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.

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,

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.

The anticipation of cheerful spring bulbs can keep the gardener going through the dull winter months. John Hoyland advises on what to plant for every situation, from gravel to orchards, sun, shade or in pots.

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.