Just in time for spring break to be over, nice weather has arrived—and timing notwithstanding, what a welcome sight to see so much sun and pleasant temperatures in the forecast! As the ground begins to warm, tulips burst into bloom, and spring-flowering trees steal the show, now is the time to enjoy spending time planting in the garden. Let’s dig in!

First, the early days of warm spring weather can be so tempting to get everything planted and growing. And I understand—after what has been a cold, delayed spring compared to recent years, we all struggle to restrain ourselves when we get a sunny day or two. Just remember, though, that even if the air temperatures are warm, it can take several weeks of warmer temperatures to heat the soil sufficiently for some plants to thrive—especially tomatoes, peppers, and squashes. Just like cold lakes and rivers pose dangers to eager swimmers in early summer, cold soil can shock or kill some flowers and vegetables if they’re planted too early.

Keeping that in mind, planting in pots is one way to get a head start on planting for the season, as containers absorb the warmth of the sun and can keep plant roots warmer than in the ground. Being careful to plant only those flowers that can handle cool overnight air temperatures (and waiting until late April or early May for the rest), now is a great time to plant frost-tolerant annuals like one of my favorites, Senetti daisies. These annuals are most commonly found in shockingly-intense shades of pink, magenta, and purple, and they’re sure to make a statement at your front door with their loads of blooms through late spring and again in late summer.

Next, this month is the perfect time to get cold-hardy crops planted in your vegetable garden. If you are like one of the millions of people who took up gardening last year, chances are your foray into gardening included some form of growing your own food—and good for you! While you may not be ready to go off the grid and live on the bounty of your own harvest quite yet, you likely found out how rewarding and tasty it can be to grow something yourself.

While we wait for warmer weather to plant some things, now is an excellent time to plant onions, peas, lettuces, and “cole crops,” a family of vegetables that includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and brussels sprouts. All of these can tolerate cool temperatures and even frost, so even if we dip below freezing yet this month, you can rest well, knowing your veggies are fine.

Prior to planting your garden, be sure to amend the soil with some fresh compost. Vegetables are heavy feeders, meaning they will need plenty of nutrients to grow and produce an abundant crop, so if you haven’t already, spread an inch or two of Smit’s compost over your garden and work it into the top four to six inches of soil before planting. If you’re starting from scratch with raised beds and aren’t sure how much compost to use, I typically recommend a three-quarters topsoil, one-quarter compost ratio for raised beds.

Finally, now is a great time to plant shrubs, trees, and perennials around the yard. Walking through a nursery in the spring is for gardeners like being a sweet-toothed kid in a candy store! Every year I fall in love with heuchera all over again, and with their unique colors, who can resist? Proven Winners’ new ‘Toffee Tart,’ with its amber-toned leaves, and ‘Peachberry Ice’ with silvered orange foliage both look almost too good to be true, and paired with a purple-leaved variety like ‘Wildberry’ they add seemingly impossible colors to both sunny and shady areas around your yard.

With sunny, warmer weather finally here, enjoy the feeling of dirt under your fingernails once again and be invigorated by a new season!