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Planting times vary, so check your hardiness zone. But as a general rule, earlier in the fall is better than later. Bulbs need a little time to establish strong root systems, before the frosts of winter set in and the bulbs enter a new cycle in preparation for spring blooming. Remember to plant bulbs in an area that drains well and water newly planted bulbs to help those roots get going.

When planing your bulbs, plant them 3 times as deep as the bulb is long. And remember to plant pointed side up! For example:

• Small bulbs like crocus -- plant them about 5 inches deep.
• Big bulbs like daffodils, hyacinths and tulips -- plant those about 8 inches deep.

Find out more on how close together you should plant them.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

The best time to plant chrysanthemums is in the spring, but with care they can be planted in the fall as well. Many people buy potted mums in the fall because they are a great fall décor for your yard. Fall planting should take place early on – at least six weeks before a killing frost. This allows the roots time to become established. Mums planted too late in the fall don’t consistently make it through the winter because the plants don’t have the time to extend their roots beyond the pot-bound root ball into the soil.

One option you can try if you buy fall mums close to the frost date is to winter your mum in a cool, dry location that doesn’t freeze (garage, porch, basement etc). Cut off the foliage and water lightly once a month so that you keep the plants barely moist. Once the threat of frost is past, plant in the ground and water well.

Click here to find out when to fertilize your mums.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

To keep your potted plants looking their best, just follow these simple tips.

Use the right container

A container should provide ample room for soil and roots, provide drainage, and be attractive with the plant it holds.

The container should be in proportion - in size and appearance - to the plants and its setting. Make sure the pot will be large enough once the plant reaches full height; otherwise, the roots will become crowded and the plant will never be vigorous.

Use proper potting soil

Commercial prepared potting soils are designed to best promote root aeration and drainage, and water and nutrient retention. Commercial soils also help avoid insects, disease and weeds.

Select the right plant for your area

Growing a plant in a container does not change its basic light or moisture requirements, so keep sun-loving plants in full sun and others in partial sun.

Water correctly

Containers usually dry out very quickly, especially in full sun. Daily or even twice daily watering may be necessary. Use your fingers to gauge the soil, then apply enough to run through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, to thoroughly and uniformly wet the soil. Click here for some watering tips.

If you’re planting in the early fall, you will not need to use this technique when you first plant them, but, as they come up again in the spring, you’re going to want to use a technique known as pinching. This means periodically removing the growing tip of the mum, as well as the first set of leaves. You’ll want to start when the new growth is four to six inches tall. Pinch off the end (one inch) of each stem once it becomes six inches tall. Do so every two or three weeks, through the end of June or early July. Continuing any longer than that will prevent the flowers from forming.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

It retains moisture in the soil, reduces the growth of weeds, protects ground temperature, prevents erosion, attracts earthworms, enriches the soil and adds to the beauty of the planting.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

To do their best, mums need full sun. Too little sun will result in tall, leggy plants that won’t bloom as prolifically.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Mulch is a the first line of defense against weeds, but knowing how many bags you need seems tricky. So here is a formula.

For 2" Deep Mulch Layer: Multiply the number of square feet by 0.2
For 3" Deep Mulch Layer: Multiply the number of square feet by 0.25
For 4" Deep Mulch Layer: Multiply the number of square feet by 0.3

This is the "down" number. It stimulates cell building and root growth and is particularly beneficial in helping seedlings, flowers and vegetables to develop.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

The secret to growing the perfect garden is neither luck nor a green thumb. Rather, putting the right plant in the right place is the one underlying rule for planting success. Plants will thrive in locations that provide proper light, soil, nutrients, drainage, moisture and protection. Here are a few tips:

Map It Out

Just as you wouldn't jump head-first into remodeling a room, take the same care when designing your garden. Surf the Web, read books and consult magazines for inspiration. Draw a detailed map of your gardening space, laying out planting locations first and noting particular conditions like sunny and shady spots, drainage issues, and measurements of the area.

Consult Experts

Good gardeners rely on expert advice. Visit your local hardware store or nursery and ask the experts to guide you in planning the garden. Show them the map of your site, and inquire about plants that will naturally thrive in your site's specific conditions.

Don't Buy on a Whim

Resist the temptation to buy plants before you discover what types will grow successfully in your garden. Most plants have a "tag" that describes their specific needs. Be sure you know a plant's mature height and width; if it is "hardy" in your climate zone; how much sunlight it needs; and what type of soil and drainage it requires. Above all, know your soil pH, as this is a significant factor in the health of your plants.

Don't Let Invasive Plants Take Over

Some plants can actually "invade" your garden, creating unfavorable growth conditions for the other plants. If you're a beginner, find out which plants may harm, rather than help, your garden and be prepared to combat them.

Get Creative

Once you know all the basics, turn your creative side loose. Have fun picking out colors, sizes, shapes and textures of plants. Remember that what you select will create an overall mood and theme to your garden. If you want a vibrant, lush look, go for warm and bright colors and plants that bloom big. If a more serene, peaceful look is your preference, opt for cool color patterns, and small and dainty blooms.

Credit: Lou Manfredini's Tips From the Tool Box, Ace Hardware

Simply fertilizing the lawn and prepping the power equipment is insufficient to ensure that garden areas will thrive during the spring and hot summer months. Success in the garden is the result of know-how that includes proper soil cultivation and improvement, pest control, pruning and irrigation well before new plant growth emerges.

Plant and soil requirements vary in different regions of the country. I always suggest that homeowners contact their local county co-operative extension agency or neighborhood hardware dealer for recommendations on the appropriate grasses, fertilizers, pest and disease controls and plants. But here are a few more professional insights as to ways you can achieve better growing conditions in your yard:

Test the Soil

This easy, but usually overlooked step will reveal the needs your soil has for improvement. For example, the pH level indicates the acidity or alkalinity of the soil; that will dictate the types of plants that will grow best in a particular location. Without knowing the soil make-up, you could inadvertently apply the wrong combinations of nutrients or amenders or plant the wrong varieties. Submit soil samples for analysis to the county extension agency. You also may obtain test kits at your local Ace Hardware store.

Amend and Cultivate Soil

Heavily compacted soil hinders the health of plants. They prefer well-drained, loamy soil. Add compost to flower, shrub and vegetable beds and turn over or till the soil to break it up. Do not cultivate soil when it is wet. That will compact it even more and disturb beneficial microorganisms. Aerate lawns using power equipment designed for that purpose.

Fertilize Properly

Improper fertilizing can do more harm than good to plants. Never use a single type of fertilizer universally. Lawns, shrubs, trees, flowers and vegetables each have specific requirements. Soil conditions (based on testing) also dictate specific needs. Also, fertilizing at the wrong time, too little or too frequently will have a negative result. Consult local experts and product labels for specific recommendations.

Control Pests and Diseases

Indiscriminant spraying and dusting of pesticides can be harmful to plants, pets and humans. Controls are formulated for specific purposes and should be used only as recommended on the product's label. As a first step, determine what pests or diseases your plants have by providing samples to your extension service or the garden center manager at your local Ace store.

Irrigate

Plants are like people when it comes to water. Too little and they dehydrate; too much and they drown. As a general rule, most plants prefer water at their "feet," not on their "heads." So, water at soil level, not by overhead spraying an entire bed. It is important to know when to water. An inexpensive moisture meter, available at a hardware store, can be used to indicate the need. Simply push the prong into the soil to various depths around a plant and read the meter.

Mulch

Covering a soil bed with the proper mulch will retain moisture that will benefit plants and maintain better soil conditioning. Three to 6 inches of straw has proved effective as a mulch. Bark gives up moisture quickly except in humid climates where, in turn, it can mildew. Rock is risky because it absorbs, retains and radiates heat, which can damage plants.

Prune Selectively

Some plants prefer pruning in early spring, while others can be trimmed during summer or fall. Generally, anything that flowers in the spring should be pruned after flowers die off. There are exceptions, however, so consult your local extension service or the garden center manager at your local Ace store to learn what those are when in doubt.

Check Soil Temperatures Before Planting

Interestingly, horticulturists have found that how well plants adapt to transplanting or seeding depends upon the temperature of the soil at the time of planting. In some cases, plantings before the last frost do well; in other cases the soil must be at a consistent temperature (say 55ºF) for a period of time to achieve maximum results.

By following each of these procedures faithfully each year you will be rewarded with an even better lawn and yard than you imagined.

Credit:  Lou Manfredini's Tips From the Tool Box, Ace Hardware

Mature trees seldom require fertilizer because of their extensive root system. As long as a tree or shrub appears healthy and is growing at an acceptable rate - if tree shoots, for example, are growing more than 6 inches per year - there is no need to give it any additional fertilizer.

A soil test is the most reliable way to tell whether it's necessary to fertilize trees and shrubs. Ideally, a soil sample should be taken before trees are planted. Additional samples should then be taken every three to five years to check whether nutrients are lacking.

Without a soil test, certain visible symptoms can signal nutrient deficiencies in trees and shrubs. If a tree's annual shoot growth is less than 6 inches or regular foliage color appears off, then it may need some nutrient help.

In general, apply fertilizers to plants at the beginning of the growing season. For deciduous trees, fertilize when leaves appear; and for evergreens, when it turns cold.

Distress signals from shrubs, however, don't automatically call for fertilizer. The plant may have been unhealthy to begin with, unadapted to its new home, carelessly planted or improperly watered.

If you determine that fertilizing is necessary, apply in early spring or in autumn after shoot growth ceases; plants take in few nutrients during periods of active shoot growth.

Choose a slow-release fertilizer, which releases nitrogen over a long period of time, reducing the chances of overdosing or burning plants.

Always provide adequate water when fertilizing. Plants can't properly use the fertilizer without adequate water and some fertilizers may damage roots and scorch leaves if the plant isn't hydrated enough.

Don't apply liquid fertilizer at the same time you plant. Some root hairs will break, and the fertilizer will burn them. Wait two to three weeks after planting before you fertilize.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

These plants last one season and die out.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

They are usually less expensive than their organic counterparts. They can be applied by simply spreading them around plants or using a spreader to apply them to a lawn.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.