Spring, summer, fall, winter—garden delights are always in season. Take these tips from area garden centers, and your yard will shine year-round.
Spring
- Plan before you plant, and you won’t blow the budget on every whim at the garden center.
- Grab a shovel, and check the soil. Does it look pale and dry, or dark and rich? Soil conditioners can help add nutrients to depleted dirt.
- Plant new trees and shrubs in March as soon as the ground starts thawing.
- For pops of early spring color, plant pansies in March and petunias and snapdragons in April.
- Start cool-weather veggies in early spring. In a few weeks, you’ll have lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, and even strawberries.
- Plant perennials to spruce up a flower bed, and save money in the long run.
PRO-TIPS
Cut back some perennials, such as asters and daylilies, but not the spring bloomers like forsythia and lilac.
Hostas are easy-care favorites, and everyone loves the purple flowers of creeping phlox.
- Water-wise, get to know your shrubs and perennials. Some need lots of water in high heat. Others don’t.
- Water containers once or twice a day.
- Even with pre-fertilized soil, fertilize plants and containers regularly after a few weeks. Convenient time-release fertilizers add nutrients every time you water.
- Container plants looking top-heavy or drying up quickly? They might be rootbound. Consider repotting into larger containers.
- Watch for signs of pest infestation. It’s easier to control a few aphids than a full-blown outbreak.
- For an abundant fall harvest, plant a new crop of cool-weather veggies in July.
PRO-TIPS
If soil feels moist, leave it alone. When it needs water, quench the whole root system with a good soaking. Underwatering leaves thirsty roots to wither.
As organic gardening soars in popularity, more naturally based pesticides are becoming available.
MAINTENANCE METER
Easy and breezy, or fussy and mussy? Our maintenance meter ranks 7 favorite plants from easy-care to garden divas.
EASY
Supertunia Petunia
Nonstop flowers and no deadheading. Great for containers, and oh, the colors!
Lenten Rose
A delicate perennial that loves those bothersome part-shade areas.
Creeping Phlox
Cheery groundcover perennial that’s happy-go-lucky in a sunny, well-drained spot.
Gerbera Daisy
Deadheading needed, but perky summer blooms are great for cut flowers.
Crepe Myrtle
Drought-tolerant and brilliantly colored–who doesn’t love a crepe myrtle? Just be sure to right-size the plant to the space, and prune with a light hand. After all, you don’t want to be guilty of crepe murder.
Hibiscus
Lots of sun and space needed. Show-stopping blooms take your breath away, but prepare for heartbreak when that fat-bottomed groundhog has an overnight feast.
Dahlias
So pretty, but prone to mildew, blight, and rot. Attractive to aphids, too, and could need to be staked as they grow.
HARD
- Fall is the forgotten season for planting trees, shrubs, perennials, and evergreens. It’s less care, because rainwater doesn’t dissipate quickly in the cooler temps. Plus, winter gives plants time to establish their roots.
- Trim back perennials. Clean the ground around plants that are susceptible to disease, such as roses and grapes. Take out tomatoes and compost the soil for a clean, fresh start next year.
- Harvest fall veggies for garden-to-table goodness. While veggies must be picked quickly in summer, autumn’s cooler temperatures lengthen the harvesting window.
PRO-TIPS
It’s okay to mulch any time of year, but don’t fertilize new plantings in the fall. Wait until spring to avoid pushing tender growth as the weather starts to cool.
Another advantage to native plants–fallen leaves can stay on the ground, providing winter shelter for wildlife.
- Curl up with a gardening magazine and dream. Consult the experts at your local gardening center or Penn State Extension, extension.psu.edu, for tips and questions.
- Plan a native-plants area. Native plants are less care for you and friendlier for bees, butterflies, and wildlife.
- Start your seeds. It’s easier than you think, and it saves tons of money. Visit your local garden center for help with starter kits, grow lights, and heat mats.
- Want natural, DIY fertilizer? Learn to compost.
PRO-TIPS
See an enticing new tomato or intriguing petunia? Order seeds early, because the newest plants sell out fast.
Seedlings should appear just before they’re ready for planting. Find timelines on seed packets and in online calendars.
PLAN LIKE A PRO
1. Choose deer-and groundhog-resistant choices, but remember: “resistant” doesn’t mean that hungry critters will turn down a backyard buffet.
2. Don’t shy from shade. Add color with bleeding hearts, hostas, and coral bells. Create a striping effect with different tones of shade-tolerant grasses and gorgeous foliage.
3. Fall blooming perennials present a burst of autumn color, and pollinators will thank you for the last fill-up before winter.
4. Choose plants suitable for your USDA Hardiness Zone. Find your zone and a planting calendar at the National Garden Association’s garden.org.
5. If you have small children or pets, research plants for toxicity as well as water and soil needs.
Your area garden center is stocked with local plants and friendly people, and their websites are full of info. Our thanks to the pros from these garden centers for their tips:
Jim Glick, Kathy Trout and Christie Twidd
Ken’s Gardens: Smoketown and Ronks | kensgardens.com
Dustyn Miller and Nicole Wisner
Miller Plant Farm: York | millerplantfarm.com
Kathy Quarles
Stauffers of Kissel Hill: Lititz, Rohrerstown, Mechanicsburg, Linglestown, Hummelstown, East York, and Dover | skh.com
