PLANTING
Hardy cactus. Few plants are as drought-tolerant and easy to care for as cactus and succulents, and some have particularly colorful blooms. Hundreds of varieties are even cold-hardy to at least -20°, making them good choices for xeriscapes, dry rock gardens, and rooftop plantings. Although most require sun and well-drained soil, hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus) tolerates shade during the hottest part of the day, and Opunti species withstand clay soil better than others. A large selection of hardy cactus and succulents is available from Kelly Grummons' Cold Hardy Cactus in Lakewood, Colorado.

Lilies. Bulbs of Asiatic, Aurelian, and Oriental hybrids are widely available now. All prefer deep, fertile soil that's loose and well drained — conditions that can be difficult to come by. One solution is to plant lilies in pots. Fill a container at least 12 inches wide and deep with a good-quality potting soil, and plant bulbs at the recommended depth; mulch the top of the soil. Store the pots in a sunny, out-of-the-way area, and keep the soil evenly moist. Fertilize when new growth appears in spring and at bud break. For instant color in sunny flower beds, drop pots into empty spots when buds develop. Related story: The right bulbs

Spring color. Purchase perennials in bloom and tuck them into flower beds and along walkways. The most durable include Aethionema x warleyense, Alyssum montanum, Aster alpinus, basket-of-gold, Campanula 'Birch Hybrid', catmint, common aubrieta, common thrift, evergreen candytuft (Iberis sempervirens), Gypsophila repens, moss pink, Saponaria ocymoides, and wall rockcress (Arabis caucasica). Most rebloom in late summer if cut back by half after the first flowers fade. Related story: High-Country dream

Vegetables. Start cool-season crops. Sow beets, carrots, endive, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, radishes, salad greens, Swiss chard, and turnips; keep the soil evenly moist until seeds germinate. Spread 2 inches of hay or straw between plants, adding more as seedlings grow taller until the mulch is 6 inches deep. To protect crops from late frosts and pests, cover them with floating row covers. Remove covers from peas when blossoms appear so bees can pollinate them (the other covers can be left on through harvest). Related story: Cool-season kitchen garden

MAINTENANCE
Harden off plants. Container-grown plants raised in greenhouses or shipped in from warmer regions need to acclimate before being planted outside. After purchasing plants, store pots in a sheltered area out of direct sunlight for a couple of weeks, bringing them into a shed or garage if temperatures are forecast to drop below 25°. After planting, cover with evergreen boughs or frost blankets for several weeks; remove when last chance of frost is past.

Tidy up. Cut dead stalks and leaves of perennial flowers and ornamental grasses down to the ground. Prune the following subshrubs to within a few inches of the ground: blue mist, broom (Genista), lead plant (Amorpha canescens), rabbitbrush, and southernwood. Spread organic fertilizer (follow package directions) and 1 to 2 inches of compost around each plant, then freshen mulch with an additional 2- to 3-inch layer.

GARDEN BUZZ
What's happening in gardens and what's not

In
• Single plant containers
• Overstuffed containers
• Soothing spring greens
• Brassy orange with hot pink
• Solar lighting

Out
• Tiki torches
• Meditation spaces
• Wedding-cake gazebos
• Smart controllers
• Wasteful irrigation

Fresh Dirt: Get the latest tips and planting ideas on our garden blog »