Fall Planting

Fall Planting for Spring Colour

As the days shorten, the leaves change colour and the gardens that have been meticulously maintained all summer begin to fade. Now is the time to put some effort into your garden for an early spring payback. Planting bulbs now are a sure way to have some early spring colour in your gardens.

Early spring flowering varieties will often begin to emerge not long after the snow has melted and the soil begins to warm, particularly if they have been planted in a sunny location. Crocuses are early bloomers and can provide the first welcomed signs of spring. Other successful and popular choices for our climate include daffodil, tulip and hyacinth. These are all spring flowering plants that can withstand late frosts and will naturally die back around the time you begin to plant summer annuals. These flowers are not typically grown by homeowners from seed, rather they are purchased as bulbs that are readily available at most local nurseries and garden centres. For these bulbs to bloom in the spring, they must go through an extended cold period. In our climate, it is best to plant them in the fall so they can over-winter in your garden.

As you are walking through many of the City’s park spaces you may notice “empty” beds that were once full of summer colour. Please be mindful to stay off them and keep pets away. Many of these beds are full of bulbs that have been planted to provide our park spaces with early spring blooms - a welcomed sign of warmer days ahead.

Questions? Concerns?

Contact Access St. John’s online or by telephone before visiting City Hall.

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