Planting flowers is an enjoyable activity for any gardener. It brings pleasure to both see the flowers flourish and to harvest them. The joy in watching them grow is like no other. If you are one who enjoys planting flowers, why not start a flower garden? Here is how to plant a flower garden for beginners.
First, estimate the number of flowers you want to plant: about twenty to thirty. Estimate reading time: fifteen minutes. The amount of sun they need will be determined by the climate you live in. Also, consider your local conditions: shade, moisture, soil health, and light. For example, planting flowers in Arizona where it snows three or four times a year requires more water and shade than planting flowers in North Carolina where it is sunny most of the year. Soil health should also be considered.
After deciding on the flowers to plant and the type of environment and soil conditions they need, it is time to begin planning how to make the garden look as good as possible. One thing to consider is color. Do you want bright, vivid colors to attract butterflies? If so, be sure to plan your garden for large amounts of sunlight (meaning evening hours). Also make sure the flowers are receiving plenty of watering.
Some people think that growing flowers in pots is a challenge, but it really isn’t. If you have ever had a flower farmer in your area, you know there is nothing a flower farmer likes better than a well-watered garden. This is true for commercial flower farmers as well as those who grow their own. As a matter of fact, many commercial varieties need almost unlimited water! The trick is planting varieties that can survive in any given growing climate.
Pests can make a cut flower garden appears to be a disaster at any time of year but there are months when certain pests do not show up. Spring is a wonderful time because all of the flowers’ pollinating hairs awaken from their winter hibernation and start to produce pollen. Unfortunately this is also the month when aphids and other insects, which feed off of plant leaf, can become a huge problem. Aphids are particularly a problem during late summer through early fall. To protect your garden against these pests, you can screen the plants or plant the seeds only during the growing season.
If you are planning to keep a plant from blooming for the full growing season, there are options available for you. One way to do this is to grow a variety of similar celosia species so that a natural selection can occur. Many gardeners prefer to select the strongest, prettiest celosia varieties for their gardens and this can affect the choice of selections that they ultimately end up with. A nice, hardy crop of tulips, geraniums, or lupine might look nice in your garden for a little while, but in the long run it will be eaten away by the pests. If you want something that can last the full growing season, try selecting plants that have a hardier root system.
Most flowers that are grown for ornamental purposes can be seeded directly into a garden plot of your own. Some of the more common flowers that can be sown this way include hydrangeas, gladioli, and crocus. These are flowers that can usually be established on their own, but it does help to have someone on hand to help with the planting if at all possible. Sowing them too close together can cause problems, so have a friend or neighbor pick them up a week or two before you plant them. It never hurts to have a little help in the beginning of a new planting.
It is also not a bad idea to choose a type of flower that can grow well in a variety of soils and climates. Tulips and zinnias are two examples of this. The tulip is often planted in sunny areas, especially those with a lot of afternoon sun. Zinnias do well in shady areas as well, but they prefer the rich soil of a garden that is filled with organic matter. Geraniums and lupine also are great choices that can be sown at home. These lovely and aromatic plants make beautiful blooms, but they also need a lot of care to grow in a healthy and attractive manner.