Whether you're looking to grow flowers for your garden this season or next, there are some important things to consider before planting them. These tips will help you make the best choices.
Dahlias
Whether you are looking for colorful flowers to brighten up your flower garden or you want to grow a variety of flowers to add interest to your landscape, dahlias are ideal flowers for all seasons. They can be grown as annuals or perennials and will provide a splash of color until the first frost.
For the best results, dahlias require abundant sun and warm temperatures. They also prefer a loamy or slightly acidic soil. For best results, keep the soil free of standing water and provide adequate air circulation.
Dahlias can be grown from seeds or cuttings. When the plants are young, they will benefit from a bit of nitrogen. If you have a well-established plant, however, you will need to provide only light fertilizer. A 5-10-10 fertilizer mix is ideal. This means that the fertilizer contains 5 parts nitrogen, 10 parts phosphorous, and 10 parts potassium.
Alyssum
Whether you want to add a splash of color to a rock garden, use alyssum as an edging plant, or plant an entire border, this plant is a great choice. It has a sweet scent and can cover bare stems and uninteresting foliage. The flowers come in colors such as white, pink, and rose.
Alyssums grow best in well-drained, sunny soil. Those growing in the ground should be given a slow-release granular fertilizer at planting time. If your soil is not prepared, you can also use water-soluble fertilizer.
Those growing in pots should be watered regularly. Slugs can eat the young seedlings, so consider using a barrier such as a slug guard.
Alyssums are very hardy. They can withstand cold temperatures and short periods of drought. However, they can be killed by a heavy frost. Alyssum is best planted in spring or early summer.
Crossandra
Whether you have an all-season garden or just a patio, you will appreciate the versatility of Crossandra. It is a beautiful, hardy plant that can bloom non-stop all summer. It is also a perfect houseplant.
Crossandra is a tropical shrub with glossy leaves and stems. It can grow to a height of three feet. It is best suited for moist, well-drained soil. It can grow in pots or in the ground. It can also be propagated from stem cuttings.
Crossandra prefers indirect light, and can be planted in the shade. It is also a good addition to beds of impatiens. It can be grown as an annual or perennial. It requires moderate moisture and fertilizing.
Crossandra can be propagated by seed or stem cuttings. Seeds should be sown in early spring or late winter. Plant the seeds in a seed-starting mix, and cover the seeds with soil.
Coneflowers
Originally native to the western prairies, the coneflower has adapted to many types of soil and heat. Their bright orange flowers attract butterflies and birds. They can be grown in landscape beds or containers and are a great cut flower.
Known for their cone shaped flowers, coneflowers are also drought resistant once established. They thrive in full sun to part shade. They are easy to grow and require little maintenance.
In addition to their beautiful flowers, coneflowers are useful medicinal herbs. Their nectar feeds bees and hummingbirds. These flowers are also popular with pollinators because they attract birds and butterflies.
Coneflowers are easy to grow and require little maintenance. They are especially popular for use in container gardens and landscape beds. They are also hardy plants that are tolerant to heat, dry soil and deer. They also look great with other flowering perennials and ornamental grasses.
Sweet peas
Whether you are gardening in a full sun spot or in a shady garden, sweet peas will add beauty to your garden. There are many sweet pea varieties available, and they range in height from 6 inches to 10 feet. They are available in a variety of colors, and some are scented.
Sweet peas should be grown in well-draining soil that has a neutral to alkaline pH. For best results, they should be planted in a sunny location. Sweet peas can be started from seeds, or from starter plants. Ideally, they should be planted at least three inches deep and six to eight inches apart.
Sweet peas can be cultivated in containers. They can be grown in hanging baskets, and in larger containers, they should be removed regularly and fed.
Sweet peas grow well on trellises, but they will also climb on bushy twigs and chicken wire. If your sweet pea vines are overcrowded, they can be pruned to encourage side shoots. This will also make the plant fuller, and will produce more flowers.
Hibiscus
Whether you're planting it in a pot or a garden bed, the hibiscus is one of the best flowers for all season gardens. It's versatile and easy to care for. With a variety of colors, including blue, red, and purple, it's an attractive addition to any garden. And it grows in nearly any soil.
Hibiscus flowers are available in both single and double varieties. They usually range from 2 inches to nearly 10 inches in diameter. They have petals that are spaced out and tend to be very light violet in color.
In general, hibiscus flowers thrive in full sunlight. However, some varieties do well in partial shade. If your hibiscus is not flowering well, try moving it to a spot that gets a little bit more sun.
If you live in a warm climate, you should also consider growing a tropical hibiscus. These plants need to be kept warm, between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, they should be placed under fluorescent lights. They can be purchased from local garden centers.
Asiatic lilies
Whether they are rooted in a pot or planted in your garden, Asiatic lilies make the perfect container plants. They are hardy and can tolerate cold winters. Asiatic lilies are also easy to grow. They come in a wide range of colors and shades.
The Asiatic lily bulb grows well in loose, well-drained soil. The soil should be slightly acidic. Add some organic matter such as compost or worm castings to improve the soil's composition.
Asiatic lilies require little care once they are mature. However, they do require some attention when they are young. During the summer, water them regularly. They need at least one inch of water per week. They can also benefit from supplemental watering when it is hot. If you live in a region where winters are harsh, you can protect the lily bulb from freezing by burying it in a layer of mulch.
King's Mantle
Often called the Lady's Mantle, this clumping perennial is a great ground cover. It has scalloped leaves with fine hairs, and produces clusters of tiny chartreuse blooms in late spring and early summer. This plant looks good spilling over the edge of a path, and makes a nice contrast to roses.
This plant is very low maintenance. It is a good ground cover that grows in any medium-moisture garden soil. In addition, it is a great plant to use in containers. It is also easy to propagate by cuttings. It will grow on a sunny, well-drained spot, and is drought resistant once it has established itself.
This plant is a member of the acanthus family. Like its relatives, it is a tender perennial that grows on trellises and planters during the summer. Typically, the plant is treated as an annual in the northern parts of the country.
Hyacinths
Whether you're looking for a single, stunning planter or an entire garden, hyacinths are a beautiful choice. These popular flowers come in a variety of colors, including blue, pink, purple, red, and white.
Hyacinths are very easy to care for. They are very low maintenance and require very little fertilization. They also make excellent cut flowers. There are even some hyacinth varieties that have a fragrance.
The flowers of hyacinths are usually the largest and most impressive during the first year after planting. However, after a few years, the flowers may not be as floriferous. However, the foliage of hyacinths stores energy for the next year's blooms.
When planting hyacinths, it is important to make sure that the soil is rich and well-drained. If the soil is not rich enough, you may need to add compost or peat moss. You also need to make sure that the hyacinths are planted at least 4 inches deep.
Peonies
Whether you have a rural or suburban garden, peonies are a great perennial flower. They are fragrant, long-lasting, and easy to care for. They also make a great anchor plant for your garden.
Peonies are hardy in USDA zones 3-8. They are available in red, white, yellow, orange, and pink. They grow 60 to 80 cm tall and wide. They are known for their large blooms and romantic fragrance. Their foliage turns purplish red in the fall.
Peonies prefer deep, moist soil with good drainage. They also benefit from being planted in a bed with morning sun. The soil should be amended with a blend of compost or bonemeal. If you plan to plant peonies in containers, they should be planted no more than two inches deep.
Peonies are prone to fungal diseases, such as botrytis blight, but they rarely kill the plants. However, this disease can cause shriveled, dark-stained stems and leaves. If you see any of these symptoms, remove the affected tissues and encourage good air circulation.