The calendar says it’s officially fall. But it’s early in the season. That means you probably have some flowers still blooming and produce to harvest. But it’s not too early to think about preparing your garden for next spring, especially ways to grow more flowers.
As an avid gardener, or even if you’re just beginning this garden journey, one thing we learn is that the garden is never done. It’s just at different stages. Planning for the next stage can give you the best opportunity to grow abundant flowers, herbs, and produce. And wouldn’t it be nice to have a head start on the spring garden?
It’s always good practice to end the season by cleaning up your garden for the year. I have a free mini-course on getting your garden cleaned and prepped at the end of the season… The Fall Garden Mini-Course. Taking steps to clean your garden this fall will set the stage for an easier garden start next spring.
But these ideas are about getting a jump-start on your garden for next year. These tasks will actually help you get your garden growing earlier than if you wait until spring.
3 Ways to Grow More Flowers Next Spring…
1. Plant Hardy Annual Seeds
Hardy annuals are some of my favorite flowers in the garden each spring. They’re typically the earliest flowers to bloom in your garden, especially when you start them in the fall. While you can plant them in the spring, if you start them now, you’ll have larger and earlier blooms. And who doesn’t want big beautiful flowers next spring?
There are many options to choose from with hardy annuals. Each year I try to experiment with a few new hardy annual choices. One of my favorite flowers this year was orlaya. Frothy white umbels on sturdy stems were lovely in my bouquets. And it paired well with other hardy annuals that I grew, such as larkspur, Canterbury bells, breadseed poppies, and foxglove.
Hardy annuals actually prefer cooler weather to the hot summer temperatures. If you plant them now, they can grow even as regular summer flowers are dying back. Once the weather drops below freezing, the plants will stop growing and just wait for the warmer temperatures of spring. Then their growth will take off.
This is especially beneficial if you live in a climate that heats up quickly in late spring and summer. Once the plants are exposed to the hot temperatures of summer, they will quickly fade. So by planting hardy annuals now, you’ll be able to enjoy these flowers longer in the spring.
Read: How to Make an Amazing Garden With Hardy Annuals
2. Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs and Tubers
In the fall, before the ground freezes, is the best time to plant spring-blooming bulbs in your garden beds. This is also a good time to divide your spring bulbs if they’ve become overgrown. Tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, grape hyacinths, and more add sparkle to the garden in the spring when very few flowers are in bloom or have even leafed out.
Many gardeners are familiar with these typical spring bulbs. But there are other types of spring bulbs and corms to consider planting now for spring. Ranunculus, anemones, alliums, and irises can all be planted in the fall in milder climates. Be sure to give them time to grow some roots before a deep freeze.
These plants are cold sensitive, so planting them in the fall might require some additional precautions. If you live in a colder climate where the ground freezes deep, consider adding some extra protection to the areas where they’re planted. A thick layer of mulch is helpful, and even a tarp or a frost cloth covering can help minimize freezing losses.
You can also plant a variety of all the spring-blooming bulbs, tubers, and corms in containers this fall. Allow them to settle in and be sure to water them thoroughly. Store them in an area where they won’t get supersaturated. If the bulbs are exposed to the freeze-thaw cycle while extremely wet, then the tubers will turn to mush.
I store my bulb-planted containers outdoors under a table, but a protected area of an awning or deck would work too. For the cold-sensitive plants such as ranunculus and anemones, consider storing them in a warmer area such as a garage or basement.
Consider This…
Many gardeners avoid growing spring bulbs because they’re tired of the basic yellow daffodils and red tulips. But have you looked at the new varieties of these spring flowers? The colors, shapes and sizes of the newer varieties are amazing. From fringed and double tulips to white, peach or pink-tinged daffodils, the options are endless. So look at what’s available beyond the typical spring bulbs.
3. Divide Perennials and Move Flowering Shrubs
Fall is a good time to divide your flowering perennials that have become overgrown. Peonies, hostas, summer phlox and day lilies all benefit from occasional division. So while the ground is still soft and you can see where the plants are, dig and divide your perennials. Then you can replant the sections around your garden. This helps to create healthier plants, and it increases the amount of flowers you have growing.
This is also a good time to plant or transplant flowering shrubs. If the plant has outgrown its location or it’s not getting the right amount of sunlight, fall is the best time to dig up and move the plant. This gives the roots a chance to settle in and get established before the freezing weather sets in. Forsythia, rhododendron, viburnum, hydrangea, mock orange, spirea, and weigela are a few examples.
Plan Your Garden for Spring…
If you want to grow more flowers next spring, then consider your current garden layout. You want to make sure you’re matching the plant to the available sunlight. And you want to consider the amount of water, growing space, and plant companions when you’re adding in new plants.
Fall provides an opportunity to decide what changes to make for next year’s garden. Early in the season, the plants are still there for you to see what has become overgrown, how much sunlight a space gets, and if your garden areas are too crowded.
Take a walk around your garden and notice each growing area. Then ask yourself these simple questions.
- Did this garden area perform the way I expected it to? Were there any plants that did not do well?
- What changes could I make to this space that would provide the flowers, herbs or produce I want to grow?
- Are there any perennials that need to be divided?
- Can I tuck in any divided perennials, or is there space for some hardy annuals?
While there are many tasks that need to be done in the fall, these chores can help to add beauty to your garden next spring. These tasks are easy to work into your fall cleanup schedule. When you go to clean up a space, take the time to follow it with some fall seeding of hardy annuals, add in some spring flower bulbs, or divide some perennials to spread around.
Use these ideas to help grow more flowers next spring. They’re easy to do, don’t cost a lot of money and shouldn’t take a lot of time if you incorporate them into your fall cleanup routine.
Come next spring, you’ll be so glad that you took the time this fall to add these extra flowers to your garden. You just might be the first one on your block with lovely spring blooms.
