Spring into the gardening season!
Spring has officially sprung! Well, some areas of the country still look a tad less "Spring-y," but it is every gardener's favorite time of year...time to start planting and enjoying the weather.
Right now, you'll mostly find cool-loving plants in the garden center. These plants are perfect for this time of year because they absolutely thrive in the fickle temperatures of Spring – especially if you live in the northern U.S. and Canada.
 Some of the best plants for right now are:
- Bacopa, Diascia and Lobelia for hanging baskets
- Violas, Geraniums (these will bloom until Fall) and Impatiens (bloom in Spring and Summer) for planters and patio containers
- Dianthus, Snapdragons and Erysimum for beds and borders
Probably the best – and most popular – plants for Spring are Pansies. These cool-weather beauties work well in baskets, containers and garden beds that are located in partial sun. Some pansy series, like Snow Angels, overwinter to bloom in the Spring with your bulbs. Just plant them during the Fall to get a cheerful surprise during the next growing season.
Ask your local garden center for other cool-season plants they offer for your area.
Planting Pointers
Plants are only a small part of gardening for Spring; preparing your beds and containers are just as important as choosing what to plant.
- Now is the time to clean up your garden beds when the soil starts to dry – for those of you who live in the southern or western U.S., you have probably already been outdoors working away in your yards.
- Trim back perennials and grasses. This is also a good time to divide them to plant in other parts of your garden.
- Rake up old leaves, garden debris and seedpods from surrounding trees. Move the debris in a remote corner of your yard to get a head start on your compost pile.
- Remove spent flowers from tulips and daffodils.
- "Feed" the soil with organic material like sphagnum peat and compost before you begin planting so that your plants have an ideal environment to grow.
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Container of the Season
 This combination features pretty pastel colors that are perfect for the Spring season. Plant in full sun and keep the soil moist for the best results.
- Dianthus
- Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis)
- Pansy
- Alyssum
What's New This Spring?
The most exciting new plant introduction this year is the Shock Wave™ Petunia series! Five bold colors and two mixes make up this collection of Petunias with one outstanding characteristic – pretty, petite blooms. Perfect for hanging baskets, mixed and solo containers, and small garden spaces, Shock Wave offers the same excellent performance as the other four Wave® series, including bounce-back from rain and other stressful weather conditions.
Be sure to look for these amazing new Petunia plants in your favorite garden center this Spring and Summer!
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