Sunday, January 15, 2012

How do I start a flower garden?

I've just moved into a house with a backyard and want to grow some nice flowers. Are they're any tips before I start? I'm not sure what flowers I'd like either, I guess ones that are going to be more forgiving to start with and then maybe move onto more interesting types.
How do I start a flower garden?
Hi,



Here are some tips:



1 - Choose a good location - a place that gets a lot of sun (not under a tree or on the north side of the house) - also preferably without roots and an area that doesn't flood when it rains. Don't start with too big a spot or you can get overrun with weeds and discouraged.



2 - Clear out what is there - either with a spray like roundup, digging out the existing vegitation by hand, or by puttling a plastic tarp down for a few weeks until everything is dead. Then prepare the soil - if you have a tiller you can till the whole area to make it nice and loose. If not, you can use a pitchfork. Or just leave it. It will be easier to weed if you turn the ground over though.



3 - Choose plants - some options:

A - Perrenial vs Annual - Annuals grow for one season and die. Perrenials come back every year.

B - Buy plants from a nursery or start from seed. Nursery plants give you instant gratification but cost more. Seeds take longer but cost less.



4 - Space the plants correctly. Read the seed packet or instrucations. When small people tend to plant the flowers close together but when they mature they then grow all into each other.



5 - Pick a nice variety of flowers.

A - Different sizes - big in back, smaller up front.

B - Different colors

C - Different blooming dates - some that bloom in spring, early summer, late summer, and fall so you always have something that looks good.



6 - Maintaing the flowers. Weed periodically. If you are lazy, and are growing perennials, you can add mulch so you don't have to weed.



I would start with some catalogues - www.burpee.com (great quality and selection of seeds), www.burgess.com (very inexpensive, but poor quality) and see what looks good to you.



Good luck
Reply:this isn't the best time of year to start a garden, quite honestly. how about you put down some mulch and compost now, let the weather do alot of your soil conditioning for you, and spend the winter looking at books and catalogues, noticing what works in other gardens in your area, educating yourself a bit before you start. then, in the early spring, turn over your soil, mixing in your top treatments, and start planting while there's still plenty of rain in the season to establish your new garden plants--rain is the best water for plants. you'll get more and better results for your time and effort this way, i promise you.
Reply:Good on you.



Choose a nice sunny spot that gets all day or afternoon sun. Dig it over well and add for compost.



Start by planting punnets of seedlings. They are great because they grow fast and you can pick and choose colours and flowers you like for low cost.



Remember to water well in dry weather.



I know you will really enjoy gardening. Its good for the body, mind and soul. Have fun :-)
Reply:u get fertiliser then plant the seeds
Reply:You didn't say where you are or if there was an existing garden that you could work with. If you are starting from scratch, it's getting late in the year to start a garden from seeds so plants are the way to go.



Impatiens, petunias and begonias are very easy to grow. You can still find lots of annuals at your local garden center. Annuals are pretty easy to grow and you aren't making any long term commitments, so you can start again next year with something different if you wish.



Perennials are also a good value right now with most garden centers taking 50% or more off of the regular prices.



Visit our website for more gardening ideas at-

http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.c...



Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!
Reply:I like alot of Sirollerbladers points.



Don't make your area too big. Weeding and deadheading flowers is a daily/ ongoing chore.



What do you want to do with your flowers? Fun for outside? or cutting them for inside? I'd choose to enjoy them outside. Cutting flowers tend to be tall, and sometimes straggly plants.



Sun or Shade there are good flowers to use, but roots and other competition can be a problem. Remember too, once the summer gets hot, you'll have to water your babies, or they'll die. Can you get a hose there? the more sun, the more water...



Try a mix of annuals and perennials.



Annuals: Begonia, Petunia or Impatiens are good beginner plants



Perennials: Cone flower (Echinacea), Pinks (Dianthus), Daylily (Hemerocallis) are good ones in this category.



Drop on by your local independent garden center or nursery, and ask them to help you pick out some easy to grow plants that bloom in different seasons. Your local store generally will be more helpful and professional than your big-box store.



I hope that this helps

Good luck
Football Shoes

No comments:

Post a Comment