Created Monday, 09 April 2007 08:42

Flower Gardening

Written by Randy Watson

If any form of gardening could ever be considered a national pastime, it would undoubtedly be flower gardening. Flower gardening can be a hobby, decorative purpose, or even a profession. The motive for building one can be beauty, boredom, obligation or a challenge. Whether it be a novice gardener or a Master Gardener with 30 year experience, any one with a small plot of land is able to create their own functioning garden, equipped with their favorite flowers and personal touch.

The secret to building a beautiful flower garden is to always know what you are planting and when you are going to plant it. There are two types of flower gardening, organic gardening and gardening with the use of chemicals, fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides. Identifying with each flower and understanding it’s attributes makes a world of difference when separating the true garden enthusiasts from the lackluster ones.

When first starting out with flower gardening, it is always wise to start small. Assuming you have the land, you can always expand and upgrade your garden as you gain the experience and resources to do so. When choosing which flowers to plant, the words annual and perennial will pop up in each seed’s description. An annual is simply a flower that must be planted every year and a perennial is a flower that continually come back. It is best to start out with far fewer perennials than annuals. During the process, research and always keep in mind the plants that are native to your land, as the consistent growth of these flowers are much easier to handle than any exotic ones.

After deciding on the flowers you will use, finding good soil is the next step. Opinions heavily differ on the subject of soil, mulching, and fertilizing. Simply going to your local gardening store and talking to the sales people will more than adequately supply you with the types of soil that are best for your specific region. Once your soil mixture is properly laid and your flowers picked out, you can begin the planting phase.

Before actually planting the flowers, there are a few tips to keep in mind. Never plant your flower bed next to trees, as the competition for water harms both the tree and the flowers. Also, dig about eight inches or more into the ground in an attempt to remove all rock and debris. Then level the flower bed by using a rake. A typical rule of thumb is that smaller plants should be placed in the front of the garden, while plants with more volume should be placed in the rear of the garden.

Once planted, the necessary maintenance of the garden will keep the health of your flower bed in good condition. Paying mind to the needs and characteristics of each type of flower you planted, water and fertilize the plant as directed. As your garden becomes more established and as your confidence grows, regional climate and weather conditions are the only things that limit the boundaries of your gardening. Adding personal and creative touch to your own garden is fulfilling, and every detail and improvement of your garden allows you to vicariously inject your personality and livelihood into all aspects of your flower garden.