WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS…
get ready to see those spring flowers! The snow is gone, the trees are budding, the bulbs are emerging and it is time to get your gardens ready for the show.
We had a late leaf fall last year, so if you are anything like me, your gardens still have a lot of leaf covering. Time to get those up and let the perennials and bulbs feel the sun shining. My gardens in Westfield will need a good couple of hours of raking to get all those leaves out!
It is also a perfect time to plant some pansies…these friendly flowers put a smile on everyone's face. If you are selling your home, it has been shown that bright yellow flowers can help bring more curb appeal and get the house sold faster.
Do you have rose bushes? Depending on the variant, NOW is the time to prune them. You are going to have the best show ever if you get in there early and prune aggressively. As you shape the shrub, remove dead or sick looking wood and open up the airflow. Take the healthy stalks down to only a few inches off the ground and cut at outward facing buds.
The peony is my all-time favorite flower. Put up staking guides now before they get too large and the supports will keep your beautiful blooms out of the mud.
Dress up the whole thing with a fresh top dressing of compost and mulch. I have always used composted chicken manure to great result.
HAPPY GARDENING!
