April Gardening Tips for the Midwest
When daffodils and hyacinth are finished flowering, clip off the faded blossoms. Allow leaves to naturally turn yellow; as they do so, they're storing food vital to next year's flower show.
Bulb foliage turns yellow, then brown -- and can detract from a pretty spring garden. Disguise this ugly-duckling stage by planting perennials that will unfurl pretty foliage as bulb leaves die. Some of our favorites include fall-flowering sedum, 'Rozanne' geranium, peonies, and daylilies.
Check out these award-winning perennial varieties to plant with bulbs.
Test Garden Tip: Spring containers sparkle when you tuck forced bulbs into outdoor planters. You can buy forced bulbs at supermarkets and home centers. Look for daffodils, tulips, or hyacinths. This is a great way to enjoy tulips in areas where otherwise rodents dig and devour bulbs.
If you want a longer spring show, fill containers with long-blooming cool-season color: spicy-scented flowering stock, pansy, sweet alyssum, or snapdragon.
Continued on page 2: Grow a Vegetable Garden
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