Spring flowering bulbs are a must for every garden. They provide cheerful early-season color at a time when it is most needed, both in the landscape and by our Winter weary souls. Daffodils are some of the most delightful Spring flowering bulbs! What makes them so delightful is their ease of care, diversity in their flower color, size, shape and fragrance, resistance to pests and disease, and their carefree ability to increase and return year after year, with little effort.

Daffodil Selection

Did you know that there are over 32,000 registered cultivars of daffodils? This number gives us some indication of the immense diversity of this plant. Daffodils are classified into 13 separate divisions as noted by the Royal Horticulture Society https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/plant-registration-forms/daffhortclass.pdf and some varieties are easier to find than others. As you become more familiar with, and addicted to, daffodil cultivation, you will never get tired of adding more of these bulbs to your collection, possibly seeking out a few hard-to-find daffodils.

Note: All daffodils are narcissus, but not all narcissus are daffodils. For the sake of simplicity, we will refer to all narcissus and daffodils mentioned in this article as daffodils. Their care is the same and separating them will only complicate matters.

Daffodils require a cold period to bloom. Most daffodils will flower best in USDA Hardiness Zone 7 and lower. If you live in USDA Hardiness Zone 8 and higher, there are some daffodils that will do well in your area, or you may purchase pre-chilled bulbs. It will help to work with your local Master Nursery® Garden Center to determine which daffodils do best in your particular zone.

All daffodils bloom in the Spring. Within the Spring season, some will bloom early, mid-season, and late. Knowing when a particular daffodil flowers, will allow you to plant varieties for a succession of blooms to extend the whole season. As you begin growing daffodils, it may be easiest to choose some of the most popular and easy to find varieties

Early-season Bloomers

• Barrette Browning – white petals with small orange cup, 1 to 2 feet tall, lightly fragrant.
• Rijnveld – golden yellow, 15 inches tall, delightfully fragrant.
• Tete a Tete – buttercup yellow, multi-flowering, miniature at 6 to 8 inches tall, fragrant.

Mid-season Bloomers

• Dutch Master – large, golden-yellow daffodil, 1 to 2 feet tall, lightly fragrant.
• Ice Follies – creamy white petals with a pale-yellow cup, 20 inches tall, lightly scented.
• Pink Charm – ivory petals with a coral-colored cup, 18 inches tall, fragrant.
• Professor Einstein – snow white petals with a reddish-orange cup, 16 to 18 inches tall, fragrant.

Late-season Bloomers

• Acetaea – pure white petals with a small gold cup rimmed in red, 1 to 1 ½ feet tall, fragrant.
• Cheerfulness – small flowering, multi-flowering and multi-stemmed, white double flowers with pale yellow flecks, 1 to 2 feet tall, very fragrant.
• Tahiti – large, double flowering daffodil, bright golden-yellow with bright orange ruffled cup, 16 inches tall, fragrant.
• Thalia – downward facing, pure white flowers with 2 to 3 flowers per stem, 1 foot tall, very fragrant.

Planting Daffodils

Daffodils are purchased and planted in the Fall for Spring blooms and are extremely easy to plant.

• Plant daffodils in a sunny to part-shady, well-drained site.
• Daffodils may be planted in single holes, rows, or in groupings. Amend the soil with Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region] by mixing 3 inches of the soil builder into 6 to 8 inches of native soil. This will help increase drainage and nourish bulbs.
• Place daffodil bulbs 6 inches deep, pointy side up.
• Mix one tablespoon of Bone Meal [Western Region] with the soil in the bottom of the planting hole; see product instructions. Cover this mixture with 1 inch of soil. Place the bulb into the hole then backfill with the Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder and native soil mixture. This will help stimulate strong root development.
• No need for deer or rodent protection, these bulbs are pest proof!
• Water the area after planting daffodils and wait for Spring!

With such wide diversity in one group of flowering bulbs, considerable beauty, ample fragrance, significant bloom time, and ample pest resistance, wouldn’t you agree that daffodils are delightful?

Shrubs are vital to the home garden and any landscape design. They create a transition between low growing ground cover, annuals, perennials, and trees. With the proper care, shrubs, along with most plants, may be planted at any time of the year; however, the best time for shrub planting is in the Fall. Planting in the Fall allows the gardener to take advantage of the many benefits that this season has to offer. Shrubs planted at this time of year will benefit from:

• Cool air temperatures
• Warm soil temperatures
• Consistent soil moisture
• Reduced insect pressure
• Time to establish long, strong roots

SHRUB SELECTION

It’s easy to fall in love with scores of shrubs, some for their flowers, some for their foliage, but it is prudent to check with your local Master Nursery® Garden Center for their expert advice regarding which shrubs will perform the best in your location. When asking for assistance in selecting shrubs, it is wise to provide as much information as you can to ensure a good match for you and your landscape. The following information will be helpful to your local nursery professional:

• Your personal likes and dislikes
• The size of the area allotted for a shrub
• Soil pH
• Exposure or how much sun or shade the planting site receives
• Soil moisture if too wet or too dry
• Soil structure if heavy clay or very sandy

POPULAR SHRUBS

Although these particular shrubs are not recommended for every landscape situation, we’ve listed some of our favorites that can be grown in a wide variety of conditions and hardiness zones. Some are deciduous; some are evergreen. Some are sun loving; some are shade tolerant. Some are flowering; some are grown for their colorful foliage. There are numerous species and varieties of each shrub listed, and your local Master Nursery® Garden Center’s educated staff will help you select the plants best suited to your situation.

1. Abelia
This gorgeous, semi-evergreen shrub throws out oodles of soft pink flowers from Summer through Fall. It prefers slightly acidic, rich soil that drains well. Give it full sun and grow it successfully in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9.

2. Azalea
   A shade loving, Spring blooming, evergreen shrub that flowers in shades of white, pink, rose, red and purple and favors acidic soil rich in organic matter. Azaleas will grow well in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9.

3. Butterfly Bush
   Summer flowering and sun loving, this shrub is a cutback shrub, meaning it flowers on new wood and can be cut back each year, late in the season to promote new growth for the following year. Butterfly Bush blooms are long, slender panicles in white, pink, magenta, purple, and blue. Grow in the sun in just about any well amended soil in zones 5 to 9.

4. Caryopteris
   Late Summer through early Fall, caryopteris is loaded with cornflower blue, lavender, or purple flowers along long arching branches. Grow caryopteris in a full sun location in soil that is well drained and pH neutral. This cutback shrub has unusual gray-green leaves and may be grown in zones 4 to 8.

5. Forsythia
   The quintessential Spring shrub, Forsythia heralds the season with bright yellow flowers. Grow this shrub in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8. This tough plant will do well in just about any type of soil pH and structure but will have its best start in soil rich in organic matter. Rejuvenate this hardy shrub by cutting it back to the ground.

6. Hydrangea
   A classic! This flowering shrub likes part-sun, and many thrive in salty coastal conditions. Hydrangea is available in numerous species and cultivars, so there is a selection that will do well in all USDA hardiness zones from 3 to 10. Some bloom on old wood, some on new wood. This information is vital to knowing when to prune a particular hydrangea. Hydrangeas should be grown in fertile, acidic soil and benefit from some afternoon shade in hot climates.

7. Viburnum
   Spring blooming and often producing Summer or Fall berries, Viburnums are available in over 150 species and almost unlimited cultivars, guaranteeing that there is a viburnum suitable for every landscape. Viburnums can grow in a wide variety of situations but prefer slightly acidic, rich, well-drained soil. You’ll find a viburnum to love and grow in USDA hardiness zones 2 to 9.

8. Lilac
   An American standard, lilacs provide early season, fragrant flowers in white, pink, lavender, and purple. Long-lived, Lilacs are perfect in a full sun situation and thrive in USDA hardiness zones 2 to 8. Lilacs will grow their best in slightly alkaline, moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

9. Ninebark
   Grown for its striking foliage in unusual colors from chartreuse to copper, Ninebark is the perfect, all-purpose shrub that is not fussy, likes full sun and is also cherished for its Spring flowers. Ninebark may be grown in USDA hardiness zones 2 to 8. Ninebark is tolerant of many soil conditions but prefers moist, well-drained soil that is neutral in pH to slightly acidic.

10. Rose of Sharon
    This floriferous old-time shrub is valued for its colorful blooms in white, pink, magenta, lavender, and blue when little else is blooming during the dog days of summer. This is one tough shrub that, once established, is drought tolerant. Rose of Sharon may be grown in just about any soil but will put its best foot forward if planted in rich, moist, well-drained soil with an alkaline to neutral pH and in zones 5 to 9.

11. Spirea
    Spirea is a very easy-to-grow, versatile, Spring blooming shrub that is usually planted in drifts. With so many variety choices available, you are sure to find a Spirea shrub to fit your landscape needs in zones 3 to 9. If planted in soil with good fertility that drains well, Spirea will give you years of pleasure with little yearly effort on your part.

12. Weigela
    Weigela, a deer resistant shrub, loves rich, well-draining soil enriched with plenty of compost. This old-fashioned plant has plenty of staying power. Tiny tubular flowers run the length of beautifully arching stems in the late spring in shades of pink, magenta, red, and white. Many varieties have colorful and variegated leaves. Butterflies and hummingbirds love weigela. This plant may be successfully grown in hardiness zone 2 through 8.

PLANTING SHRUBS

• The best time to plant shrubs is in the Fall.
• Dig the planting hole just as deep but two times wider than the root ball.
• Mix the excavated soil with at least 20 to 30% of its volume with Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region] and set aside.
• Position the root ball in the hole, making sure that the plant is facing best side forward and that the root ball sits level or just slightly higher than the surrounding soil surface.
• Backfill with excavated soil mixture while gently firming soil as you do.
• Create a saucer with the excess soil to direct water to the root zone.
• Sprinkle the recommended amount of Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Starter Food around the root zone of the plant to help your shrub establish a long, strong, healthy root system.
• Water well.
• Mulch to help with soil moisture retention and weed suppression.

There you have it! Sensational shrubs can grace your landscape for years to come if you simply select them properly and give them an advantageous start by amending the soil with Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region] and fertilizing with Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Starter Food. Proper planting and soil amending is key to shrub health and longevity, ensuring proper nutrition, sufficient organic matter, and good drainage as they settle in their new home and for the many years to come.

Are you considering adding a shade tree to your landscape? The benefits of trees are innumerable and include oxygen production, pollution filtering, soil stabilizing, and environmental noise reduction to name a few. Shade trees, in particular, will increase the value of your property while enhancing the beauty of your surroundings.

Did you know that Fall is the best time of year to add a new tree to your landscape? Autumn planting will allow a tree time to acclimate to its new environment and establish fresh roots at a time of year when the soil temperature is still warm and soil moisture is consistent, long before the heat and drought of summer sets in again. We are here to let you know that successful shade tree planting is easier than you think.

TREE PLANTING TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Selection

• The Arbor Day Foundation has compiled a list of the Top 10 Shade Trees that will help you begin your search for the perfect one. These are not the only shade trees available, however, and, of the trees listed, some may be more suitable to your location than others. Select an appropriate shade tree with the help of your local Master Nursery® Garden Center. Their educated and experienced staff will guide you in choosing the perfect shade tree that will perform well in your area, that will not outgrow its allotted space, and will provide you with the aesthetics that you desire.
• Be aware that bigger is not better. Whether containerized or balled and burlapped, makes sure that the tree you select is a manageable size to handle. Research shows that, with all else being equal, a smaller sized newly planted tree grows more quickly than a newly planted large one. The two will almost eventually even out.
• You should also know that it is best to plant as soon as possible after purchasing to minimize stress to the tree. If planting must be delayed, keep the root ball moist until planting time. Remember to never pull, carry, or move a tree by its trunk. This will cause damage to the root system.

Preparation

• Soil preparation is arguably the most important yet easiest aspect of proper tree planting and will guarantee the health and longevity of your shade tree. When soil is amended correctly with Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region], water drainage is increased while soil nutrition and suitable water holding capacity is greatly improved.
• Dig your planting hole twice as wide but no deeper than the plant’s root ball or container. Mix Master Nursery® Bumper Crop®Soil Builder [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region] into the excavated soil, creating a 70/30 soil/Bumper Crop blend.
• Mix the recommended amount of Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Starter Food into the excavated soil mixture. This non-burning, organic fertilizer with mycorrhiza will help the plant develop long, strong roots to ensure good health over the life span of the tree.
• If containerized, gently and carefully remove your tree by squeezing the pot, all around, allowing the plant to easily slide out of it. If the tree is root bound and difficult to remove, you may cut the container away with pruning shears before centering it in the planting hole. Be sure to loosen the roots of a pot bound plant so that they do not continue to grow in a circular fashion which will eventually lead to root strangulation.
• If the plant is balled and burlapped, place and center it in the planting hole then cut and remove all twine from the root ball and trunk. Burlap may be left in the hole, however, it should be loosened and pulled away from the tree trunk and tucked below the soil surface to decompose naturally over time. Placing some of the 70/30 soil mixture in the hole will help stabilize your plant while you adjust its position to your liking.

Planting

• After positioning your new tree, backfill the hole entirely with the reserved 70/30 soil/Bumper Crop mixture, gently firming as you do until the soil is level with the surrounding ground. With the excess soil, create a ring around the edge of the planting hole to act as a saucer that will help prevent water run-off when watering.

Watering

• Water the planting area thoroughly with a slow soaking drip. Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch around your new shade tree,keeping it about 3 inches away from the trunk to prevent rot. The addition of mulch will aid in conserving soil moisture.
• For at least the first several months after planting, continue to keep the planting area of your new shade tree moist but not wet by using a slow drip or soaker hose. Do not allow your tree to experience drought within the first year after planting. If Mother Nature does not provide adequate rainfall each week during the first year, you will have to supplement water during this critical time when the tree is developing new roots.

A shade tree will bring you years of beauty and enjoyment while adding value to your home.  These simple instructions, along with the inclusion of Master Nursery Bumper Crop Products and the expert advice from your Master Nursery® Garden Center, will ensure your success in the planting, health, and longevity of your shade tree.

As with most other plants, Fall is an excellent time to plant vegetables! Many vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower are of a higher quality when grown in the Fall, while others, like kale, develop better flavor after a frost. Spinach, chard, kale, collards, mustard, and arugula all grow rapidly and flourish at the end of the season, ideal for autumn gardening! Loose-leaf lettuces also do well. Now is the time to increase the ROI of your vegetable plot and plant cool season vegetables for the autumn table.

PREPARING THE GARDEN

• With both in-ground and raised beds, begin your Fall vegetable garden preparation by pulling out the spent Summer vegetable plants that are no longer producing.
• Remove all weeds and all other debris from the bed as well.
• GARDEN BEDS: Spread and rake out evenly, across the entire garden bed, a 3-inch layer of Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region].
• RAISED BEDS: If you plan to begin a new vegetable garden this Fall, a raised bed is the way to go. If you’re in the Eastern and Midwestern Regions, simply fill the entire bed with Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder.  If you’re in the Western Region, fill your entire bed with Masters’ Pride Professional Potting Soil.
• Following the directions on the bag, sprinkle Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Tomato and Vegetable Food on the surface of the soil.
• Till or spade the area to completely incorporate both the soil and vegetable food.
• Now you’re ready to plant!

BEST VEGETABLES FOR THE GARDEN

• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Swiss Chard
• Collards
• Kale
• Lettuce, Head
• Lettuce, Leaf
• Mustard
• Rape
• Spinach

CARING FOR THE GARDEN

It is important to know the average first frost date of your garden location. This will assist you in determining your planting deadlines so that your vegetables are producing and ready to harvest before it gets too cold. Some autumn vegetable varieties will tolerate cold better than others. Read seed packets carefully to determine what vegetables will grow best in your area and to calculate how much time you have to grow a particular one. Note that some vegetables, like greens, may be harvested when they are young and even more tender and nutritious. This will reduce the quoted days of maturity. If you happen to be short on time, purchasing small Fall vegetable plants from your local Master Nursery® Garden Center will reduce your growing time even further.

Whether starting seeds inside, direct seeding, or planting vegetable starts, always water your garden well and keep it moist, not wet, to help your plants to thrive. Mulch your bed with straw or salt hay to help moderate soil temperature and retain soil moisture.

Later in the season, some Fall crops may benefit from a little extra protection from the elements. A cold frame constructed or placed over the vegetable garden, or hoops with frost fabric on them, will help protect your vegetable garden from cold weather and frost, extending your season further.

Harvest your Fall vegetables as soon as the plants reach edible size. Even after the first frost, you’ll be able to continue harvesting many Fall vegetables to use and enjoy in your favorite autumn dishes.