Planting Bulbs
Bulb planting should also begin now. There are bulbs for almost every area of your garden. Make sure to plant them at their correct depth (usually 3-4 times the height of the bulb) and water to get them established. Bulbs can fill those extra special spots that you find after cleaning up your garden. All of these spring blooming bulbs are easy to grow and require little care.

Glory-of-the-Snow One of the first bulbs to bloom is glory-of-the-snow (Chiondoxa). When paired with scilla, chiondoxa makes a beautiful way to start the spring growing season.

Crocus, grown in masses in rock gardens, perennial borders or in clumps at your doorstep are also wonderful way to usher in spring. Crocus work best when planted as bouquets and need a sun or part-sun spot with well-drained soil.

Daffodils are for every garden.They are deer resistant, which makes them perfect for woodland settings. They too need a well-drained soil and look great planted in groups in a perennial garden.

Tulips in your perennial garden combine beautifully with creeping phlox, pansies, bleeding hearts, and lilacs. They work well in both informal gardens and in more structured formal garden settings. Growing them in between your perennials, will help hide their yellowing foilage after bloom.

Allium are ornamental onions. Their beautiful flowers create a fabulous show in the garden. Shorter varieties of allium look great in a rock garden or along a garden path. The taller varieties are the show piece of your garden. They create a wonderful vertical display. They grow best in full sun or very light shade, and very well-drained soil.

Add Flavor to Your Garden
Herbs add interest to all of your dishes

Herbs don't need much space to grow and can be planted indoors or out. Add them into an existing vegetable garden, flowerbeds or containers. Parsley and chives make great border plants. A row of potted herbs looks nice on a deck or patio. Pots of herbs are also simple to grow indoors and can be grown all year. Growing conditions vary depending on each type of herb, but a general rule is to plant your herbs in well-drained soil where they will get at least a half-day of sun.

Wherever you decide to plant your herbs, make sure they are in a place where you can easily get what you need for your cooking. Make sure to snip and use your herbs often to encourage them to grow full and bushy. Never trim off more than one-third of the plant. At the end of the growing season you can harvest your herbs to dry or freeze them. It is best to harvest your herbs in the morning when their oil content is at it's highest.

For more information on particular herbs, ask the staff at Chestnut Hill Nursery. They carry all of the common varieties like thyme, basil and oregano along with gourmet herbs like lemon basil, African basil and chocolate mint.

Cook Like a Chef
- Add tarragon to any chicken salad recipe
- Layer tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil then drizzle with olive oil and vinegar for a fresh appetizer or light dinner
- Snip chives into cream cheese to add flavor to your morning bagel
- Parsley freshens up tuna salad
- Marinate steak with rosemary and olive oil
- Make your own fresh salsa with chopped tomatoes, peppers, onions, jalapeños and cilantro

Create an Explosion of Color
by Decorating with Flowers

Flowers are a simple and long-lasting way to decorate for all of your outdoor get-togethers! Create a vivid backdrop with bursts of color from annuals, hanging baskets and container gardens. Chestnut Hill Nursery's professional garden designer has created containers and planters making it easy for you to add color to your yard.

Summer blooming climbing vines bring their vibrant color off the ground. Vines bring a vertical element to your garden design -- whether you climb them on fences, poles, your house or trellises. Chestnut Hill Nursery carries many varieties including Jasmine, Mandevilla (in 4 colors), Morning Glory, Clematis, Candy Corn and Mexican Flame Vines.

Don’t forget shrubs, bushes and trees add blasts of color throughout the summer. Talk to the knowledgeable staff at Chestnut Hill Nursery to find the colors you are looking for and to learn when certain trees and shrubs bloom.

Mulch creates a great background to set off all of your brilliantly colored flowers. We have bagged and bulk mulch for pick up or delivery.

When designing your gardens think about how and where you entertain. Plant your flowers where they can be seen. Create interesting and fun arrangements that get your guests talking. If you want some help with your design, talk to our garden designers about a free at-home consultation. We also offer full installation services.

Container Mania!
Container gardens are still as popular as ever. They are the perfect way to brighten up your front entrance, accent a deck or patio or serve as a focal point in an area that is lacking color. At Chestnut Hill Nursery we have a wide range of plants and flowers perfect for containers. While you are picking up your plants, don't forget to get containers. If you love the look of container gardens, but don't want to do the work, we have a large selection of plants and flowers already potted for you.

The quality of your potting soil is just as important as the flowers and container you choose.

Don't make the mistake of cutting corners by using ordinary soil from your garden or by purchasing poor quality soil. Containers require a specific soil mix that will provide your plantings with a good balance of moisture retention and also adequate drainage.

Getting prepared for warmer weather
Now that the days are getting longer it's a good time to start cleaning all of the dead organic matter around your perennials. Prune back your perennials and cut your summer grasses within 2 inches of ground cover. Clean your beds of any rotting and molding to assist in keeping them disease and pest free. Measure your beds to determine how many yards of mulch you will need to purchase to spruce up your yard.

You can also start preparing for your new plants by disposing of the water-logged soils in your plant containers. Get your garden tools ready by disinfecting them with a mild bleach solution. Don't forget your pruning tools!