Spring planting in Maine: 10 plants that add life and color to your property

The snow has mostly melted and the days are getting longer. Yes, it’s true, spring has actually arrived here in Maine.

With spring’s arrival comes the thought of getting your yard and garden ready for the warm weather. So, naturally, we wanted to share with you some of the plants that work well for spring planting in Maine. Our list of recommendations, courtesy of Owner Justin Hayden, contains flowers in a variety of colors and sizes, so there are options for every garden.

Coreopsis (golden glow):

This golden yellow flower can grow to heights as tall as ten inches and will last until late fall. If you’re looking for a flower to fill up a large space in your yard with color, golden glow is a good option. Plus, golden glow is a perennial that also transplants well.

Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower):

A perennial, the purple coneflower can be planted in spring but will bloom in late-summer/fall. As its name suggests, it is a pink-purple color. The flower can grow up to three feet tall, and will help attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard.

Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan):

The black-eyed Susan is a bright yellow flower with a dark center that can add color to your yard right up until the fall. There are many different varieties of black-eyed Susans, so you can pick and choose which size and which flowering type are best suited for your garden and for your gardening schedule.

Lupine:

Lupines are a favorite in Maine. Once late spring hits, the lupine’s tall, colorful flowers can be spotted everywhere from roadsides to meadows to gardens. You can plant lupines either by sowing seeds or by getting permission from a landowner to dig up and transplant wild lupines into your garden. Lupines are perennials, but generally will not bloom in the first year of planting.

Bloodroot

Native to our eastern region, the bloodroot flower has white petals and a yellow center. The flowers will bloom earlier than others in your garden, making them a good option for gardeners looking to get their yards looking cheerful as early as possible.

Iris:

There are hundreds of varieties of iris flowers, but the most common one found in gardens is the iris germanica, which can grow over two feet tall and stand out above other plants in your yard. A bright and hardy perennial, the iris is a great choice for Maine gardens.

Grape hyacinth:

The grape hyacinth earns its name due to its blue-purple bulbous flowers that just so happen to look like grapes. The plant blooms early in the spring, so it can add a pop of color and a unique looking flower to your garden before other flowers start to bloom.

Daffodils:

One of the most cheerful flowers, the bright yellow daffodil can bring life to any garden. They are an easy-to-grow perennial, but if you want them to bloom in the spring you will need to plant the bulbs in the fall. Start planning ahead for next year!

Tulips:

Like daffodils, tulip bulbs should be planted in the fall. If you have some sprouting up in your garden, expect them to re-arrive every year as they are a perennial. If you like to have an early harbinger of spring, it’s worth planting tulips in your yard in the fall. Tulips are one of the first flowers to bloom.

Pansy:

A smaller plant, pansies come in a wide variety of colors, so you can pick and choose the flowers that will fit best with the overall color scheme of your garden.

Lilac:

The scent of lilac trees beginning to bloom is a sure sign that the warmer weather has arrived to Maine. Lilacs are most often found in white and purple varieties, but do come in seven different colors. The trees can grow as tall as 15 feet, so not only can they add a lovely burst of color to a spring yard, but they could be used in some of the ways you might consider using more traditional shrubbery – privacy, growth near a boundary line, etc.

Even though we live in a colder climate, we still have many options for keeping our yards and gardens beautiful in Maine. Once winter is over, it’s worth it to celebrate by creating colorful, vibrant landscapes in your yard.

Pruning a Rhododendron

Here is a review on the pruning of a common foundation planting found around homes in Maine, the rhododendron.  Pruning a rhododendron is normally done for maintenance, shaping, and rejuvenation.

Maintenance pruning is  the removal of spent flowers and old, dead wood. It is important to remove the flower stems from the shrub once blooming has stopped. Allowing these dead flower clusters to remain on the plant can actually decrease the following year’s flowering. Cut near the bottom of the old flower cluster. Also, remove dead parts of the shrub, following the branch back to healthy wood and making your cut at that location.

Between the first frost in fall and the last frost in spring will work for trimming rhododendrons.  As the flowers diminish, prune no more than 15-20 inches off the most resilient branches. Cut back the plant to uncover the inner branches. Follow the branch down to the last whorl of leaves you want to keep and cut just over those leaves, about 1/4 inch above the topmost leaf in this cluster.

Large, unkempt rhododendrons can be cut 12-15 inches from the ground when necessary. Rhododendrons often have three or more central branches rising from the crown of the plant. Each of these primary branches should be cut at differing heights to produce a more natural-looking shrub. Cut about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch just above a dormant bud. Pruning above a cluster of two or three buds is even better.

Sometimes more severe pruning may be required, cutting to about 6 inches or so from the ground. Their adventitious buds at the bottom of the plant will send up new shoots, but keep in mind that flowering usually won’t occur for up to 2 or three years after this substantial pruning.

Lawn Mowing Tips

1. Grass height should be cut 2 1/2″ to 3″ (we recommend 3″)
2. Do not cut more than 1/3 of the height off in a single mowing.
3. Once per week is the preferable schedule to keep the grass manageable although this will be determined by growth.
4. Keeps lawn mower blades sharpened and balanced to avoid injury to the grass.
5. Mulching grass clippings (leaving on the lawn) returns valuable nutrients to lawn, when not excessive.

Call AC Yard Services today to have your property mowed by a professional local Maine company.