Perennials, Annuals, and Bulbs

• Delphinium and echinop will bloom again this fall, if cut back to the ground after flowering this spring. Coreopsis, heliopsis, and gaillardia should bloom again in the fall, if seed is not allowed to develop on the plants in spring.

• For a full-sun border, try mixing colors of perennial coneflower and shasta daisy with annual globe amaranth. Place the taller coneflower toward the rear of the bed and shasta daisy toward the front, with the globe amaranth mixed in between.

• If the soil dries out against a house under the eaves where rain rarely reaches, water well during a thaw to prevent loss of plants. Remember that plants require water during the winter to replace water lost due to wind desiccation and lack of rain or snow.

• Hardy violets may be forced to bloom indoors. Dig a small clump from the garden or flower border and plant in fertile, potting soil in a 4- or 5-inch pot. Place in a cool,sunny window to promote growth and flowering.

• Gazania is a heat- and sun-loving flower. Start in February for planting out in May.

• Geranium seeds started now will produce plants large enough to transplant to outdoor flower beds in May. Plant in sterilized potting soil, covering them about one-fourth inch deep. If you overwintered geraniums indoors, root cuttings now.

• Gardeners who want to have tuberous begonias for summer-long flowering in pots, beds, or hanging baskets outside should start the tubers indoors during late February or early March. Sprout the tubers by placing them, hollow side up, fairly close together in shallow, well-drained pans. Use a mix of equal parts perlite, sphagnum, peat moss, and vermiculite; or chopped sphagnum moss and perlite. This should be kept damp (not soggy) in a shady window with a temperature in the lower 60s. Transplant the tubers to pots or baskets when growth starts, normally within 3 weeks. Place outside only after all threat of frost has passed.

• Gardeners have been supporting pea vines with prunings from twiggy shrubs for years. "Pea brush" can also be used as an unobtrusive support for perennial flowers. Cut twiggy branches about 6 inches shorter than the ultimate height of the plants. Insert three branches around the plants as they emerge in the spring; the branches will soon be disguised by the foliage. Any protruding twigs can be removed when flowering begins.

• Start slow-developing flowers such as alyssum, coleus, dusty miller, geranium, impatiens, marigold, petunia, phlox, portulaca, salvia, vinca, and verbena in January or February.

• Design a flower bed for a shady area. Plan to try impatiens, foxglove, begonia, and browallia.

• Watch for signs of growth in early spring bulbs. When foliage is 1 inch high, gradually start removing mulch. Cloudy days are best for the initial exposure of the leaves to strong sunlight which can burn tender foliage.

• Pinch off early buds from developing pansies to encourage plants to branch and form more buds.

• Order perennial plants and bulbs now for cut flowers this summer. Particularly good choices are phlox, daisy, dahlia, cosmos, aster, gladiolus, and lily.

• Ageratum, begonia, marigold, and petunia seeds can be started indoors now. Sprinkle the small seeds sparingly onto moist soil and gently press them in.

• Check stored bulbs, tubers, and corms. Discard any that are soft or diseased.

• Don't remove mulch from perennials too early. A warm day may make you think spring is almost here, but there may be more cold weather yet to come.

• Order gladiolus corms now for planting later in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. Locate in full sun in well-drained soil.

• Plant hardy annual seeds, such as poppies and cornflower, outdoors after mid-month.

• Indoors, start more delicate plants, such as coleus, lobelia, various vincas, and pansies.

• Pansies bloom fearlessly through the worst weather. Along with feeding them organically, pinch them back, keep mulch in place, and water regularly.

• Watch out for "heaving"--when pansies and other plants pop right out of the ground after cold snaps. Simply press roots back into their proper position as soon as you notice.

• Trim back dormant ornamental grasses when they begin looking too ratty. A lawnmower does this pruning chore efficiently if less-than-elegantly.

  "In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends." -- Kozuko Okakura

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