For the gardener, spring can be a whirlwind of activity. There are several important things that should not be forgotten in the midst of spring gardening.
Allow your bulbs to die back to the ground. The stems and leaves will provide food to the bulb to regenerate it for the next year and to allow the bulb to grow in size. The leaves and dying stems will completely disappear after a few weeks.
Should you be given a lily for the Easter season, allow the lily to complete its bloom cycle in the house. When the weather warms, and danger of frost has passed, simply replant the lily in the garden. It will eventually die back in the garden, probably in the fall. It will re-grow and rebloom the following summer.
Add to your lawn health by applying a combination fertilizer and weed killer. May is the ideal time to make the lawn application. Don’t apply the “weed and feed” too early because the fertilizer will be wasted. It’s best to wait until grass growth is well underway.
Peony plants are sprouting up all across the Ozarks. In a few weeks, these leafy green perennials will be covered with large pink, red and white blossoms. If your newly planted peony does not bloom, it’s because the peony has been planted too deep. Peonies like to be planted just below the surface of the ground, and they will not bloom if they are planted too deep.
Many people believe that their peony plant must have ants on it to blossom. This is not the case. The only reason that ants tend to be all over peony blossoms is because the ants are attracted to the intense scent of the peony blossoms.
Do you have a spring blooming shrub that you would like to enjoy indoors a few weeks early?
Dogwood, apple, lilac – snip a few branches, find a heavy container that will hold the branches and bring the branches indoors. The warmth of the indoors will help your branches blooms before there are blooms outdoors.
If you enjoy the summer blooming bulbs like Oriental and Asiatic lilies or caladiums, they need to be planted in late April or early May after danger of frost has passed. Summer bulbs can add bright blossoms and excellent leaf texture to the garden in summer.
These are just a few hints and reminders to keep in mind during the spring garden season. If you’re the typical gardener trying to get everything started and underway for the new garden season, there’s one important thing to remember—don’t forget to take the time to enjoy your garden work!
Questions or comments related to gardening? Contact Joleen at missourigardener@hotmail.com.