Spring has finally arrived!!! The cool temperatures are helping spring flowers to last longer, so the landscape is stunning right now. In a well-planned garden, spring perennials provide a lot of color and food for early pollinators without a lot of work. At Sandhill Gardens, the hellebores and daffodils continue to dominate the scene, but there are a lot of plants playing supporting roles. The first of the flowering trees are in bloom. The vivid pink of American plum and the delicate pink of the flowering cherries supply great contrast in a single color. Various colors of crabapple and serviceberry are in tight bud and will soon open. The first azaleas have bloomed in a vivid magenta. Bloodroot’s bright white flowers have graced the shade garden, while purple and white windflowers fill in throughout the garden. Lungworts continue to supply blue, pink and white accents, and the first of the bluebells have brought the sky to the ground. Epimediums in red, pink and yellow give some airy quality to the shady areas. Pink and blue muscari dot the lawn areas and hyacinths of white, purple and pink perfume the air. It is really a magical time in the garden, and the work was done in prior years.
That does not mean there is nothing to do in the garden. It is time to clear out the debris left from last year’s garden. Where possible, cut stalks to about a foot tall, leaving the short stalk as a home for bees and other insects. Those stalks will also provide some support for the young plants that will be growing in and hiding the stalks.
In the vegetable patch, it is tradition to plant potatoes on Good Friday. It is also time to plant peas, which I prefer to plant along a fence or some type of trellis. You may now safely plant cabbage and other cole crops and most leafy greens actually prefer the cool growing conditions of early spring. Onion sets may also be planted any time now. There is also still plenty of time for seeding tomatoes, peppers and other warm-season crops indoors. Most seed packets recommend starting seeds six to eight weeks before the last frost date, but you may plant transplants in the garden as late as the end of June and still expect a harvest. Of course, the harvest will be later, but that may be a good thing. You may disrupt the timing of some pests.
I have received some questions concerning potting mixes that do not seem to be able to absorb water. That is normal. Many of the mixes are based on coir fibers or peat moss, both of which may dry out. The dry mixes will be lighter, and that saves shipping costs for suppliers. If you have mixes that do not seem to absorb water, you will need to stir in water before planting seeds. I use an old fork and add water slowly. When the mix is moist, but not soggy, it is ready for planting. If you have a bag of soil, you may pour water into the bag and let it sit for a day or so. It will absorb the water and be more hospitable to plants and seeds. It is also important to keep soils moist to get good germination. Check the planters every day. Keep a close eye on anything you have on a heating mat, as the heat will cause soils to dry out more quickly. If you have seeds already planted in dry mixes, you may be able to salvage them by placing the tray in a larger tray with some water. The soil will absorb the water from the bottom. Once the seeds have germinated, you will need to discontinue letting the tray sit in water, though you may water from the bottom and pour off what does not get absorbed in an hour or so.
Do not let the work keep you from enjoying the beauty of the spring garden. As the poet, Robert Frost, noted, nothing gold can stay. The garden changes daily in spring. Take time to walk around and enjoy what changes each day. If you do not have a garden to enjoy, come and visit me at Sandhill Gardens.