LATE NEXT YEAR. FOR MANY, MEMORIAL DAY IS THE UNOFFICIAL START TO SUMMER. IT’S ALSO WHEN PEOPLE WITH GREEN THUMBS CAN FINALLY GET BACK IN THE GARDEN. 12 NEWS SUE CARTER HAS THE TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE SURE YOUR FLOWERS FLOURISH THIS SEASON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. GARDENERS WITH ARMS FULL OF VEGGIES AND FLOWERS ARE GEARING UP FOR THE SEASON. I GOT A LITTLE RETAINING WALL, SO I GOT SOME GREAT LAKES NATIVE PLANT PLANTS THERE. SAL ABRAMS IS ONE OF DOZENS OF PEOPLE GETTING WHAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR GARDENS AT PLANT LAND. HE, LIKE MANY OTHERS WITH GREEN THUMBS, PLANT IN LATE MAY. YEAH, YEAH, USUALLY THE MEMORIAL DAY KICKOFF. MOST THINGS ARE READY TO BE OUTSIDE PLANT LAND. CO-OWNER KAREN JORGENSEN AGREES. USUALLY, MEMORIAL DAY IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO PLANT FLOWERS IN WISCONSIN, AND SHE OFFERS CRUCIAL TIPS TO MAKE SURE FLOWERS THRIVE AND BLOOM. I WOULD SAY THE GROUND IN THEIR GARDEN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, SO THEY SHOULD AMEND THEIR SOIL BEFORE THEY PLANT. AND RIGHT NOW, NOTHING NEEDS EXTRA CARE EXCEPT WATCHING THE TEMPERATURES AT NIGHT. AND IF IT’S GOING TO BE A COLD NIGHT, MAYBE TOSS A SHEET OVER A BED SHEET OR A BLANKET. NOTHING. PLASTIC THAT WILL PROTECT THEM AT NIGHT. KAREN SAYS MEMORIAL DAY IS PRIME TIME TO PLANT FLOWERS. YOU REALLY DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PLANTING VEGETABLES LIKE BROCCOLI AND LETTUCE. THOSE ARE GOOD TO GO. THAT ALL CAN BE PLANTED RIGHT AWAY IN THE SPRING. CAULIFLOWER, BROCCOLI THEY ALL LIKE IT COLD, SO SAME CONCEPT THOUGH, DON’T YOU? DON’T NEED TO COVER ANY OF THAT NOW. THAT’S GOOD TO GO. REPORTING I
Memorial Day marks prime planting time for Milwaukee gardeners
As Memorial Day signals the unofficial start of summer, Milwaukee gardeners are gearing up to plant flowers and vegetables, with experts offering tips for successful gardening.
Updated: 8:39 PM CDT May 25, 2025
Memorial Day is known as the unofficial kickoff to summer and the time when people with green thumbs can start tending to their gardens in Milwaukee.Gardeners with arms full of veggies and flowers are gearing up for the season. “I got a retaining wall, so I got some Great Lakes natives to plant the plants there,” said Sal Abrams, one of dozens of people getting what they need for their personal gardens at Plant Land. He, like many others, plants in late May, noting, “Usually the Memorial Day kickoff.”Plant Land owner Karen Jorgensen-Matt agrees that Memorial Day is the best time of year to plant flowers. She offers crucial tips to make sure flowers thrive and bloom for summer. “I would say, the ground in their garden is the most important thing. So they should amend their soil before they plant. And, right now, nothing needs extra care except watching the temperatures at night,” she said.Jorgensen-Matt advises gardeners to protect their plants during cold nights by covering them with a bed sheet or blanket, avoiding plastic. “If it’s going to be a cold night, maybe toss a sheet over a bed sheet or a blanket, nothing plastic, that will protect them at night,” she said.She also noted that Memorial Day is prime time to plant flowers, and gardeners don’t need to worry about covering vegetables like broccoli and lettuce, as those are good to go. “That all can be planted right away in the spring. Cauliflower, broccoli. They all like the cold,” she said, adding, “You don’t need to cover any of that. That’s good to go.”
MILWAUKEE —
Memorial Day is known as the unofficial kickoff to summer and the time when people with green thumbs can start tending to their gardens in Milwaukee.
Gardeners with arms full of veggies and flowers are gearing up for the season.
“I got a retaining wall, so I got some Great Lakes natives to plant the plants there,” said Sal Abrams, one of dozens of people getting what they need for their personal gardens at Plant Land.
He, like many others, plants in late May, noting, “Usually the Memorial Day kickoff.”
Plant Land owner Karen Jorgensen-Matt agrees that Memorial Day is the best time of year to plant flowers. She offers crucial tips to make sure flowers thrive and bloom for summer.
“I would say, the ground in their garden is the most important thing. So they should amend their soil before they plant. And, right now, nothing needs extra care except watching the temperatures at night,” she said.
Jorgensen-Matt advises gardeners to protect their plants during cold nights by covering them with a bed sheet or blanket, avoiding plastic.
“If it’s going to be a cold night, maybe toss a sheet over a bed sheet or a blanket, nothing plastic, that will protect them at night,” she said.
She also noted that Memorial Day is prime time to plant flowers, and gardeners don’t need to worry about covering vegetables like broccoli and lettuce, as those are good to go.
“That all can be planted right away in the spring. Cauliflower, broccoli. They all like the cold,” she said, adding, “You don’t need to cover any of that. That’s good to go.”