Plant bulbs in the fall for a low-effort, gorgeous flower garden in early spring I have one of those flower gardens that people pause and take pictures of. But every time someone passes my garden and compliments my flowers,

Once tulips and daffodils flower in the spring, you can cut off the faded bloom but leave the foliage to turn yellow so it can make flowers for next year. Then remember that these bulbs like to be kept dry all summer — the perfect solution for someone who would forget to water them anyway.

As we prepare our backyard for the seasons to come, here is a professional gardener's selection of blossoms you'll want to plant this fall

Squill are lesser-known spring bloomers, but these delicate white, blue or blue-and-white striped flowers are delightful. Plant them in large numbers; they also naturalize and spread readily. They’re extremely cold hardy and bloom in late winter to early spring.

Lily bulbs can be planted in spring, but fall planting is best for early blooms. They luckily are adaptable plants that do well with spring and autumn planting. Spring-planted lilies sprout quicker, but fall planting can help lilies grow stronger root systems and flower earlier in the year.

Best time for planting: Aim to plant bulbs after the first frost but before the ground freezes solid. This is usually in mid-October to late November for colder climates like USDA Zone 6a, such as in Westminster, Colorado. Timing your bulb planting before the harsh winter temperatures strike allows for fall root growth.

After planting in the fall, you’ll enjoy an array of flower colors that combine nicely with other spring-flowering trees, shrubs and flowers.

A cool-season flower that can be set out in early spring, sweet alyssum fades in the summer heat, but its clusters of tiny white, pink, or purple blooms will likely cover your garden again in the fall when temperatures stabilize.

Fall may feel like an obvious time to do some serious trimming and pruning of your landscaping and gardens. As the weather tiptoes towards winter, you may have the urge to cut back plants so everything looks tidy in the spring.