Gardening Tips · Spring Tips ·

Spring Care Tips

Spring is here!

If freezing temperatures are gone for good where you live, it’s time to give your plants a little love and care. A good rule of thumb is to know the average last frost date for your area and hold off trimming and planting until after that date. However, it’s simply an average and recommendation. Some homeowners are happy to take the risk and others can’t bear the pain of losing early investment in their landscapes.

Here are a few easy steps to keep your Bloomin’ Easy plants healthy and growing into the beautiful outdoor accents they can be. Repeat each spring for years of value and enjoyment.

1. Mulch

We recommend picking up natural landscape mulch from your local garden center. Adding mulch will make you happy in three ways:

Efficient watering: Mulch makes watering more efficient by retaining moisture in the soil. Conserving water makes everyone happy, especially your water bill!
Prevents weeds: Spend less time pulling weeds and more time relaxing.
Creates a clean look: Mulch makes your landscape beautiful, creating a clean, consistent look that’s weed free and even colored if you choose to buy naturally colored mulch.
Cover the soil with a 2 inch layer, leaving room around the base of the stems (mulch should never rest against the stems). The mulch breaks down over time, releasing nutrients to your plants. Reapply as needed.

2. Fertilize

Plants need food just like we do. Feed your Bloomin’ Easy plants when they begin to sprout leaves in spring.

We recommend an organic, all-purpose choice such as Nature’s Source plant food. The easy hose attachment allows you to feed during watering and it’s safe for leaves, too.

Other options include slow-release granular fertilizers. These can be convenient but can contain inorganic compounds like plastic. Make sure to follow instructions for the fertilizer you choose.

Applying quality fertilizer this spring will help your plants look their best this season.

3. Prune

Pruning is the removal of old stems or dead flowers to keep your plants fresh and healthy. It also keeps them in their natural form and to a size that’s right for your outdoor space.

Only plants that grow to a manageable size and offer lower maintenance are selected for our collection. However, nearly all plants will benefit from proper pruning. Pruning is easier than it sounds, and we’ll make it even easier by giving you specific tips for your plant type.

Big leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

Tilt-A-Swirl™
Cherry-Go-Round™
Frill Ride™
Kimono™
Starfield™

In the first three years after planting, they only require “dead heading” (removal of old flower heads) after the threat of frost is over. Cut just above the next good bud on the stem. Make sure not to cut off the fresh looking green buds because those will become the flowers this season.

Hardy Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)

Candelabra®
Flare™
Moonrock®
Torch™

Each spring when the new leaves start to grow (and the threat of frost is gone) cut the entire shrub down to 12 inches above the ground. This species of Hydrangea blooms on new wood (this year’s growth) so you’ll get flowers from late summer to fall even with trimming in early spring.

Weigela

Crimson Kisses®
Maroon Swoon®
Strobe™
Tuxedo™
Afterglow™
Electric Love®
Stunner®
Peach Kisses™

Each spring when the new leaves start to grow (and the threat of frost is gone), trim off the seed pods found at the ends and along of each branch. This will speed up flowering in spring, however it isn’t required to have blooms each season.

To rejuvenate after year three, cut out a third of the branches (the thickest ones) down to the ground using sharp pruners or loppers. Repeat each spring after for a fresh, healthy and natural looking shrub. You may also trim the Weigela down to the size you want a very compact shrub for the space you have selected.

Rose

Peach Lemonade®

Roses require unique pruning. First, cut out all old branches and keep four that are relatively straight, outward leaning and green. Prune these four to 7-12 inches tall, just above an outward facing bud. Prune in spring when the buds start to grow (avoid thorn pricks by wearing gloves).

Peach Lemonade is a self-cleaning rose, meaning that it will drop dead buds (deadhead) on its own. You can enjoy lots of blooms all season without any work at all. However, trimming spent flower heads will speed up the process.

The Rest of the Collection

Prune these down to 6-12 inches above the ground when the leaves start to grow (and the threat of frost is gone). Repeat each spring for beautiful flowers and foliage.