When Easter Comes Early

It starts with a couple seed catalogs, then a couple warm days, a switch of the clock and suddenly its Spring!
For us at Vivant, these days leading up to the Easter and Passover holidays are full of plans that we hope and pray the weather will cooperate for. 

And with Easter on April 1, you just never know what the weather will bring. Lucky for us (and also due to quite a bit of planning) our greenhouse partners were ready, hardening off daffodils, tulips and violas earlier than ever so we can have blossoms in time for the celebration. 

Here's a few quick notes to consider when planting in your Spring Displays: 

1) Are your plants cold-hardy enough? With the holidays this early, Easter Lillies, Hydrangeas and other popular Spring plants aren't yet ready to be outdoors. Always ask if the plant could survive snow before you take it home to avoid an expensive shock. 

2) What's your end game? Do you plan to add plants in a few weeks when the temperatures rise? Do you want to save the bulbs for next season? Thinking about these things now will affect how you approach your containers. For example, in a shallow window box, I plant daffodils and Violas for Spring but only fill the front  two thirds of the container. As the season progresses, the violas will fill in while the daffodils fade and I can sneak tall Summer blooms in the back. This saves the bulbs for next season, and saves quite a bit of my Spring and Summer planting budget. 

3) Remember your Soil and Water Needs. Temperatures are cool and rainstorms are frequent, often rushing planting times. But taking the extra time now to add soil amendments like compost and to water the first planting deeply will ensure the longevity of your plants. Remember as well to water a little less frequently after this first planting. Because the temperatures are lower and the days are cloudier, less water will be evaporating from the soil. 

Happy Spring from all of us to you!