Plant your flower beds now for early spring blooms!
It’s been cold, so we are ready to break up that winter blah and start planning for warmer times ahead. If you’re itching to get your flower bed started, now is actually the best time to plant. Even with the rain and snow in the forecast, plant some of those annuals and perennials today in order to get full, colorful beds come summer.
Flower enthusiast Natalie Malan, of Illustrator’s Garden, shared a guide to shop, plan, and prep your flower beds for a space that will be lush and thriving in just a few short months.
The Early Planting Season
Natalie emphasized the importance of planting early, even if it feels counterintuitive with snow still on the ground. “I actually started planting my flower beds… two weeks ago, and that’s later than last year,” she said. She emphasized taking advantage of warmer days with the ever-changing temperatures.
Forced Bulbs for Instant Blooms
If you missed planting bulbs last year, forced bulbs are a quick and visually satisfying solution. “I love forced bulbs… the impact that you get right away is just beautiful,” Natalie explained. Since you don’t have to wait for them to grow, you can already see how tall they are and can plan out exactly where you want them to go.
These bulbs are available at local stores, and can be planted immediately to enjoy instant blooms. “ They’re available here in the valley right now. It’s not anything that I special ordered,” Natalie said.
Deer-Resistant Daffodils
Daffodils are a favorite for their hardiness and deer resistance. If you have deer constantly in your yard and eating your flowers, daffodils might be the solution.
Plant a Container Within a Container
Natalie plants containers within containers. “I’ll actually plant them in the container… in my containers.” Instead of taking the plant out of the plastic pot it came in, she plants it as is inside her container to maximize space and efficiency. This makes it easy to transition and replant.
Natalie loves this system because you get to enjoy the flowers two ways: up by your door as the height in your containers, and then out in your flower beds too.” Once they’re done blooming, I’ll snap off the head of the flower… and just leave the leaves to finish soaking up all of the energy from the sun and going down into the bulb to provide nutrients for next year,” she explained.
Cool Weather Favorites
Natalie introduced several cool weather flowers that can be planted now.
- Violas: similar to pansies, but have a smaller face
- Pansies: larger face than violas
- Primroses: bright and colorful
- Hyacinths: have a beautiful scent
“Violas… self seed and you’ll get more and more of them,” Natalie explained. “ You’ll have lots of flower heads.” Pansies have bigger flower heads, but there are less of them. Choosing which to plant between the two is personal preference, but Natalie likes to mix them.
Primroses add that color pop to your flower beds and can even come back as a perennial. “ I have a few spots where, if they’re in just the right location, they can come back. They’re sold as an annual though,” Natalie explained.
Hyacinths are another early bloomer that smells good too. Natalie recommended planting them near entryways. “I plant these by my back door… so I smell it when I go in and out,” she said.
Preparing for Snow
We are likely to get more snow, but Natalie reassured that certain flowers can thrive under a blanket of snow. “That blanket of snow will actually insulate your flowers from the cold air,” she explained. She advised using cold-hardy plants, and even suggested covering them with a towel for added protection.
Getting a Jump Start
Natalie encouraged gardeners to start planting now to enjoy early blooms and a burst of color. “Right now, you get a jump start and you get that color extra early while everything is so gray and yucky and cold,” she emphasized. Early planting pretties up the garden and gives you a much-needed mood boost.
Find more advice from Natalie on YouTube and Instagram, @illustratorsgarden, as well as @olsons_greenhouse_gardens.
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