Cool-season annuals to add to your spring flower beds

Plant cool-season annuals such as pansies and primulas that can tolerate a light frost in April to add color to your garden. These annuals can be used as under plantings to bulbs to complement their flowers and carry color over until summer annuals are planted in mid- to late May.

Choose plants that are well developed with lots of flowers and buds. The cool-season annuals do not have much time to develop after planting.

• Continue monitoring for any perennials and ground covers planted last year that have heaved out of the ground. The freeze-thaw cycle in spring can push plants that were installed late last year out of the ground if they were not mulched for the winter.

• It has been a rainy spring so far and it is best to avoid working in the garden when soil conditions are wet to minimize soil compaction. Gardens take longer to dry out at this time of year due to the cooler temperatures.

• Install bare-root plant materials as soon as you can after they arrive in the mail. Unpack plants and make sure the packing around the roots is moist. Store the plants in a cool place that will not freeze until they can be planted.

It is a good idea to soak the roots of trees and shrubs in water for a short period of time before planting. Do not let the roots dry out. Prune only broken branches and roots before planting. There is no need to prune to compensate for transplant shock.

• Plants are arriving for sale in garden centers. Select plants that are well suited to your garden's growing conditions and that fulfill your design criteria to help ensure a successful garden.

Putting the right plant in the right location will result in a more attractive garden that will have fewer problems and require less maintenance.

• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.