When spring rolls around, we all develop at least a fleeing desire for a green thumb. We can’t help but appreciate the beauty of Dogwoods, Redbuds, Azaleas, and charming waves of Creeping Phlox that make a home’s curb appeal really sing.
From the first glance at the stunning Tulip beds at Evangel University to the bright yellow Forsythia and Daffodils that light up the rolling Ozarks landscape, we’re prone to wonder why we haven’t planted some of these beauties in our own yards.
It seems easy enough to drop some bulbs in the ground or transfer flowering plants to patio pots, add water, and watch the fun. But successful gardening is much trickier than that. As a matter of fact, it can be so overwhelming, many of us simply give up and kick the can down the road for another year, content to admire the neighbor’s handiwork.
You could hire a landscaper, sure. But adding color to the home isn’t rocket science, and there are places to go to get plenty of good advice if you have it in you to do it yourself. Read on for a few tips and resources to help get you on your way to enjoying your yard and patio for months to come.
Let’s start by evaluating the space and setting a few goals:
- Will you be planting in the ground, or container gardening?
- Is the area in question a sunny or shady spot?
- What type of soil do you have to work with?
- How does one evaluate a safe planting distance from a house or sidewalk?
- What sort of drainage does the space offer?
- How much time and effort are you willing to devote to watering and weeding?
See there? Plenty to think about. The good news is that there are people all over the Ozarks who think about this for a living and are eager to help.
A great place to start is the Missouri Master Gardener Extension Program. You can study to become one yourself, but most of us just ask the experts. If you visit the website, you’ll find all sorts of resources to point you in the right direction. You can ask questions online, arrange a soil test, and there’s even a hotline to call if you need help. Trained Master Gardeners and volunteers are on hand to answer questions and are happy to get back to you with answers whether online or in person. To make the process easier, the experts suggest you look over THIS LIST of questions first.
The Master Gardeners of Greene County Hotline can be reached at:
Phone: 417-874-2963
Email: hotline@mggreene.org
Or fill out this form online: https://mggreene.org/ask-a-master-gardener/
The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Gardening by Month is a month-to-month guide that both teaches and troubleshoots.
And if you’ve ever wished you could see a Master Gardener’s Garden up close, you can. There’s a Demonstration Garden inside the Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park at 2400 South Scenic which includes fruit, herbs, kitchen gardens, ornamental grass, mixed borders, water gardens, and more. It’s located north of the Botanical Center and is open for strolling from dawn to dusk. To make the learning process even more interesting, each segment has its own audio tour you can access by phone. You might even get lucky, and run into a volunteer tending to the garden during your visit. By the way, all the produce grown here is donated to the Ozarks Food Harvest.
If you haven’t spent much time at the Springfield Botanical Center, take some time to look around. Explore the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, The Butterfly Garden, The Gray/Campbell Farmstead, the gift shop, the reference library, and more. Garden Tram Tours are back too and will run Tuesday and Wednesday mornings in April and May. Don’t fret if you can’t make it, they’ll make it happen for you with a private tour. Call 417-891-1515 for more information.
Now that you’ve been inspired, it’s time to plant. When it comes to selecting bushes, flowers, and trees for your outdoor spaces there are plenty of places to shop. Among our favorites is a company that’s near and dear to the Ozarks—Wickman’s Garden Village. It was established in 1922 as a greenhouse, and now offers a nursery, garden center, flower shop, gifts, gardening supplies plus landscaping and irrigation services. They can also help you build a water garden and stock it with aquatic plants, and even koi or goldfish.
The staff can advise you on what and where to plant, depending on your home’s unique characteristics and your desires. Not sure? They’ll come to take a look and help you figure it all out.
Wickman’s expansive facility at 1345 S. Fort Avenue in Springfield is open seven days a week and is fun to browse. Be sure to check their website and Facebook page for events, sales, and educational seminars.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just like the idea of digging in the dirt, now is the perfect time to clean out those flower beds and patio pots and get to work. And don’t worry… from farmer’s markets to roadside stands to garden stores, you’ll find inspiration everywhere you look right here in the Ozarks.
No one loves the Ozarks more than Murney Associates. Our real estate agents are here to help you navigate one of the most important decisions you’ll make. We encourage you to look at our market updates which highlight real estate trends in Springfield, MO, and the surrounding area, as well as our rankings in home sales. Thanks to our clients for making Murney Associates, Realtors the number one real estate agency in Southwest Missouri.