Perennials make beautiful additions to any flower garden no matter how you plan on using it. While growing vegetables is always fun, it is not really all roses and tulips. There are plenty of other gorgeous plants you could grow to fill up your flower garden as well. Here are ten of popular perennial and biennials which are also great fillers in flower beds.
Daisies are one of the prettiest perennials you can add to a flower garden. Long stems grow to about two feet long and have thick, lacy leaves. They are the perfect companion to hardy annuals like gladioli, which tolerate dry spells more easily than annuals do. Keep daisies trim, though, because their blooms only bloom for a short period each year. You can prune them to keep the flower garden looking full.
A cool, shady spot is perfect for planting daffodils. Daffodils love full sunlight, but they also need a lot of soil so that they can develop their deep green color. Fertilizer should be applied to the soil once or twice during the summer so that it is well-rotted before planting. If you are planting flowers that do not need a lot of fertilizer, you may consider organic fertilizers instead. The organic fertilizers do not contain chemicals that can pollute the garden soil.
Although annuals are a good choice for flower beds, they are too restricted in size and cannot grow up to three feet tall. Biennials, on the other hand, grow up to three feet tall and are very versatile in the type of flower they can attract. If you have a larger garden space, biennials work well, but if you are limited in space, you can consider using annuals. Choose those that are self-supporting so that they do not need to be doubled-tended.
Frost is one of the most common problems faced by gardeners. Annuals cannot handle frost. Perennials, on the other hand, can tolerate frost and can grow all year around. In addition, perennial plants do not need to be replanted each year because they go into a dormant state during the winter.
The location is also a consideration for those who want to plant a flower garden. Sunlight or shade is a determining factor when it comes to choosing plants. Some flowers require full sun, while others prefer partial shade. The height of the plants is also a deciding factor when it comes to choosing the right flower garden design. Taller plants are needed to shade the flowers from direct sunlight.
Soil quality and moisture levels are also important considerations when planting a flower garden. For perennials, choose well-drained, rich soil. Watering should occur just once a week, as the roots will soak up the water. If the soil is clay-rich, annuals will need to be watered more often. When considering which flowers to grow, check with local nurseries for information about the most suitable plants for your climate.
Flower garden planting perennials is a great way to save money throughout the growing season. It can also help protect against the dreaded black thumb disease. If you are planting perennials, be sure to place them away from trees, fences, and other landscaping features that could damage them. Perennial flowers will stay healthy throughout the growing season, but they may not thrive during the dormant winter months. Knowing how to plant a beautiful flower garden can be a fun and easy experience if you follow the proper steps.
Before you even start gardening, be sure to prepare the soil for planting. For flower gardeners, this might mean using organic matter in the soil. The mulch or peat moss can be used to reduce moisture in the soil, and will also keep weeds from growing. Mulching around the edges of the flower bed will help the grass grow up around the edges. After mulching, you can use a rototiller to cut the grass down, especially during the coldest months of the year.
Once the soil has been prepared, the next step in planting a beautiful garden is to choose the types of flowers that you want to cultivate. Most flower gardeners choose annuals for their gardens, as they are less susceptible to disease. However, many annuals are not very practical in the fall as most flowers flower buds bloom during the spring or summer. For fall blooms, consider planting perennials. Perennials will flower all year around. Many perennials are also known as “dormants”, as they live for one or two years, before flowering again.
Perennials like sunflowers, black-eyed susans, blue bells, and blue gerberas are ideal for early blooming annuals. Sunflowers will also need little care after they bloom and can survive just about any kind of climate. A beautiful cut flower garden filled with annuals, perennials, and sunflowers will make your house look elegant and inviting. When planting flowers, be sure to place them in the correct order. If you have a fence or arbor, it will be necessary to relocate some of your flowers if you do not have a large space to work with. For maximum bloom, keep your flowers at least 4 feet away from each other.