Right now my spring shade garden is breathtakingly gorgeous and it only took 15 years. Well don’t let that hold you back, I started with seeds, seedlings, gift plants and volunteers, but I love it. If you want a spring garden in a sheltered, part sun environment – plant it now. You wont’ find plants like Bleeding Heart, Columbine, Sweet Woodruff, Forget-me-not and Solomon’s Seal at the end of the season. Interplant this bed with part shade perennials that flower later, and remember to add bulbs in the fall. Sketch out your plan and use plant markers. Take notes over the season about what went right or wrong.
Its been very rainy here on Boston’s South Shore, so be careful not to drown your plants, planting in soaking wet soil is not advisable. Wait a few days, it’ll get drier and warmer and the soil will be able to hold more air. Many late spring and early summer flowers, veggies and herbs want the soil to be 60 degrees before planting and it isn’t yet! Once again, it’s looks like Memorial Day will be a good timing to plant those warm weather crops.
I just saw the red lily leaf beetle for the first time. If you have red beetles on your Asian lilies, bring a coffee can of soapy water into the garden, pick off the beetle by hand and drop into the can or it will eat it’s way thru all your foliage. Another suggested control is spraying with Neem, as directed. The more you know the better you’ll grow.
Happy Gardening!
