After the long cold winter, nothing is better than looking out over a beautiful garden filled with spring flowers, and having their fragrances waft across the yard. Spring flowers are a sign of hope and renewal, and as such, filling your garden with a beautiful assortment of colors, sizes, and styles is a wonderful, life-giving way to usher in the season of spring.
Growing Spring Flowers
Certain flowers grow best in spring before the cooler air gives way to summer’s heat, and there are several ways to ensure that you grow hardy, dynamic flowers that will make your garden shine.
The key to growing spring flowers is to know the frost date in your area. Start your flower seeds in tiny pots inside and transplant them into the outside garden after the last frost. For most flowers, this process takes 5-12 weeks. Water vigorously and ensure they get full sun for best results.
When the weather warms up and the spring rains come, it seems like a no-brainer to start planting your spring garden. But there are a few key things that will help you plant hardy beautiful flowers that will ease the transition from the long winter.
When thinking about spring flowers when the winter winds are still blowing, you will be wise to start seedlings inside in tiny pots so that they are ready to plant in the ground when the risk of the last frost has passed. This will ensure that your flowers will not die right after you plant them.
Types of Spring Flowers
There are basically 2 types of flowers you need to think about in the spring. Annuals that you plant from seed, and perennials you plant in the spring or fall. They all require slightly different techniques and care.
- Spring Annuals: These are flowers that you plant after the threat of the first frost and they will bloom quickly and beautifully to colorize your spring. A good rule of thumb is to plant them indoors about 6 weeks before your last frost, and then when the ground has thawed you will be able to transplant them.
- Spring Perennials: These are often the first bloomers because they have been lying dormant all fall and winter and are ready to go at the first sign of spring. These perennials are often bulbs that have been planted in the fall, but you can also start fresh and plant them in the spring.
Once the last frost has passed from your region, it is time to plant your flowers. If you have biodegradable pots that you have been growing the seeds in, just dig a hole a little bit wider than the plant width and pop them into the ground.
Backfill the pot with dirt and water thoroughly. Make sure to space flowers apart so they have room to grow. A good rule of thumb is 6-10 inches. As long as your flowers have sunshine and a weekly dose of water, you will soon see the results of your handiwork.
Spring Flowers – Frequently Asked Questions
Because there are so many types of flowers that bloom in the spring, you likely have many questions about how to get them growing. The answers below should put your mind at ease about the best ways to create beautiful spring gardens.
Which Flowers Bloom First in Spring
There are many early bloomers in a spring garden, and they often defy the odds and pop out while there is still snow on the ground. Crocus in the Snow is one of the first flowers to pop in the spring, often pushing its way up through the snow and slush to do so.
Other early plants include snowdrops, which are bulb plants that flower in the early spring and then lie dormant as of late spring. Early snow glories are blue star-shaped plants that bloom early in the spring. Trumpet daffodils and hyacinths also grow tall in the early spring, bringing their trademark yellow and blue flowers.
When Should You Start Spring Flowers
Start spring flowers when the first sign of frost has dissipated and you feel like the weather has broken. This will ensure that your plants will not die from a frost right after you plant them. The other trick is to plant your spring flower seeds indoors so they can get a head start while you are waiting for the ground to thaw. If you use this technique, you will have healthier flowers more quickly in the spring.
What Month do Spring Flowers Bloom
For gardeners in the northern hemisphere, spring comes between March and May, and these are the best months in which to plant spring flowers. You still need to understand your particular segment of the country, because there is often frost present in March in the North and Midwest especially. April and May are primary times to enjoy spring flowers in your garden across the country.
What is the First Flower to Bloom in Spring
According to most horticulture experts, snowdrops win for the first flower poking out of the ground in the spring. It often appears in January or February, even in the cold climate of the North or Midwest! These delicate white bulbs defy the cold and serve as a harbinger for spring.
Which Flowers Bloom in Spring
There are some vibrant, lively choices for your spring garden, and here are a few spring favorites:
Pansy flowers feature large flowers in bright colors like purple, yellow, coral, and burgundy and they look like little faces. If you plant them in the fall, they will bloom again in the spring. The trailing variety makes a wonderful potted spring flower.
Snapdragons are tall flowers that resemble the face of a dragon getting ready to attack, and they are a cool weather flower. With a wide variety of colors such as salmon and magenta, these are a delicate, playful addition to your garden.
Lenten rose offers pastel, umbrella-shaped flowers that are hardy enough to push up through the snow. They will add a sophisticated air to your spring garden.
How Do You Prepare Flowers for Spring
Getting a jump on your gardening is very important. Planting flower seeds indoors while waiting for the snow to melt and the garden to warm is the best way to get the most from your spring flowers. This way, the plant is well on its way to being hardy before you even put it in the ground. Plants will need to be placed in a sunny window to help with the growing process, and given an average of six weeks to grow indoors before it is time to transplant them outside.
What is a Good Spring Flower
Spring is a time that calls for the beauty of flowers. After the long cold and dark of winter, any green growth is so welcome in the spring.
Sweet pea flowers feature colorful blossoms that fill the air with fragrance, as well as viney foliage. They do well in cool weather.
The daffodil is a quintessential springtime flower whose trumpet-shaped yellow blooms will stand as sentries in your spring garden.
Tulips are large and their showy flowers will be a showcase in your garden, and they are generally red, white, yellow, or pink. They are perennials, coming back from a bulb year after year.
In Conclusion
No matter which flowers you choose to show off in your springtime garden, it is no exaggeration to say that after the long cold winter months, these flowers will be lifesavers. With the color and vibrancy these spring bloomers will add to your special space, you will be able to experience the wonder of nature as winter gives way to spring and the flowers bloom in full force.