Although it always seems to take a while to get here, spring is the best time to be a gardener. The air is turning mild, plants are returning full of vigor, and everything is yet to come. This first season of the garden is also the time to do anything and everything. With the exception of pruning early bloomers, spring is the right time for almost any garden task: cutting back, redesigning, building, planting, dividing—you name it.
Spring is also the time for a large number of plants to bloom. Starting with bulbs (which you should have planted last fall!) like daffodils (Narcissus spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9) and perennials like hellebores (Helleborus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–8), you can have flowers in your garden from the last chance of snowflakes to the first time you think about turning on the air conditioner.
If any of your projects involve digging plants up, this is the perfect time to do it. Your plants will have a few seasons to get established again before having to go through winter dormancy. So redesigning a bed or rearranging your combinations are ideal tasks for this time of year. The same is true of propagating—especially if you want to divide your plants. With most of the growing season left to come, you will also be able to see the results of your labors before next year (and perhaps realize that you need to fix some arrangements in fall).
With so many plants flowering in spring, it can be easy to miss some truly amazing plants. This collection will introduce you to many of them and show you how to arrange them. We will also show you how to use pansies, the quintessential annual for adding charm to an early-season bed. And spring is actually a great time to plant bulbs that will bloom in spring and fall. If you have some shady beds, this is the time of year they strut their stuff, and we will show you a few gems you might want to add to make the season even more special.
So take advantage of the season, and remember that in spring, everything is possible.
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DesignSpring Planting Ideas
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DesignSimplify Your Color Scheme
Taking a disciplined approach lets you harmonize your plant palette without stifling diversity
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DesignSpring Containers for Every Style
Whether you want a traditional tapestry or a more modern motif, these designs will kick your season off right
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DesignCelebrate Spring with Cool-Season Containers
Fill your pots with colorful plants that don't mind chilly weather
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ArticlePansies Make Perfect Pots
Finding the right companions is the key to keeping these springtime containers looking good—even into summer
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DesignSpectacular Spring Bloomers
These perennials are the light at the end of the long, wintry tunnel
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DesignA Parade of Spring-Flowering Trees
These North American natives put on a spectacular show
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DesignHellebores Cure the Late-Winter Blues
Here's what to look for when choosing the best Oriental hybrids
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DesignA Beginner’s Guide to Growing Peonies
All three types offer something different, from shade tolerance to long bloom seasons
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DesignGuide to Growing Brunnera
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DesignBulbs for Summer and Fall
You can plant these in spring for an array of bold flowers later in the year
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How-ToIt’s Not Too Early to Get Outside
Put down your catalogs, put on your gloves, and get a jump-start on spring chores.
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How-ToDividing Perennials: Tools, Techniques, and Timing
Take your cues from root systems and weather conditions
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How-ToThe Dangers of a Spring Cold Snap
Why does a plant that endured winter cold suddenly suffer when spring temperatures drop a bit?
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