Growing plants doesn’t have to be challenging: with proper care and knowledge about the species you want to add to your garden, you shouldn’t have issues.
However, you might have to adapt your dreams to your hardiness zone. Indeed, knowing what to plant and when might make a considerable difference to get long-lasting results in your garden.
If you live in Wisconsin, you may know that the state includes three USDA hardiness zones: zone 3 in the Northwestern areas, zone 4 in the central regions, and zone 5 falls in the southern and easter parts of the state.
Each offers different conditions to grow plants, which can be exciting. But when can you plant flowers outside in Wisconsin? And what should you know about the types of flowers you can grow in this region? Keep reading to find that out!
When To Plant Flowers Outside in Winsconsin?
You may not know this but planting flowers outside also depends on which type of plant you want to add to your garden. For instance, perennials or annuals have different requirements.
Also, some plants might be sensitive to frost, while others may not. So, even if it may sound strange, there are bad times to plant your flowers. Exposing plants to the outside environment before they are ready might make them weak while starting them too late might halt your plants’ growth!
For this reason, you must always ensure you check your species’ needs before deciding to plant them outdoors.
Because Wisconsin includes three hardiness zones, it might be challenging for us to tell you a specific date when you should plant flowers outdoors. After all, it will depend on the part of the state you live in.
Also, don’t forget to check the local weather: climate can drastically change from one year to the next, and relying too much on predictions might not be the best thing!
Check your area’s last frost date and plan to plant your flowers after that day. In Wisconsin, May is probably the best month for planting flowers outside! But, of course, that depends on which flower you want to grow. Jump to the next section to learn more about each type of flower’s requirements.
Planting Perennials
When planting perennial flowers in your garden, you must pay attention to each species’ requirement. Keep in mind that it might be challenging to start them from seed.
However, under the ideal conditions, they will bloom for a couple of years as their roots survive underground, even during the winter. If you are planting perennials from seed, start them in the spring.
In Wisconsin, temperatures can be extreme, so we suggest you plant your seeds indoors. Be patient: you might have to wait up to four weeks before germination.
On the contrary, you should add mature plants to your garden in the fall. Check the first frost date in your area. Plant your flowers about six weeks before that to allow your plants enough time to establish themselves in your yard.
Planting Annuals
Annual flowers germinate, grow, and bloom in one season and die the next. You can grow them from seeds: they usually take between 6 to 8 weeks to grow and be ready to transplant.
However, there are always some exceptions. Make sure you check with your plant’s species’ needs and requirements. Don’t forget that most annuals are sensitive to frost: always wait until the last spring frost date to transplant your annuals outside.
Because that might vary each year, make sure you also check your local weather. Also, we suggest you gradually expose your seedlings to outdoor conditions by hardening them off. The process is simple and only takes about a week, but it will ensure your plants grow stronger.
Bulbs
If you want to plant some bulbs to add a splash of color to your garden, make sure you do so at the right time of the year. Don’t forget that bulbs come in two varieties: spring flowering and summer blooming.
As you may suppose, spring bulbs bloom during the spring, while summer ones produce flowers in the summer.
Plant spring bulbs in the fall (a couple of weeks before the first frost) to give them enough time to establish before dealing with low temperatures. Instead, plant summer bulbs in the spring (a couple of weeks after the last frost).
Related Article: When to Plant a Garden?