Planting Flowers

Planting flowers in a dedicated garden space or as part of your landscaping design is an easy way to add character and your own personal stamp to your backyard or front entry.

This page will give step by step instructions on getting your garden off to a successful start. The time it takes up front for growing flowers will be well worth it and save time replanting later.

Practical Planting Tips –

Choose your plants wisely- select plants that are stocky , and solid with only a few buds on them Stay away from the plants that are wilted, full grown, or with discolored leaves (this may be a sign of disease).

Plant after the last frost date. In Minnesota this means we may have to wait for planting flowers until the end of May. That can seem like forever after a long cold 6 months of winter. We can plant some perennials in the fall too. They acclimate over the fall and winter months, and come up great in the spring.

Try not to plant in full sun. This can be hard on the flowers and may take a few days for them to recover from the shock. Plant on overcast days, first thing in the morning or later in the day when the sun is about to go down.

How To Plant Flowers – Step by Step

1.Prepare the soil- Use a steel garden rake; turn the top soil over digging about 7-10 inches down. Add fertilizer and organic matter to this to improve the soil texture, drainage and moisture retention. (Check with your local home improvement or garden nursery for information about the soil in your area.) The last step is to remove large pebbles or stones from the area and to level the ground.

2. First, water down your flowers while still in their containers. Place the pot on its side and carefully slide the plant out. 3. Remove the plant from its pot, keeping as much of the dirt and rootball intact .Gently pull the roots open so that it’ll spread out when planted in the soil.

4. Before you place the plant in the hole, gently massage the roots and take a little of the dirt away. This will encourage the roots to take hold of the garden soil.

5. Plant the flowers for planting in the ground at the same level that they were in the original pot. Don’t plant too high out of the ground or too low. If it’s too high – the plant root will be exposed and dry out. If planted too low- the base of the plant will get too wet and rot.

6. Finally, pack the soil down around the plant and water immediately; wetting through the top 5 inches of soil.

7. Next- pinch off the flowers- I know it might hurt since you probably want color right away, but trust me on this ….. Cutting off the flowers will promote even more flowers and a stronger root system for long lasting flowers.

8.Once the flowers are in place, mulch around the plants and in the flower bed – laying the mulch down about 2 to 3 inches deep.

Step back and admire your new garden creation. Pretty good huh?

And now the fun begins. Check your new flower garden several times during the week and water as necessary. Your garden will grow and fill in pretty fast and with minimal care and maintenance.

Keep checking your new garden often until everything looks like it's doing ok and going to make it. Then maintain it by watering weekly as necessary, and deadheading the blooms that have “bloomed” and now are faded and dry.

Planting flowers in containers is a little different than a garden in the ground. Read more……

From Planting Flowers to Growing Plants and Flowers