I forgot to ask...
Are there any bulbs or shrubs that you can recommend for spring planting? from what I've read almost all bulbs and shrubs should be planted in the fall....but I might be reading the wrong things. :)
thanks!

Hi Craftlady!
1. You can mulch at anytime
2. some people fertilize around when the forsythia bloom... or even a little earlier.
3. Sorry but I don't know nurseries down there.... you could probably google USDA hardiness zones to find yours out.

heh heh heh. As far as spring planting goes, if you find a good nursery to shop at, pretty much anything you can buy can be planted in the spring (I can't wait!)... but ask ask ask if you're not sure if it will do well, or come back next year, or get too big. You get the idea.
And if noone at the nursery knows then either get a new nursery or post here!

Thanks kato!!!
I'm sooo ready for warm weather! :)

Mulching, it depends on what you are mulching. I raise rhododendron and azaleas and top up my pine bark nuggets when they need it. Usually in mid spring I will go around to all the beds. In our perennial beds we top up the wood chips in mid spring also.

I never fertilize my lawn. I only use fescues and ryes that need very little feeding and aren't fussy about pH.

I live near Oley. We have some great nurseries in the area. My favorites are:

Glick's Greenhouse-phone(610)989-9856-Dave & Beth Glick-57 Fisher Mill Road-Oley PA 19547
They have perennials and annuals at fantastic prices.
May Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-7:30, Saturday 8-5:30, Closed Sunday
Off Covered Bridge Rd.,, Between Pleasantville and Yellowhouse on Fisher Mill Rd.
http://www.glicksgreenhouse.com/

Manatawny Creek Farm-phone(610)689-5037-Tim & Michelle Glick-64 Fisher Mill Road-Oley PA 19547
They are across from Glicks.
Hybrid daylilies
Off Covered Bridge Rd.,, Between Pleasantville and Yellowhouse, across from Glick's greenhouse.
http://www.manatawnycreekfarm.com/

Black Creek Nursery-phone(717)445-5046-211 E Black Creek Rd.-East Earl PA 17519
They have annuals, perennials and water plants at fantastic prices.
Open from 8 am to 8 pm Monday thru Friday. Closes at 5 pm on Saturday.
From PA 23 (near Shady Maple) go north on PA 625 another 3.7 miles and turn right on Black Creek Road and go .4 miles.

Conestoga Nursery-phone(717)445-4076-310 Reading Rd-East Earl PA 17519-9964
They have shrubs, trees and other nursery plants at very good prices.
Closed Tuesday & Sunday. Open from April to November
Located on PA 625 1.5 miles north of PA 23 (near Shady Maple)

Groff's Plant Farm-phone(717)529-2249-tcgcpg@epix.net-6128 Street Road-Kirkwood PA 17536
Annuals and Perennials
www.groffsplantfarm.com
From Lancaster follow 222S through Quarryville. Approximately 1.5 miles south of Quarryville you will pass Solanco High School on the right. About 1/4 mile after the high school, Blackburn Road will branch off to the left. Follow Blackburn 3 miles until it ends. Turn left onto Puseyville Road, cross over the Octarara Creek, and immediately turn right onto Street Road. Follow Street around the bend, and we are halfway up the hill on the right.

Hersheys Azalea Farm-phone(717)442-4523-h_red2@msn.com-775 County Line Road-Gap PA 17527
This family introduced Hershey Red Azaleas. They have been in business for decades. I haven't been there in a while.
Open 8 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday. Closes at 5 pm on Saturday. Open from March to October.
Located north of US 30 on County Line Rd. From PA 10 go west on US 30 to County Line Rd. and then north on County Line Rd. to curve in Rd. Nursery is on the right.

You are probably in Zone 6. Schuylkill and Carbon counties are Zone 5.

Fall planting is best for shrubs because the roots get a chance to get established before the plants get stressed by heat and sun. However, frost heave can negate that advantage. If the are planted in the fall and mulched well, then that is best.

I have planted most all of my rhododendrons and azaleas in the spring. On young plants I provide a wind break and some shade the first year. I also will water them in a dry spell. I always mulch well and usually don't get bothered too much in dry spells.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cold Hardiness Zones

I think you can plant shrubs either spring or fall, or summer or winter for that matter. Fall is nice because in many species of shrubs the roots will actively grow in the fall as long as the ground remains warm even while the top of the shrub is bare or not growing actively. This gives the roots a head start and allows them to better provide enough water to the leaves in the spring. However, if you didn't plant in the fall, you can still plant in spring. You'll just have to be a little more vigilant about watering if there is a dry spell, which you should do with fall-planted shrubs anyway for the first year or two. Shrubs can be planted in summer, but the danger of drying out is a little greater than with spring planting, so be prepared to water occasionally. Also a shrub that was growing in a shaded spot in the nursery may experience leaf burn if planting into the sun, so it may be necessary to provide temporary shade until the leaves can adjust to the new location. I have planted shrubs in the winter, as long as the ground is thawed, and that works OK too if I am careful and watch them over the next summer.

You can plant summer-blooming bulbs like iris and gladiolus in the spring, but the spring blooming bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocus, etc.) are typically planted in the fall. I am not really sure what would happen if you planted spring blooming bulbs in the spring, but I suspect you wouldn't get a good display of flowers.

Thank you for all of your help!!
I'm in Nazareth, about mid way in Northampton County. I usually say I'm Zone 5b to err on the side of caution. this winter was so mild and wet (compared to what I remember) that I think I can say it was a zone 6 kind of year around here :)
thanks for all the words of encouragment and advice!! I'm going to start small this year, annals from seeds just to get something in the gournd and start some lasagna beds so I'll be ready to rock and roll next year!