easy removal after a gentle rain.  Your containers may also be showing signs of emerging perennials from seasons past.  Those root systems enjoyed a winter’s rest and are ready for new production.  Any plants not returning from last year signal that they were one-season-wonders (annuals) or possibly unhappy or unsupported in that particular space.

Refresh and till compacted soil with rich compost mix available in most nurseries.  Take time to trim back foliage from last year to make way for the new growth in your containers.  Give ornamental grasses a “hair cut” (grab like a ponytail and cut) to allow the new growth to dominate.  This makes for tidy space around your existing plant material and reveals available space for pockets of annuals.  Give your emerging plants a boost with an application of fertilizer.  These come in liquid root stimulators, slow release or bloom boosters.  I recommend the slow release versions for extended feedings through the season.  Root stimulators are great for launching newly planted trees and shrubs.  Water in well after application.

Resist the urge to go to your local nurseries that are overflowing with new plant materials.  It’s best to work on a plan first, know what plants will work in available spaces and estimate quantities.  Make your list and check it twice!  Otherwise, you’ll come home with a collection of “Ooo, I can find a place for this one”, which are less likely to end up planted or happy in the garden space available.

Lastly, spring is also a time to pause and consider the possibilities of your landscape.  New ideas worth considering hold potential for implementation.  This could be the year to transform the look of your exteriors and dig in to a project you’ve wanted to achieve.
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Join me in embracing this new season as we spring forward together, refreshing the possibilities of what our gardens can be.

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