Start spring on the right foot at Matawan World of Gardening BY JO-ANN LAMON RECCOPPA Correspondent Spruce up the outside of your home with annuals from The Matawan World of Gardening. The miserable winter has everyone yearning for spring. As we hope for warm weather and days filled with sunshine, we can also plan for the garden we dreamed about and leave those dreary, snowy days behind. The Matawan World of Gardening, 3963 Route 516, Matawan, is gearing up for spring with truckloads of perennials, annuals, vegetables, and custom-planted containers for those who want plenty of variety when displaying unusual, exotic flowers. Rare varieties of evergreens and shrubs can be found at The Matawan World of Gardening, as well as the supplies you need to nourish and care for your plantings. Consider adding a tree to your landscape, one that will greet spring each year with stunning blossoms. Nothing announces the end of winter like a white, pink, or red dog- wood in full bloom, or adds color and interest to your yard like a purple leaf plum, a Bradford pear, a magnolia, or a weeping cherry. The gardening center is supplied by 50 different nurseries throughout the country, ensuring a wide variety of flowers, plants, and trees for customers who want their properties to stand out from all the others. "You can get a jump on a growing a great lawn right now," explains Alan Steiner, The Matawan World of Gardening's owner, who has nearly 40 years of gardening experience. Rare varieties of evergreens and shrubs can be found at The Matawan World of Gardening. No, it's not too early to attack crab- grass. Rather, Scotts has developed a four step program for growing and maintaining beautiful lawns. The first step, as soon as the snow is gone, fertilizes and prevents crabgrass from germinating. "Planting should be later this year because of the frigid weather," Steiner advises. "Wait until April to plant trees, which should also be right for planting perennials. May should be warm enough for annuals and vegetables." Consider the landscape as the weather improves, and let your imagination design your own private slice of the great outdoors with mulch and stones, sold in bulk or by the bag, and pavers that add a polished look to any garden setting. Concrete bird baths, urns, statuaries, benches, and fountains will dress up your yard, as will the gazing balls, available in more than 40 colors and styles at The Matawan World of Gardening. Make your surroundings the hit of the neighborhood with decorative patriotic pieces, and add a playful, personal touch with wind chimes, a bird feeder, an arbor, or a trellis. Containers, pots, and urns of every kind can be found at The World of Gardening, including metal, plastic, thermalite, concrete, resin, red wood, terra cotta clay, china, porcelain, and even tin. The latest Pacific Rim resin statues, with amazing, almost life-like detail, are also in stock, and there is a vast assortment to choose from. If you're having trouble locating the hottest yard art this year, metal sculpture, look no further than The Matawan World of Gardening. The prices for these and all the unique, decorative items sold at The World of Gardening are always discounted by 40 to 50 percent off the manufacturer's suggested price. The Matawan World of Gardening is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday during the spring, with hours expanding as the days grow warmer. Call Alan Steiner at (732) 441-1188 for your gardening needs this spring.