Bulbs are an excellent choice to fill in the gaps of your garden for a full looking bed. Many of these are also great in containers to create showpieces for your patio, deck, or even the front entrance of your home.

Nerine Lilies

Nerine lilies look similar to other lilies but their blooms are more spider-like. They are a very unique flower that produces late summer color in gardens. In addition, their blooms are also fragrant and deer resistant.

Nerines thrive in full sun and gritty soils. They are grown as an annual in zones colder than 7 or they need to be lifted and stored for spring replanting.

Gladiolus

Gladiolus are flowers that grow up skinny stalks reaching between 4 and 6 feet tall. These plants come in a wide range of colors which makes them perfect as the back row along bed borders. They also make excellent centerpieces in pots and amazing bouquets.

As for planting, place them in fertile, well-draining soil. They are only cold hardy to zone 7, so colder climates will need to dig them up to keep them over the winter or grow them as annuals.

Lilies

There are many plants referred to as lilies, but here we are referring to those in the genus Lilium. They grow tall and have bright, speckled, or stripped flower clusters at the top. Fortunately, there are many to unique colors to choose from. Because they grow straight up, they don’t take up much space on the ground.

They are good for adding bold color in tight spaces. Plant these in well-draining soil and full sun for best results. However, they will tolerate less sun and even partial dappled or light shade.

Freesia

Freesia blooms smell of citrus and come in a variety of bright colors. Their blooms face to the sky and only one side unfurls. They are an exotic-looking flower that any gardener would crave to have.

These flowers will do well in full sun and well-draining soil.

Calla Lilies

Calla lilies are very graceful looking and should be planted in a location that shows them off. Their flowers are shaped like a trumpet and are available in an array of colors which are surrounded by speckled leaves. Callas perform well in partial shade and on the borders of one’s garden.

There is more than one genera that is commonly called a calla lily. The genus we are referring to is Zantedeschia as they grow from a bulb and not Calla which has a rhizome root.

Begonias

Begonias have bright, rose-like blooms that can last all season long. Despite being such short plants, their flowers can reach 5 or 6 inches across! This can be a bold statement in any garden. These plants are shade-loving and require regular feedings.

You can either grow them in a shady area of your garden or tend to them in pots which can be started in early spring inside. In addition, they can be pleasant house plants. Bringing them indoors is a good option to extend their blooms if your area is in threat of a frost.

Elephant Ears

Elephant Ears is the common name for three genera: Colocasia, Alocasia, and Xanthosoma. These plants have large foliage that can add a dramatic look to your garden. Some are so large that they can be used as a privacy screen. They also work well as a backdrop for other colorful flowers or as potted plant centerpieces.

If you live in a cooler climate zone, they act as annuals unless you bring them inside over the winter as they are more of a tropical plant that has gained in popularity in northern regions.

You have your choice from varieties that have leaves with contrasting undersides, bright colored leaf ribs, glossy sheens, and even velvety textures.

Caladium

Caladium is also sometimes referred to as an elephant ear, but we’ve set it aside due to it’s bright color. Its pink foliage will last all summer long. They prefer shade and their color and shape creates a tropical feel. We recommend using these to create an interesting potted plant arrangement.

You can even grow these indoors as a houseplant. They are happy with moist soil and bright, indirect light.

Cannas

Canna lilies also look tropical with their large uniquely colored leaves and stalks that are topped with an even more interesting bloom. They are easy to grow and their flowers last for many weeks if they are in a sunny spot.

Canna’s foliage ranges from and elegant brown to burgundy-purple to chartreuse green. They make and excellent centerpiece for large potted planters which is where we use them. This makes it easier to store them indoors over the winter so they won’t die from frost. Those of you in warmer climates are lucky.

Ranunculus

Ranunculus have dense packed petals within each flower that look similar to a rose. They are about a foot tall and come in red, pink, yellow, and white. These make a gorgeous cut flower arrangements.

They thrive in full sun and need to be brought indoors in winter unless you are in a warm climate zone.

Anemones

Anemone have colorful upright flowers and lower foliage. You may have heard them called windflowers because of how they sway in the wind. They come in a range of colors, grow to different heights, tolerate different light conditions, and bloom at different times depending on the variety.

You can find a variety suitable for any intended site. They tolerate average soil and are also deer resistant. Anemones can form a groundcover if left to spread or contained in planters.

Dahlias

Dahlias are simply amazing. These come in so many unique colors, sizes, and intriguing flower shapes. They love full sun and well-drained soil. If you put in the effort to give one of these plants their ideal conditions, they will blow you away with prolific blooms towards the end of summer.

It can be challenging to decide where to start with how many cultivars are available. You’ll have lots of fresh cut flowers if you have one of these plants in your garden. Sadly, those in colder climates will need to dug up and brought inside for the winter to prevent them from dying.

Shamrock

Shamrock has heart-shaped leaves and delicate flower blooms. It’s often referred to as shamrock. These plants have a mounding habit which works well in potted plants. They are low-growing plants that are also commonly used as a flowering groundcover.

Shamrock can be planted in both partial and full sun settings. One common variety, Oxalis tetraphylla, has green leaves and pink flowers. Another frequently seen plant is called Oxalis triangularis, which is purple with white flowers. There are some other interesting varieties.

Crocosmia

Crocosmia are very eye-catching plants due to their vibrant colors and sword-shaped stems. Butterflies and hummingbirds love these plants. They are easy to grow and multiply readily since they tolerate both sun and part shade. However, they do require a well-draining soil.

You can expect steady blooms from mid-summer through mid-fall.  In addition, they make for excellent cut flowers.

Rain Lilies

Zephyranthes are commonly known as rain lilies, ‘Fairy Lilies’, and ‘Zephyr Lilies’. These plants have skinny stalks and goblet-shaped flowers. Rain lilies are quite adaptable to weather and can survive dry spells. However, they may not bloom until there is a soaking rain during the summer.

They love humus rich, moist but well-draining soil that is slightly acidic and are only hardy to zone 7. You’ll need to bring them inside for the winter if you live in a colder climate zone.

We love the colorful, dramatic blooms that comes from planting spring bulbs. They last longer than most perennial blooming periods and fill in gaps in any garden. A few of the taller ones are excellent as centerpieces in planters that we create for our clients.

What spring bulbs do you plant in your garden?

The post 15 Bulbs To Plant In Spring For Dramatic Summer Blooms appeared first on Napoli Landscaping.

Check Over Tools And Lawn Equipment

You don’t want to find out that your mower won’t start the first time you go to cut the grass. Be sure to check over equipment early enough so that you can fix problems that are found.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your equipment is ready to go. Sharpen blades, grease fittings, replace old fuel with new fuel, change spark plugs, perform oil changes, clean or replace air filters.

Mowers will also need to have the underside of their blade deck cleaned if this wasn’t done before storage. You mower will probably be the primary concern, but don’t forget about weed eaters, backpack blowers, and hand tools too.

Spring Cleanup

Spring cleanings aren’t just for inside the house. During the winter, twigs, branches and more leaves blow into your yard — usually from lazy neighbors. However, oak trees are notorious for holding onto their leaves late into winter.

Removing lawn debris makes it easier to mow and allows fertilizer and pre-emergent  treatments to penetrate better. Sticks in your beds also makes it harder to spread mulch.

Assess The Lawn

You’ll most likely be raking during a spring cleanup. Raking pulls up any thatch that has accumulated over the winter, breaks up matted sections, and also allows you to assess the condition of your grass.

Look for matted patches, compacted soil, bare spots, wet spots and areas of erosion. Matted and wet areas are subject to diseases and molds. New grass won’t be able to grow through matted grass and will die from a lack of sun.

If you notice areas of soil compaction, you should plan to do aeration and reseeding in the fall. Wet areas and erosion can be a sign of too much irrigation, land contour issues, or a drainage problem. Each problem will need to be tackled differently.

Prune Plants And Trim Trees

Prune your plants that should be trimmed back in the spring. This varies by plant so be sure to keep records of what plants you have and develop an optimal maintenance schedule.

Tree trimming is an essential part of keeping trees healthy. If you keep on top of removing dead limbs, you’ll prevent damage to your home and plant life during wind storms.

It’s easier to see the condition of tree branches when the leaves are off and being up in the tree ensures proper evaluation. If you have larger trees and this isn’t something you want to deal with, hire someone to do a safety trimming every three years to keep on top of it for you.

Test Soil pH

Ideally, you’ll want to test your soil pH in the fall for the most accurate reading, but testing in early spring will also provide useful information. Most plants thrive at pH’s between 6 and 7.5.

Areas with lots of organic matter, harsh winters, lots of rain (or too much irrigation), and using lots of high-nitrogen fertilizers will cause your soil to turn acidic. The presence of moss is also a sign of acidic soil.

You can pick up a soil testing kit at most garden centers. If you then determine your pH is too low, lime applications will help neutralize the soil’s pH.

Apply Fertilizer, Pre-emergent, and Weed Killer

If your lawn is too acidic, apply an early spring lime application to help neutralize the pH. This will help your plants absorb nutrients of future fertilizer applications. It takes this a while to absorb into the soil, so do this well in advance of a fertilizer treatment.

The most important treatment is a pre-emergent herbicide. This needs to be put down before crabgrass germinates. You want to shoot for when forsythia blooms are about spent. Do not delay. If you miss the window, you will be fighting crabgrass all year until fall frosts kill it off.

About 6-8 weeks later put down anther pre-emergent and a weed and feed fertilization. Be sure to select a weed and feed that also targets broadleaf weeds. You can minimize applications if you get products with dual functions.

Soil Drench Trees And Shrubs

Most trees and shrubs incur leaf damage by spider mites, aphids, scale, and other various inspects. This leaves plants in your garden looking shabby during what should be a beautiful flush of peak blooms.

We do an early insect pre-treatment on lots of trees and shrubs by soil drenching. This way the insect repellent soaks in through the plant’s root system instead of spraying it on the foliage.

Repair Lawn Damage

Major damages from snow plowing or when large limbs fall off trees should be repaired. This does not include small brown patches in the lawn. Those will normally fill back in if you have a healthy lawn or will be taken care of during a fall aeration and reseeding.

Unfortunately, grass seed will not germinate for 8-12 weeks if you put down a pre-emergent. You’ll have to take extra care to cover or block areas of repair when you apply your pre-emergent. The perimeters of these sections will still not fully germinate due to pre-emergent leeching nearby and will invite summer weeds.

If you don’t want to deal with that, you can lay sod instead. Either way, new grass is less tolerant to high summer heat and will need to be watered more which is why it is recommended to make new lawns in the fall. However if you wait, bald sections are much more prone to weeds. You’ll have to decide which is the better option.

Prepare And Plant Flower Beds

Edging flower beds is important because it makes them look better, prevents grass from creeping into gardens, and helps retain water. The best time to edge your beds is in the spring when soil is softer.

If you don’t plan to plant any annuals you can apply slow release fertilizer to existing plants to give them a good start for the season. Annuals are worth the effort because you get can enjoy months of colored blooms that outlast the shorter flushes of perennials.

Apply Mulch

If you can afford mulching every year and have the energy, do it. Good mulch that is rich with organic matter does so much for flower beds. It replaces nutrients, retains moisture, prevents erosion, controls weeds, and enhances visual appearance.

The dark brown or black dyed mulch contrasts vibrant green foliage and colored blooms making them really pop. If you want something cheap and you start your own compost pile. Grass clippings aren’t as “pretty” but really work well for weed control and nutrients.

Mow Early And More Often

When grass comes out of its dormant winter phase it grows vigorously. Don’t wait too long before the first cutting. Cutting grass back too far when it’s high can stunt its growth. Rule of thumb is to only remove one third of its height each mowing.

It’s better to mow every 5-6 days instead only once a week. Your grass will be fuller and healthier if you mow more frequently during the first 6 weeks of spring.

For most grass types, keep the blade height at 3-4 inches. Taller grass is able to sink deeper healthier roots. The more healthy your lawn is the less weeds can infiltrate. Some grasses need to be a little shorter to look their best. Try a few height settings to see what works best if you are unsure.

There is a lot of work that goes into spring yard preparations. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Focus on important aspects like pre-emergents and equipment maintenance. You can pick at other parts that are a little less time sensitive.

A great way to accomplish the tasks for getting your yard ready for spring is to get your whole family involved. Sharing the work load and breaking up tasks will keep you from over exerting yourself. Then get ready to reap the benefits all year long.

How to you break up your yard’s workload in the spring?

The post 11 Essential Tasks To Get Your Yard Ready This Spring appeared first on Napoli Landscaping.

Keep in mind that spring doesn’t happen all at once. It is more of a transition phase. Let’s look at some signs that spring is coming so you have a better idea of when to start your spring lawn and garden care and activities.

1. Longer Days Than Nights

The vernal equinox is the point at which days start becoming longer than nights. The exact date varies from year to year, but your local area may be off even more due to the earth’s tilt and your latitude. Even if we get snow around this time, plants know that spring is close based on the chemical reactions that are caused by the sun. With more light present, plants ramp up photosynthesis to increase nourishment for the start of their growing season.

2. You Feel Better

More sun exposure doesn’t just affect plants but animals (including humans) as well. Our bodies produce vitamin D from sun exposure which boosts our immune system, increases our energy and mood. It’s why colds seem to go away and that winter funk lifts.

3. Warmer Temperatures

More sun also leads to warmer temperatures. Day-to-day weather probably won’t be consistent, but you will start noticing an upward trend in temperatures. Don’t despair if some days are still cold. Just remember that the snow will melt and all the excitement of spring is just around the corner.

4. Water Everywhere

Spring is typically the start of the wet season. That means it is going to rain… a lot! Plants need water and light to kick their growth into overdrive. This excess water during spring is what allows plants to grow faster than when it’s drier in summer. Warmer temperatures melt away snow which causes creeks and rivers to swell even higher than with rain alone. And where there’s water, there’s mud. It’s one of the few crappy aspects spring.

5. Plants Start Blooming

It may be easy to miss the small buds on plants, but not once their vibrant flowers stand out among the dreary landscape. Late winter bloomers are cold hardy and will peak out of the snow even before the grass is showing. Look for snowdrops, crocuses, hellebores, and witch hazel among others.

Then you’ll start to see the early spring flowers begin to bloom. These are yellow daffodils, reds tulips, purple hyacinths, cherry blossoms, and many other favorites as they really start to breathe color back into the world.

See more flowers that bloom in early spring.

6. Invigorating Scents

The wind carries many different fragrances as spring goes into full swing. Some scents are sweet like the flowers on lilac bushes. Others have a more distinctive earthy smell like the bacteria that is activated in soil from spring showers. Then a little later on once people start mowing, you’ll smell fresh cut grass.

7. Animal Activity

There are several distinguishing things that animals do in the spring. You’ll probably first notice the migration of birds or possibly butterflies. Hibernating animals like dormice, bears, and hedgehogs come out to feast on the fresh foliage of plants. Birds start chirping and insects start pollinating. You really start to notice a lot of animal activity with the onset of spring.

8. Allergies

One other negative about spring is the abundance of pollen that causes so many people issues with allergies. Unfortunately, you can’t have blooming flowers without pollen. Be sure to stay on top of allergy treatments if you are susceptible so you can enjoy the better aspects of spring.

Nature gives away lots of clues that spring has arrived. We hope this list helps give you a better idea of what to look for since most areas do not correlate to a specific calendar date and springtime is going to fluctuate from year to year.

For us, it’s hard to miss the delicate blooms of snowdrops and bright contrast of crocuses in the snow. We’d love to hear what you first notice as a sign of springtime. Share as a comment below or on our Facebook post to compare yours with others.

What signs of spring do you notice first?

The post 8 Signs That Spring Is Finally Here appeared first on Napoli Landscaping.