How to Grow Flowers
Planning the Site
Evaluate the location of your garden to see how much sun/shade is present at different times of the day. This will help you make the right choices when you’re ready to select your plants.
Select plants of varying height, planting the taller varieties in the center or back depending on the location of your flower bed.
Preparing the Site
Pull all the weeds from the area. Then, turn the soil over, breaking up clumps of soil and loosening the soil well. If this is a new flower bed, now is a great time to add peat moss, especially if the soil is hard clay. If you are working in a low or wet area, bring in a little extra soil to slightly elevate the flower bed to improve drainage.
Required Materials
Flower seeds/seedlings/cuttings and fertilizers are the basic requirements. It is also important to have tools such as a garden hoe, a hand trowel, and a steel rake, to name a few.
Watering Requirements
Ensure that your potting media is well drained so that excess water can leach out. Also, familiarize yourself with the water requirements of the plants you commonly grow. Some species will require more water than others. Stages of plant growth will also affect its water requirements, with seedlings and cuttings needing more frequent irrigation until they develop an extensive root system. Environmental conditions will also play a key role in determining the amount and frequency of irrigation.
Nutrients Required
Potassium is a nutrient required by plants to flower. The more potassium in your flower fertilizer, the better for blooming.
Seasons
Annual flowers are defined as plants that live for just a single season. They are susceptible to frost and freeze, and die off in the fall. They propagate as mature seeds from the spent flower head fallen on the ground, and sprout the following spring.
Expectations/Results
For best results, pick your flowers at their freshest and when there is no moisture on them.