Let’s Get Ready to Plant for Spring!
It’s almost time to get your fresh bulbs and blooms going, but in the meantime, this cold-hardy container will tide you over.
If you follow me on social media—and I hope you do!—you know that I just love spring, and I am so excited that we are closing in on the frost-free date in Georgia. I’m ready to get my warm-weather flowers in the ground! I am also aware, however, that Jack Frost might make one last appearance. Jack Frost is bad news here in the South—he’s the reason we must hold off until April 15 to plant spring annuals! Most warmer zones in the southern and middle U.S. share this frost-free date, but if you are in a colder climate like Zones 1-5, wait a bit longer. Start seeds indoors, keep them warm and watered until your frost-free date arrives, then transplant them outdoors. (Learn more about your gardening zone here.) Even though we have a few more weeks still to go, I have a few pretty spring options that can survive a late-winter frost, should we get one:
1. Violas
2. Lamb’s Ear
3. Candytuft
4. Creeping Jenny
Note that these four plants are extremely tough in the face of cold weather, but they will not be sittin’ pretty should it drop below 30 degrees. Just keep an eye on your local forecast! You can plant all of these blooms and greenery together in one container. For this one, I paired larger plant material with a shallow container.
Steps 1 – 2:
Give your plants plenty to drink, and then add a 3-inch layer of potting soil to your container.
Step 3:
Get those violas into the container first!
Step 4:
Add lamb’s ear (silver foliage) next.
Step 5:
Place candytuft (white blooms) toward the front.
Step 6:
Arrange the creeping Jenny (chartreuse foliage) to create texture.
This container loves the sun almost as much as me! The best part is, both the lamb’s ear and the candytuft are perennials, which means that they will bloom again next year. Just remember to water this container once every two weeks and keep the soil moist to the touch.
I am really hoping that Jack Frost won’t show up late to the weather party this year, but if he does, we’ll be ready. And once National Gardening Day arrives on April 14, we can celebrate by planting something new and colorful in our beds!
Happy Spring Gardening!