Perennial Flower Gardens

My guide will provide you with help to choose and care for your flower bed / garden plants.
When you first start thinking of planting flowers take in consideration some of the following step to ensure a positive outgee. First study the location where you want to start a bed or garden and determine what planting zone you are in and choose plants that will survive in your zone. Determine your soil types and amend your soil accordingly. Your soil will determine the sucess of your garden. You may take samples of your soil and take it to you local extention office and they can send your sample in for testing to see what type of soil you have and how you may amend it by adding what your soil type needs.Heathy soil will mean thriving plants.
Determine if you need plants for shade or for sun by watching your space throughout the day to determine how many hours of sun or shade your area receives. Make a chartand use it when you are choosing plants.Ask or read about the requirement of plants before you purchase them.This will help you to determine which plants will thrive in your area. When choosing plants for your flower beds, keep in mind the mature size of the plant and the plant's requirements such as shade, sun, partial sun/shade, water, drought, soil requirements and bloom time.
Consider what type of plant you are purchasing. Annuals last one season however they will bloom for the entire growing season for nice color. Biennials will last for two seasons. Perennials will last for years with good care. Perennials will bloom during a certain time of the growing season but will gee back year after year. Some perennials will bloom or re-bloom throughout the season as well. Deciduous plantswill lose their leaves in winter and evergreens will keep their leavesthroughout the cold season.Some plants are invasive and will require removing any that you don't want. Keep in mind when planting perennials, the first year they establish roots (sleep), the second year they start to multiply (creep), and the third year they will be mature, and multiply well (leap). Planting bulbs will extend your bloom time for early spring and fall by adding extra color. Always keep in mind the size and the bloom time of your plant so that you place it in the proper space for the best enjoyment. In my gardens I layer my plants so that I always have some blooming. You may start new plants in other areas from your own mature plants from seeds, divisions or propagation.
In the late fall remove any dead foilage and mulch well, this will protect your plants from cold and help prevent plant disease from mold, fungus and insect damage. Fertilize you beds with a time released plant food in spring, summer, and fall. Read the instructions on the container of the fertilizer you choose.
Keep your gardening tools in good working order and wash them to prevent spreading disease from one plant to another. Store them in a bucket of sand with some motor oil added to clean and prevent rust.
These are only a few tips for growing flowers. My best advice is to research and read anything you can get your hands on to learn more about the plants you are interested in.