If you’re a novice planter but you’re wanting to make your yard beautiful or create a functional vegetable garden this spring, the timing of when to plant can be an overwhelming decision. So we’ve consulted the experts and have created this succinct guide to spring planting that can help to get you started this year.
But first, to give your plants the best chance of success, clean out your garden and your beds before planting anything new. Get rid of leaves and debris that may have fallen and collected during the winter and then revitalize your soil with a fertilizer and potting soil mix before adding new mulch to the top. You can plant everything at just the right time of the year, but if your soil is in poor condition, you won’t have much success!
Annual flowers – Annuals don’t do well with frost, so wait until mid-April to make sure we don’t get any more late-season frosts that we sometimes see. But do make sure they’re in the ground by mid-June before it gets too hot. Marigolds, pansies and petunias are great annuals for springtime in Middle Tennessee.
Perennial flowers – Perennials are usually heartier and can withstand extra cold temperatures, so planting them now should be a safe bet. Like annuals, perennial flowers shouldn’t be planted after mid-June because their survival rates will be slim. Daylilies, daisies, black-eyed Susans and hollyhock are perennials that do well in our region plus they won’t need much attention from year to year.
Summer vegetable seeds – Summer vegetable seeds do well when planted in late April to mid-June because they also don’t like colder temperatures. While vegetable seeds like kale and cabbage can handle cold nighttime temperatures, vegetable seeds like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers shouldn’t be planted until June because they love warm summertime temperatures!
Summer bulbs – Plant summer bulbs in mid-April but remember to harvest them before the first winter frost in the late fall so you’ll be able to plant them again next year. Begonias, lilies and dahlias are great ones, just to name a few.
And lastly, once your seeds and flowers are in the ground, it’s important to water! No matter what you plant it’s important that you keep them well soaked once they’re in the ground.
If you need more specific information about what might be best in your particular soil conditions and shade or sun areas, visit your local gardening store as they will be a wealth of information for you about what will be best in your yard!
