It feels like 2021 has only just begun, but in reality it's the 2nd The month of the year is almost over, and we're getting closer to spring. The winter blanket of snow has given way to the warm spring sunshine. And then the gardening itch is unstoppable.
Spring marks the start of a new gardening season, but what preparations should you make now to enjoy a growing and blooming garden for the rest of the year?
♡ The big spring cleaning;
The days are getting longer, the birds are starting to sing, and the temperature is rising. This is a sign for nature to awaken and produce the first green leaves for a new flowering season. This is also the time to remove dead plant material from the previous season, if you didn't do so in the fall. Just be careful where you walk: the spring-flowering bulbs and early perennials are already cautiously poking their heads above the ground, and you don't want to damage anything.
♡ Give perennials a makeover;
Once all the dead plant material has been removed, it's time to see if you can divide your plants. Dividing is a way to rejuvenate and propagate older perennials. The roots of your perennials continue to expand, and if the root system becomes too large, they lose their vigor. Therefore, it's recommended to dig up and divide the roots every three years. This is done by cutting or tearing off the outermost new growth and then replanting them. The divided parts have plenty of vigor and are stimulated to perform again by the division. This will result in much better, more beautiful, and longer-lasting blooms for the young shoots.
♡ Treat your garden to a good meal;
Just like us, plants need good nutrition—besides water. Feeding your garden plants promotes better growth and flowering, as well as stronger plants. The first buds of spring bulbs are now emerging above the ground, and perennials are also producing their first green shoots. This is the time to give your plants extra support by adding a layer of organic fertilizer (chicken manure/cow manure) or compost to your garden. Before fertilizing, check the weather forecast; it's best to do this when rain is forecast, so the fertilizer can soak into the soil.
♡ Make a wish list for your summer garden;
Let the summer garden anticipation begin and start thinking about the flowers you'll welcome into your garden this coming summer. All our summer-flowering bulbs will be available online starting February 1st. That might seem early, as the tulips and daffodils aren't even in bloom yet, but the most beautiful varieties are always gone quickly.
Good preparation is half the battle. So choose the most beautiful summer bloomers now and you'll have them just in time for planting!
♡ Give your dahlias a flying start;
It's still too early to plant dahlia tubers in the garden (because there's still a chance of frost), but you can encourage them to start growing by forcing them in a frost-free spot. Forcing is the process of encouraging dahlias to start growing early. Plant the dahlia tubers in a flowerpot and let them develop their first green growth in a greenhouse, shed, conservatory, or on a windowsill. Once the risk of night frost has passed, you can transplant the dahlia tubers into the garden. By forcing them, you can enjoy your dahlia flowers much sooner. Incidentally, you don't have to worry about the dahlias fading early, as they will continue to bloom until the weather turns colder.
♡ Planting lily bulbs;
Didn't plant any lilies in the fall? Definitely do so this month. Lilies love the sun, but also cold feet. Therefore, it's best to plant lily bulbs when the soil is still nice and cool. We recommend planting the lily bulbs by the end of April at the latest, but the sooner the better. If you plant the lily bulbs later, the soil may already be too warm, and the plant will grow too quickly. Because of this rapid growth, the roots can't keep up with the demand for water, and the lilies will grow shorter.
In our opinion, nothing beats the wonderfully sweet scent of lilies, so start planting them early if you want to enjoy a wonderfully fragrant display of flowers this summer.
