Annuals are beautiful flowers that grace almost every garden. Depending on your zone, they will last only the season and die off in winter. Sometimes called bedding plants they are relatively inexpensive and loved for their bright flowers which bloom all summer.
Annuals start and end their life cycle in one growing season. Typically, you would purchase them in spring and plant them after threat of frost has passed (although some hardy varieties may survive a frost). Some popular annuals include pansies, impatiens, petunias, marigolds and begonias.
You can buy annuals for your garden and most garden centers and even the big home centers like Lowes and Home Depot. Annuals are sold in different packages - some come in large pots but many come in tiny little individual packages like an ice cube tray with about 6 plants per pack. You can buy as many packs as you need to fill in your area, but be sure to read the instructions on the tag as to how far apart to plant so you know how many to get.
Planting them depends on the particular variety that you have but most annuals like a sunny spot with well drained soil. Annuals need warm soil and stable temperatures so you want to wait until it is well into spring and you know the ground is warmed up and it won’t be getting too cold.
One good way to figure out where you want to place the plants is to place them in different spots and configurations while still in their containers. Once you have found the perfect arrangement, you’re ready to plant!
It’s a good idea to moisten the soil before you start planting. Then dig the holes deep enough so that the base of the plant stem will be even with the top of the dirt (all the roots will be under the ground just like when it was in the pot). Carefully remove the annual from it’s original container, shake some of the dirt loose from the roots and place in the hole. Then put the dirt back around the plant, pat gently and water thoroughly. You might want to add some organic mulch and liquid fertilizer.
As your annuals begin growing and producing flowers you’ll want to be sure to water them every day - not too much though, just enough to soak the ground. Also, get a good fertilizer specifically for flowers and use it as directed. Inspect your flowers for pests or disease and remove dead flowers, leaves and branches regularly. This will prevent fungi from growing which can hurt your plants. Look for signs of wilting and yellowed leaves and adjust your care accordingly.
Planting annuals in your garden can give you variety of plants and color year after year. It will allow you to experiment with different plants until you find the combination perfect for your garden.
Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.backyard-garden-and-patio.com where you can get more articles on annuals and gardening.
Flower gardening need not be restricted to just summertime. Planning carefully and planting ahead of time, will have the garden filled with an array of flowers for all of the year round.
Let’s plan the seasons, then for spring flowers, the best thing would be to plant bulbs. Any nursery will supply them, and if you’re more disposed towards the exotic, and rare flower bulbs, there’s a good chance that they will need to be ordered specially.
The most popular amongst bulb lovers are early springtime Crocuses, and cheerful Snowdrops. Tulips though, have shown to be the most famous of bulbs in demand by flower gardeners, and are available in a variety of colors, including a black-colored one, which is really more of a dark maroon.
Remember that all spring flowering bulbs should be planted in mid autumn, as this is the best time for them. Come any closer to winter and you’re in danger of losing your whole crop of bulbs completely.
Moving through to summer, perennials are the firm favorite for flower gardening as they bare blooms almost continuously throughout the summer season, and on occasion longer. With a little luck and care, the perennials will last through to next year, and the following year. It’s also found that as the years and the seasons roll on, your perennials will become fuller, and generally will become more abundant than the first year you planted them.
As autumn approaches most flower gardens are left with only few small hardy plants to choose from. For those more dedicated to flower gardening, that need not be the case. Hardy, drought resistant plants like Asters number among the many types of fall flowers available, and will look stunning in late summer/early fall, Generally, autumn plants will grow to a good 3-4 feet in height, and have vivid colors, as well as the more genteel pastel colors to choose from. Ornamental grasses are another favorite and will nicely complement your fall flowers.
So, take heart, take plenty of notes, plan, and buy to your heart’s content. By the end of it all you truly will have a flower for every season, and your flower gardening efforts will be rewarded most bountifully
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Ron is the webmaster and owner of http://www.gardeningmoments.com and would like to share his passion and ideas for creating a fantastic garden. Flower Gardening is not restricted to certain times of the year have flowers bursting with color all year round. |
Blue flowers are some of the most striking plants around and can add a rich splash of color to any garden. Plant them in a cluster of all blue or mix them in with other flowers for a rainbow of color.
When planting flowers, it is important to remember to follow the instructions on the tag for the plant. Always buy plants that will thrive in the conditions in which you intend to grow them. A plant that loves sun won’t do well in a shady area and you will only be disappointed with the results.
When planning your garden, be aware of the bloom time of the flowers. Planting perennials with different bloom times near each other will insure a garden that has blooms all season long. Remember also to plan for the height of the plants, putting the taller ones in the back.
Below is a list of favorite blue flowering plants that you might want to consider for your garden:
Polemonuim, Blue Pearl - A compact plant with deep sky blue flowers that grows to 10″. It blooms in late spring to early summer. Plant in partial shade and in well drained soil.
Blue Sea Holly - This dramatic plant has a lavender blue cone like flower with long spiked petals. It grows to 30″ and is a favorite for dried flower arrangements. Plant in full sun - blooms in mid to late summer.
Delphinium, Butterfly Blue - Bright blue delicate flowers adorn this plant that blooms in early to mid summer. It reaches 10″ tall and prefers a sunny location with rich moist soil.
Campanula, Blue Carpet - Bright blue to lilac colored flowers bloom for weeks in the middle of summer. This low growing perennial grows to 4″ and prefers full sun with well drained soil.
Penstemon, Blue Buckle - This plant has tubular shaped blooms in blue to purple and flowers in mid summer to early fall. It grows to 15″ and likes well drained soil with full or partial sun.
Hydrangea, Nikko Blue - Gigantic clumps of blue flowers adorn this shrub for most of the summer. In the fall, the flowers turn a golden color. This plant is a new variety that prefers rich soil but will grow in shade, partial sun or full sun.
Vinca - Medium blue flowers and glossy green leaves form a carpet that grows to about 6″ tall and blooms in mid spring. This plant will grow in most soil conditions, in the shade or sun.
Ajuga, Bronze Beauty - This short bushy plant has spikes of blue flowers that grows quickly. Great as a ground cover or in raised beds. It blooms in spring and prefers a shady area.
Scabiosa, Butterfly Blue - A bushy perennial with lavender blue flowers that bloom from June to October. This plant likes full sun and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Verbena, Babylon Blue - Blue purple flowers petals adorn this plant that blooms in early spring. Great for window boxes and planters.
Additional information and resources for this article can be found at: http://www.garden-source.com/archives/2005/05/24/
add-rich-color-to-your-garden-with-blue-perennial-flowers/
A beautiful blue wildflower picture can be found at: http://www.garden-source.com/archives/2005/06/02/
blue-wildflower-in-kathys-garden/
© 2005 This article is provided courtesy of The Garden Source Network - http://www.garden-source.com
This article may be freely published on any website, as long as the links are live, and this notice is left intact.