April Showers Bring May Flowers: A Beginner's Guide to Spring Planting

Spring makes the world feel full of possibility again after a brutal winter. The air becomes warmer, the days grow longer and the world becomes more colorful and vibrant as the landscape comes alive again. It is the perfect time to start planting. If you’re new to gardening or landscaping creating a beautiful garden might seem overwhelming. That is why we have compiled our knowledge to create a beginner’s guide to spring planting.

know your hardiness zone

Your USDA hardiness zone is essential to know when you are planning spring planting. A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined by its average annual minimum winter temperature and used to determine which plants will do well in these conditions. These zones run from 1-13 and have different subdivisions as well to further differentiate various microclimates. Here at Perennial Landscape Corporation, we primarily work in Winchester, Concord, Lexington and Andover, Massachusetts which are all zone 5b. Click here to see a map of Massachusetts towns and their hardiness zones. It is always a good idea to check because even within the small state of Massachusetts there is some variation in zones throughout the state. Knowing what zone, you are working in will help you select plants that will do well in your environment.

select your plants

After you determine your zone, you can begin selecting your plants. Depending on your goals there are a lot of different options.

Flowers:

foxgloves

Foxgloves are a beautiful and striking biennial flower that does well in this climate. They prefer full sun to partial shade and will need to be staked to help keep them upright. Space foxglove plants 2 feet apart in slightly acidic, moist, but well-draining soil.

coneflowers

Coneflowers are native Massachusetts wildflowers that are both pretty and hearty. They are a great addition to any garden in the area. Coneflowers prefer full sun. They do best in well- draining soil and are drought resistant.

Peonies

Peonies are long lasting perennials that do well in this climate. Once planted and established it is said that peonies could come back each year for up to one hundred years. Peonies prefer sunny spots and well- draining soil. Peony plants can grow up to three feet in diameter so make sure they are planted where there is a lot of room to grow. Also keep in mind that peonies do not bloom in their first year of planting. But if you are patient for this first year, you will be able to enjoy peonies for many years to come.

Bleeding Heart

Bleeding heart flowers are a unique bloom that gets its name from its unique puffy, pink, heart shaped flowers. Bleeding hearts should be planted in shady, protected areas and prefer moist, well-draining soil. Bleeding hearts are a great way to add a unique flair to your garden in Massachusetts.

Lillies

Lillies are an elegant and fragrant flower that is a wonderful addition to any 5b garden. Lillies should be planted in full sun and prefer well-draining soil.

Fruits:

Apples

Apple picking is a quintessential new England fall activity. You can bring it to your own backyard with some patience and installing an apple tree on your property. Honeycrisp and Empire are apple varieties that flourish in colder weather.

Strawberries

Strawberries are another great choice for planting in this climate. There are both annual strawberry plants and perennials although most varieties are perennials. Perennial strawberries will come back for up to four years in a row.

Raspberries

Raspberries are another fruit that do well in Massachusetts and are a great choice for a garden in this area.

Watermelon

Nothing screams summer like fresh watermelon. Watermelons are a great crop for a 5b garden if you have the room for their large vines to spread out.

Peaches

Peaches are another great choice for the 5b region. Peaches do grow on trees so it will require some patience before there are any peaches to be harvested. But if you love these sweet and delicious fruits, installing a peach tree might be worth it.

Vegetables:

Asparagus

Asparagus is a wonderful choice for a 5b Massachusetts vegetable garden. Asparagus is a perennial that can come back for 20 years if properly cared for! These plants do best in sunny spots in your garden and should be planted in early spring sometime in March-April after the last frost.

Carrots

Carrots are another vegetable that does well in a 5b climate. They should also be planted in early spring sometime between March- April.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are another great addition. Unlike asparagus and carrots which should be planted in the early spring, cucumbers should wait to be planted until a little later, ideally in May. These plants have climbing vines and need to be well watered to avoid wilting.

Peppers

Peppers should also be planted in May and can be expected to produce peppers in August or September.

Lettuce

Lettuce and most other greens like kale, Swiss chard and mustards do well in this zone and can be planted between April and May.

plan your layout

Once you have looked at which plants you want to install you can begin outlining the plan for your garden and deciding where each plant should be placed. There is a lot that should be considered when planning the layout of your garden such as:

Sun

Sun is a huge factor when planning your garden. Some plants thrive in the sun, while others will wither away if there is too much of it. Some prefer shade and some prefer partial shade. When coming up with a layout for your garden you have to think about what plants would fit into your space given the sun and shade available in your garden area.

spacing

Make sure there is adequate space between plants, so they have enough room to grow. Make sure you look up the spacing requirements of each of the plants you want to use. Carrots and beets for example can be planted a lot closer together than tomatoes or peppers which need a lot more room to grow. Once you have finished planting it should look a little bit sparce, that means there is likely enough room for them to grow.

Color Scheme

When planning an ornamental garden or create an edible landscape where you blend ornamental and producing plants together, color scheme might be something you want to consider. Some people prefer a more monochromatic look for their garden. Maybe you are drawn in by the thought of all white blooms. Or you want an array of different shades of pink. Or perhaps you prefer to have contrasting colors that create a striking effect in your garden. No matter what color scheme you go with, you will have to think of your color scheme when creating the layout of your garden.

Focal Points

To create a visually interesting garden, there should be focal points that the eye can be drawn to. A focal point helps a viewer orient itself in space, and without one a space may simply feel like it’s missing “something”. Some common focal points include benches, statues, fountains, ponds, waterfalls, and bold plantings. Having a focal point will make it easier to design the rest of your garden around it.

Layering

Layering your plants can help create a beautiful and full bed. Tall flowers should be planted in the back, medium in the middle and shorter ones to the front so all can be seen and be added to the visual interest of the space.

Conclusion

We complied a list of our spring planting tips for beginners. Hopefully it can help you to get started on your gardening. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider reaching out to a professional. Landscaping professionals have years of knowledge and experience they can use to create a beautiful garden you can enjoy. Perennial Landscape Corporation has been creating magnificent gardens in Winchester, Concord, Lexington, Andover and surrounding Massachusetts communities since 1995. Reach out to get started today.

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Perennial Landscape Corporation

The Quality You Expect and the Service You Deserve

Perennial Landscape Corporation is a family-owned business that has been creating distinguished landscape environments in Winchester, Lexington, Concord, Andover and surrounding Massachusetts’ communities since 1995.

Perennial Landscape Corporation was named after a category of plants called perennials. Perennials are plants that have a lifespan of two or more years, meaning they come back each year. Just like a perennial, our aim is for you to be able to count on us year after year.

Here at Perennial, we pride ourselves on providing excellent landscaping and outstanding customer service. Our motto is “the quality you expect and the service you deserve”. That is the mindset that permeates every aspect of our work.