Want to bring some life to your garden this season?

Get the beautiful buzz of Hummingbirds with just a few simple tricks!

Rule #1 – RED! Hummingbirds are instinctively drawn to the color red, so you’ll want to make sure your garden is well equipped with a full season of red blossoms. This romantic scene is the best way to woo your Hummers.

Rule #2 – Shape! Flowers with long, tubular blossoms are a Hummingbird’s delight. Because of their long shape, other pollinators like bees can’t access the sweet nectar, and Hummingbirds know it! These flowers are what Hummers are after.

Rule #3 – Water! Hummingbirds are hard workers, with wings buzzing at 75 beats per minute, these flyers need water breaks too! Install a mister or fine mist sprinkler system to invite Hummers to take a break in your garden. They enjoy playing in the mist rather than bathing in your bird bath.

By sticking to these 3 rules, you should have a lively garden in no time! However, to keep your garden a buzz all season, be sure to have early spring, summer, and late summer bloomers. For early blooms, consider planting wild red Columbines, or a sparkling Fire Pink. Keep your garden blooming through the summer with Penstemon and beautiful Coral Bells, finishing the season with bright Cardinal flowers.

Call Personal Touch Gardening & Landscape and lets plan your Hummingbird Garden today with a no-cost, no-obligation bid on your property! 719.632.7742

Plan Your Hummingbird Garden!

 Creative Container Gardens

 Looking to spice-up your Spring Gardens? Try creating fun and formal floral creations with containers! There are many upsides to planting with containers, not only can you create fantastic and impressive combinations, but you can use them to create or eliminate space, soften hard edges of your landscape, or to create a permanent or portable focal points in your garden.

Potted plants can be a reflection of your artistic brilliance when you combine what expert gardeners call “thrillers, fillers, and spillers”.  A thriller is the centerpiece plant, one with vibrant colors and bold form to grab the eye. Next comes the filler, generally foliage or flowers that compliment your thriller without washing it out. Finally, add a great spiller to the edges of the container for maximum impact. Vines play this role well as they flow out of the container adding a finishing touch to your beautiful display.

If you haven’t done much container gardening, the classic triangle arrangement will convince others that you’re a master designer! Three containers of differing sizes arranged in a triangle can be a great base for your creative combinations. You can then build on to the arms of a triangular arrangement with smaller pots for a larger spread.

Don’t forget to choose containers that compliment and accentuate your garden! The container can have a strong presence and should be considered just as much as the pretty blooms and green foliage that you plant within. Place your creative containers by the entryway to greet visitors, or around outside corners to soften and decorate these hard edges. Also consider adding small containers to the edges of your stairs to create a nice blended, flowing softness to your steps.

Still a little hesitant about creating your own containers? Call Personal Touch Gardening and Landscape and let us help you design and implement your creative containers! With many native and impressive plants to choose from, we can help you turn that old wagon into a portable blooming masterpiece!

Sources:

Steve Silk of Fine Gardening: http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/thrillers-fillers-spillers.aspx?nterms=74896

2009). C. Kasper & J. Matlack (Eds.), Container gardening: 250 design ideas & step-by-step techniques (pp. 4-214). Newtown, CT: Taunton Press.

Fine Gardening: http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/three-ways-to-design-with-containers.aspx?utm_source=email&utm_medium=eletter&utm_content=20120213-download&utm_campaign=fine-gardening-eletter

Creative Container Gardens

Water & Fire

Fascinating Elements for your Living Space and Patio

Water and fire are two elements that can really highlight the personalized creativity and style of your garden or patio. Water features create a soothing and serene atmosphere for your outdoor sanctuary perfect for reflection and relaxation. Fire features, on the other hand, not only keep us warm on those cool Colorado nights, but they can become a social beacon for your family night or evening get-togethers. Combine both of these powerful elements for an even more dazzling spark to your garden or outdoor living space.

Water

Water features can be the pinnacle of relaxation and serenity in your garden and outdoor living space. The soft sound of trickling and bubbling water can complement a quiet day in the garden perfectly. Or you can include a large waterfall near the pond to help drown out neighborhood noise. Consider the addition of a small pond or water trough to accent your garden or small space. Use oxygenating plants to accent your pond, while keeping it healthy, oxygenators provide oxygen and absorb the nutrients and elements that would support algae. Some oxygenating plants add a nice touch of color with above-water blooms, like common water-crowfoots or pygmy water lilies. Consider using wood-barrels for a rustic look, or a sleek ceramic or tin trough for a modern or minimalist touch. For a modern look, be sure to keep the design simple and sleek, so limit the variety of plants you use to compliment your feature and use those with bold shapes. The horsetail, simultaneously primitive-looking and elegant, can be a nice compliment to tall and sleek water features.

To capture the soothing sound of flowing water, introduce a fountain to your garden or patio design. Fountains with recirculating pumps create beautiful ambiance as water trickles through stones or out of bamboo shoots. Sunken fountains blend in nicely with surrounding elements and create a bit of mystery when surrounded by small plants. Fountains are the perfect way to infuse a small space with a burst of creativity and elegance.

Fire

Your fire feature can be the center point of your outdoor living space whether you are roasting marshmallows with the kids on a warm Summer evening, or if you’re illuminating and warming-up your patio dinner party. Before adding this spectacular element to your garden or patio, consider how you’d like to use it. Will you add small fire urns to accent the boundary of your deck or patio, or will you create a social hub with the addition of an outdoor fireplace? You can also decide between a portable hearth or chiminea, or a permanent feature such as a wood-burning fireplace or gas powered fire-pit.  Permanent features can be used as stylistic elements year round, for example consider using fire-blasted stone to compose your chimney and mantle for an Italian Rustica look. Extend the arms of the mantle to create a designated dining area, complete with pizza oven and counter space. Stucco is another common and inexpensive material to use for your fire feature, a style often found at its peak in the southern regions of the state.

Water  & Fire

Combine both sensual elements to create a complimentary scenic landscape. Fused together, fire/water pots, or fountains with fire features create a special dazzle in the host garden or living space. Fire/water hybrid features can be a fantastic centerpiece to a sleek, modern scape, or can be used as walk-way accents through a lush, enchanted garden.

Sources:

Better Homes and Gardens – http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/patio/designs/patio-ideas/  & www.bhg.com/home-improvement/porch/outdoor-rooms/designing-for-outdoor-living/   & http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/patio/designs/patio-ideas/

HGTv – http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/water-features-for-the-garden/pictures/index.html

HIGH CRAFT Builders :http://www.highcraft.net/kitchen-remodeling/its-time-to-plan-outdoor-living-spaces.html

FineGardening – http://www.finegardening.com/item/9427/fireplace

ELA – http://www.elaoutdoorliving.com/fire-features.htm

Extended Living Spaces – http://www.extendedlivingspaces.com/fire-features.php

Water & Fire Features for Beautiful Outdoor Living!

Get Out and Live!

After enduring the long Colorado cold spell brought on by Old Man Winter, there’s nothing like enjoying your backyard retreat in the pleasant Spring sun! Now is the perfect time to transform your yard or deck into the ultimate outdoor destination.

When planning your outdoor living space consider how you would be using the area. Design your family fun space around a built-in gas grill and chiller with stone pathways to the perfect grassy picnic area. Or host evening get-togethers at your marble-top island under the covered patio.  Plus, great add-ons can boost your property value as a homeowner as well!

Extend your living space outside and enjoy the fresh air year-round. It is always nice to use existing patio space and decks when possible, so try to consider how you can expand upon an area already accessible. Transform your space with an appealing and long-lasting patio. Use interlocking pavers, creative flagstone or stamped and stained concrete to create a good, low maintenance floor base. Or keep the pleasant natural look with a weather-resistant deck using materials such as recycled composite planks or finish with a weather-resistant sealant. Both weather-resistant decks and stone floors require little maintenance and maintain their structural integrity through Colorado weather. 

Select great plant life and features to create the perfect outdoor atmosphere. An in-ground fire pit or a gas-powered fireplace can be the perfect modern touch for a cozy environment, adding ambiance and warmth to cool Colorado nights. Nearby, install a beautiful granite or marble counter top island with a built in gas-grill and mini-fridge perfect for entertaining guests and relaxing at the end of your day. Outdoor lighting is an ideal way to illuminate your covered patio in the evenings. Using solar-powered lighting or energy-efficient bulbs conserve energy and keep the cost down.

Add a touch of color and life to your space by planting shade-loving flowers and shrubs around and within your patio area. Line your covered patio or deck with beautiful Hostas, Brunneras, and Caladiums during the Spring and Summer months. Keep color all year long with flowers such as Impatients and Begonias growing alongside your shaded retreat. It is a good idea to plant foundational shrubs as a lush backdrop for your plants all year round – we recommend evergreen shrubs such Norway Spruce , Bird’s Nest Spruce, or Daphne, Carol Mackie.

Most importantly, be sure you make the space yours! There is nothing more rewarding than going home and being drawn to your perfect outdoor living space.

Contact Personal Touch Gardening and Landscape for more great outdoor living ideas, or to help design, install, and maintain the outdoor space of your dreams!

Sources:

High Craft Builders – http://www.highcraft.net/kitchen-remodeling/its-time-to-plan-outdoor-living-spaces.html

Better Homes and Gardens – http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/patio/designs/patio-ideas/ & www.bhg.com/home-improvement/porch/outdoor-rooms/designing-for-outdoor-living/

Outdoor Living for the Entertainer!

Promote Beautiful Growth this Spring with Winter Pruning!

You may not know it, but most trees, shrubs, and vines should be pruned during the late winter to facilitate fantastic spring and summer growth! Pruning these plants in the late winter has three general advantages; the pruning wounds heal and seal faster since you’re pruning just prior to new spring growth, pruning during this period minimizes your chances of disease, pests and cold damage, and lastly, it is much easier to see the shape, health, and integrity of the shrubs and trees without all of the foliage getting in the way.

Before you start taking off branches and foliage make sure you are using the proper tools to do so and that they are in good clean condition. Hand pruners are suitable for branches and shrub limbs less than one-half an inch thick in diameter. If the branch is one to one and a half inches in diameter you will want to consider using something similar to a limb lopper. Please contact Personal Touch Gardening to cut and prune your larger trees.

Late winter is the best time to prune deciduous trees and large shrubs because the coldest part of the season has passed and the chance of cold damage to your pruned cuts is significantly less. Prune to shape your plants and to rid the plants of dead, damaged, crossing, and overgrown limbs. Be sure to prune off limbs that have succumbed to winter damage as well. Limbs with winter damage, or winterkill, have shriveled or darkened bark and buds that remain lifeless as others swell.

Trees

You never want to prune off more than 1/3 of the tree’s canopy and canopy limbs during one season and make sure that you’re not pruning off too much live wood. Prune apple trees, including Crabapples, Mountain Ash, Hawthorns, as well as American Elms in late winter to avoid disease. Spring or summer pruning increases chances for infection and spread of the bacterial disease fireblight, and fall or early winter pruning is more likely to result in drying and die-back at pruning sites. Trees such as Elm, Maple, Walnut and Birch do bleed sap when pruned in late winter to early spring. Although not necessarily detrimental to your trees, bleeding is reduced if these tree species are pruned in the fall. However, pruning cuts heal much more slowly in the fall than in any other season.

Shrubs

You’ll want to prune spring-flowering shrubs, such as Forsythia and Winter Jasmine, right after their blossoms fade. Spring flowering shrubs set there buds right after they bloom, so there is a short window of pruning time.  Prune your Honey Locusts while they are still dormant in the late winter to avoid stem cankers and other diseases. Green and late flowering shrubs such as Butterfly Bush, Elderberry, Japanese Spireas, Smoke Bushes, and St. John’s Wort can be pruned from late winter to early spring since they are susceptible to winterkill and pruning these shrubs can promote a lot of growth if the weather is warm, so the later in the winter is best. More resistant shrubs such as Gooseberry and Currant can also be pruned anytime during winter because their stems are rarely damaged by the winter cold.

Contact Personal Touch Gardening to take care of your winter and early spring pruning!

Sources:  Fine Gardening – http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/maintenance-pruning.aspx?nterms=74872 & http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/qa/trees-winter-pruning.aspx, & http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/forcing-branches.aspx?utm_source=email&utm_medium=eletter&utm_ content=20120123-15tips&utm_campaign=fine-gardening-eletter

Plantalk Colorado by Colorado State University – http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1730.html & http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1724.html

University of Minnesota -  http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg0628.html

Bring Your Plants to Life this Spring with Winter Pruning!

Brighten Your Home in the Winter!

Get the beauty of spring in winter with these bloom forcing tips! Force blooms on your favorite tree branches or bulbs to add color to a muted winter space.

 Forcing Branch Blooms

Many blooming trees and shrubs set their flower buds during the previous growing season so that they can experience a period of cold dormancy during the winter before they bloom. After about six weeks of cold and dry temperatures, the buds need to experience warm temperatures and moisture for two to three weeks to come out of dormancy and bloom beautifully. Generally in late January and early February most outdoor trees and shrubs are ready for warmth and forcing.

When selecting branches from trees and shrubs, look for those that are ½ inch in diameter or less with higher concentrations of plump flower buds. Try to take your branch cuttings when the temperature outside is at or above 40°, this enables the cuttings to transition from the cold weather to your warm cozy home much better. Following package instructions, add a floral preservative to warm water and add your cuttings once you have trimmed the stems at a steep angle above the original cut. Display your arrangement of branches and cuttings away from direct sunlight and away from any direct heat source. Rather, try to recreate a cool, moist environment characteristic of early spring. Watch the charming flower buds open and bloom for up to three to four weeks in a vase. Take great forced bloom cuttings from Crab Apple trees, Cherry trees, Forsythias, Quince & Weigela, as well as Red Maples, and Willows in mid to late February.

Forcing Bulb Blooms

Similar to most trees and shrubs, flowering bulbs also need to experience a cold dormancy through the winter before they bloom. The bulbs generally need to be planted in the fall to offer enough time for spring or late winter forced blooms. Planting your bulbs in a pot makes transportation to and from the outdoors a bit easier. When you plant your bulbs, make sure the sides of the bulbs are not touching each other or the sides of the pot and cover the bulbs with soil leaving the tops of the tips visible. Keep the potted bulbs in the cold winter weather or in a cold place for 11-15 weeks for the planted bulbs to experience their cold dormant period. When you bring them in from the cold, water them thoroughly and keep them in a cool place for a few days to facilitate a nice healthy transition. Once they are experiencing the warmth and moisture of your home, you will see new healthy growth and blooms within two to three weeks. Good bulbs to use for forced blooming include Tulips such as Monte Carlo, Oxford, Aladdin, or Maytime; Hyacinths such as Pink Pearl, Hollyhock, or Amethyst; Daffodils such as Carlton, Geranium, or Jetfire; Crocuses such as Remembrance, Giant Yellow, Peter Pan, or Joan d’Arc; and Irises such as Dwarf Irises.  Tulips, Crocuses, and Irises generally require 15 weeks of cold dormancy before forcing blooms.

For more information on forced blooms and to discuss other gardening tips and tactics, contact Personal Touch Gardening!

Sources: TipNut – http://tipnut.com/forcing-bulbs/,

Fine Gardening- http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/forcing-branches.aspx?utm_source=email&utm_medium=eletter&utm_content=20120123-15tips&utm_campaign=fine-gardening-eletter

Brighten Your Home in the Winter with Fantastic Forced Blooms!

Are you winter watering? Many homeowners forget this important step to keep a healthy landscape, a mistake that could mean the worst for your plants!

With Colorado’s dry and arid climate it is crucial to provide supplemental water to your trees, shrubs, lawns, and beds during the winter, especially when there is little or no snow cover. The lack of moisture can cause damage to the root systems which can result in health problems or even plant death.

Most plants only need watered one to two times per month in the winter season. Only water when the soil and air temperatures are at least 40° with no snow cover on the ground. Be sure to water at mid-day to ensure water has time to soak into the soil before possible freezing in the evening. Always remember to disconnect and drain your hose to prevent freezing damage – do not use your sprinkler unless advised otherwise by your gardener or landscaper.

Perennial beds and herbaceous ground covers are more vulnerable to ground freezing and thawing, creating cracks which expose the root systems to more severe drying. Winter watering and mulching help to curb dehydration, fill the ground cracks, and prevent plant damage.

Don’t forget about your lawns! Areas that are exposed to wind and/or southwest winter-sunlight dry out more rapidly than those in the shade, especially your young sod and seed lawns. Winter water your lawns to prevent root damage and to boost your Spring and Summer success!

One more tip in keeping those more delicate plants healthy is using WILT-PRUF Plant Protector. It guards against moisture loss and protects valuable shrubs from winter kill, drought and winds that will pull all the moisture out of the plant. WILT-PRUF acts as a protective coating, holding in moisture on plant foliage and stems, substantially reducing water loss during winter months. This should be applied monthly for those more delicate plants.

Contact Personal Touch Gardening for assistance on all your landscape needs during the winter months or for more information on winter watering. Happy growing!

Sources: Colorado State University – http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.html, http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1751.html,   http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1706.htmlhttp://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Garden/wintwatr.htm

City of Boulder – http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3856&Itemid=1470#FALL

Garden Centers of Colorado – http://www.gardencentersofcolorado.org/pdfs/care_sheets/Winter_Watering_In_CO.pdf

Are You Winter Watering? Keeping Your Garden at its Best During Colorado’s Cold Months.

Fall Time

When decorating a porch for fall, use bales of straw or hay as a base. Visit your local garden center or major craft supply retailer for bales of various sizes. IF you don’t have the time Personal Touch Gardening would be happy to help. Please contact us for prices and other decorating ideas !!

Consider setting up a display that welcomes guests to the home. Place bales of hay or straw on both sides of the walkway that lead up to the porch. Stack bales of various sizes on the porch beginning with the largest. Purchase scarecrows that can be posed, and sit one on each side of the porch entrance on the bales. Create a welcome sign on a post, and place it through one of the bales. Wrap one of the scarecrow’s arms around the sign post, and surround it with pumpkins and gourds of various sizes, patterns, and shapes. Add a faux raven or two for an interesting fall display that is sure to impress.

Creative Outdoor Fall Decor

Decorating a Front Porch for Fall – Ways to Make it More Comfortable and Inviting

By Jessica Ackerman from Kissing Camels

A front porch is one of the most appealing areas of a home, especially if it is comfortable, inviting, and well decorated. It is a place where people often read the morning paper while enjoying the cool breezes of fall. The front porch is also a place to sit back and relax while taking in fresh air and observing outdoor activities. A well decorated front porch is friendly, and it provides countless ways to creatively welcome in seasons and special occasions. As fall approaches, consider the following creative ways of decorating a front porch for fall, and turn an ordinary entryway into a comfortable and more inviting place to enjoy the outdoors while showing off your personal decorating style.

Preparing a Porch for Decorating 

Before decorating a porch for any season or holiday, it is important to sweep away dirt, webs, debris, and wayward leaves on a regular basis. Even though this living space is outdoors, no one wants to sit in an area that appears dirty and uninviting. In addition, take the time to wipe down railings using clear water or a product labeled for cleaning a porch or deck. Removing layers of dirt and grime and sweeping away debris is the first step in decorating a porch for fall or for any season or occasion, and as a result it will look more welcoming than ever.

Overhead Color

Many people never consider decorating the underside of their porch overhang, and it is often the same color as the trim of the house, but adding a little color is a great way to make it more cheerful, especially when decorating for fall. Consider painting the ceiling of a porch overhang a lovely shade of light blue. Choose a soothing shade of cerulean that is reminiscent of the lightest shades of blue that touch the horizon on a clear fall day. The porch will have a more open and airy feel, and the ceiling will seem as high as a beautiful fall sky.

Comfortable Seating and Side Tables

An outdoor porch that is used regularly must have comfortable seating and side tables to be truly relaxing and inviting. When decorating a porch for fall, consider outfitting existing chairs will comfy cushions in colorful and interesting fall patterns. When buying new seating, opt for weather-resistant wicker and thick chair cushions. In addition, select a roomy side table to place between seating areas. Tables with eye-catching mosaic tabletops are ideal when decorating a porch for fall, and with proper care they will last for decades. A table between two comfy porch chairs is ideal for holding a pitcher of refreshing apple cider or a carafe of hot chocolate. Make this picture come to life by decorating your front porch for fall. It will become a refuge as well as an outdoor haven for autumn relaxation.

Creative Outdoor Fall Decor

When decorating a porch for fall, use bales of straw or hay as a base. Visit your local garden center or major craft supply retailer for bales of various sizes. They will provide a stable surface for decorating with planters, scarecrows, colorful gourds, faux crows, and other items used when decorating for fall.

Consider setting up a display that welcomes guests to the home. Place bales of hay or straw on both sides of the walkway that lead up to the porch. Stack bales of various sizes on the porch beginning with the largest. Purchase scarecrows that can be posed, and sit one on each side of the porch entrance on the bales. Create a welcome sign on a post, and place it through one of the bales. Wrap one of the scarecrow’s arms around the sign post, and surround it with pumpkins and gourds of various sizes, patterns, and shapes. Add a faux raven or two for an interesting fall display that is sure to impress.

Fall Planters

Along with creative outdoor fall decor, consider decorating with fall planters. The flowers of fall are some of the most beautiful of all, and they will add rich color and design to an autumn-themed display. Select large terracotta pots with adequate drainage, and fill them with organic potting soil and beautiful fall mums. Plant trailing vines around the edges, and place the potted plants on the bales of hay or along stair steps. They will add a tremendous amount of color and design to this fall display, and they will help welcome guests and make the porch look and feel more welcoming.

Lighting Options

An outdoor porch decorated for fall or for any season or occasion should include practical and decorative lighting. Consider purchasing rope lights to mount under porch railings or around the edges of the porch overhang. Rope lighting is available in various lengths and colors, and they can be combined with other rope lights or trimmed to fit perfectly. In addition to rope lights, consider choosing two solar or electric spotlights that can be pointed toward the display on both sides of the walkway. The addition of lights is one of the easiest ways of decorating a porch for fall, and it makes a dramatic impact on the display.

The options are truly endless when decorating a porch for fall. These are just some of the ways you can add color and design to your outdoor living space. Visit local flea markets, resale shops, craft stores, and home improvement stores for decorating accessories. Some of the most decorative items are not meant to be used for decorating and serve other useful purposes. With a little creativity and the desire to begin decorating a porch for fall, you will be able to create a welcoming area for sitting and relaxing with friends and loved ones or for relaxing with a good book and a cup of hot apple cider.

“Decorating a Front Porch for Fall – Ways to Make it More Comfortable and Inviting”

Selecting and Planting Bulbs

• Pick your bulbs carefully. You want firm bulbs, not mushy or moldy. The firmer the better.

• Another great tip is to make sure you have the right kind of soil for the bulbs you will be planting. Some require soil, some are happier in sandy conditions, or like my Paperwhites, it is recommended to plant them in pebbles outdoors. When you have chosen your bulb, be it any variety of Amaryllis, Tulip, Lily, Buttercup, or Iris; make sure you make their new home happy.

• Now, make sure their happy home is indeed happy so they can sleep the winter away and wake refreshed in the spring. Make sure you set your soil with fertilizers. If your soil doesn’t already have some in it, then place some in the hole prior to placement of the bulb. Make sure there is proper drainage if you live in wet areas. You don’t want your bulb to get moldy and unhappy, or you may not see the beauty it can be for spring.

• Always plant the bulb pointy side up. The pointy side is the stem, not the roots. (Again, I did this wrong, and my Paperwhites had issues.) Depending on the bulb, will depend on how deep you plant them. Always read the package for details on your new little friend(s).

• Don’t be shy when picking a nice spot for the planting of your beautiful garden. Keep in mind the placement of any trees in your yard that might either give shade or full sun when leafless in the spring. This might benefit your bulbs when they come out for the few weeks a year.

• After you plant them, give them some water. This will not only give them something to start their new happy lives with, but it will also help remove any air pockets that formed during planting. If you are having an unusually dry winter, then you may need to water them again.

• If you have rodent issues in your flowerbeds, daffodils are the best to plant. Rodents, and many other animals, don’t care for them.

• I have also learned, that if you find a bulb or three that you forgot to plant, and it is already the middle of winter, do not wait for the next year. Plant them right away. Plants are living things and need the ground and proper attention to thrive. (Yes, I have guilt… poor Paperwhites.) The bulbs need the cool temperatures to start the biochemical process in them to properly grow and bloom in the warmer spring season.

• One last tip for you. If you don’t know what color splashes you would like or where to plant them, take a picture of your garden in the spring and use it for reference in the fall. This will help you plan out how beautiful your garden can become in the spring.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2047227/tips_for_planting_fall_bulbs.html?cat=32

Selecting and Planting Bulbs