Flower garden tips for Southeast Michigan

7 flowers tips

1. Plant spring bulbs in fall

   Tulips, daffodils, crocus and alliums go in during fall, generally once soil has cooled (around late September through October in Southeast Michigan) and before the ground freezes. Plant pointed end up, about two to three times as deep as the bulb is tall, then water them in.

2. Choose bulbs critters skip

   Squirrels and deer often go after tulips and crocus. Daffodils and alliums are usually left alone, so they're a good choice for beds that get a lot of wildlife traffic.

3. Let bulb foliage fade on its own

   After bulbs bloom, snip off the spent flower but leave the leaves until they yellow. The foliage feeds the bulb for next year's flowers, so don't braid, tie or mow it early.

4. Plant tender annuals after the last frost

   Wait to set out frost-tender annuals such as impatiens, begonias and zinnias until after the last frost, typically mid-May in Macomb County. Cool-season flowers like pansies can go out earlier in spring and handle a light frost.

5. Deadhead for more blooms

   Pinch or snip faded flowers back to the next bud or set of leaves to keep many annuals and perennials blooming longer. In fall you can leave seed heads on coneflowers and black-eyed Susans for birds and winter interest.

6. Divide crowded perennials

   When a clump flowers less or dies out in the middle, it's time to divide. A general rule: divide summer- and fall-blooming perennials in spring as growth emerges, and spring bloomers in late summer or early fall, leaving several weeks to root in before the ground freezes.

7. Match plants to your sun

   “Full sun” means at least six hours of direct sun a day. Watch your beds for a day before buying. Michigan natives like black-eyed Susan, wild bergamot (bee balm) and New England aster handle sunny spots and support pollinators.