Planting Bulbs for a Truly Spectacular Spring
The secret to a transformative spring display is planting more bulbs than you think is reasonable — then planting them correctly.
October 2024 From the Studio
Garden Tips & Seasonal Advice
Practical guidance from twenty years of growing in the Hudson Valley. These are the things we tell our own clients.
Seasonal Calendar
What to do in the garden this season
- Plant bare-root trees and shrubs while still dormant (March–April)
- Apply spring compost top-dressing to beds before growth begins
- Prune spring-blooming shrubs immediately after flowering
- Divide summer and fall perennials before they reach 6" tall
- Plant summer bulbs (dahlias, gladiolus, cannas) after last frost
- Apply pre-emergent weed control to gravel paths and areas
- Water deeply and infrequently — one inch per week minimum
- Deadhead repeat-blooming roses and perennials weekly
- Monitor for Japanese beetle damage; treat organically if needed
- Layer 3" of fresh mulch to conserve soil moisture
- Take softwood cuttings of shrubs in early June for propagation
- Begin autumn bulb planning — order from specialty catalogues now
- Plant spring bulbs: tulips, daffodils, alliums, and muscari (October)
- Divide and transplant peonies and bearded iris
- Plant trees and shrubs — fall is ideal for establishment
- Cut back ornamental grasses to 4–6" before the first hard frost
- Collect and compost fallen leaves; avoid putting diseased material in compost
- Apply winterizer fertilizer to lawns and established trees
- Protect tender shrubs with burlap screens against winter wind
- Avoid walking on frozen lawns — ice crystals damage turf crowns
- Order seeds and plants from specialty catalogues (January)
- Prune deciduous trees while fully dormant (January–February)
- Apply anti-desiccant spray to broadleaf evergreens in mild weather
- Review the garden from inside the house and note views to improve
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Deep Watering and Why Frequency Is the Enemy
How you water matters more than how often you water. Shallow, frequent irrigation creates shallow roots and dependent plants.
July 2024
The Right Time to Prune Every Shrub
Pruning at the wrong time can cost you an entire season of bloom. A simple rule covers most shrubs.
March 2024