With Memorial Day behind us, it’s time to start thinking summer: warmer weather, backyard barbeques, wearing white and gardening. Gardening is a great way to enjoy the outdoors in the warm spring and summer months. Typically, you should wait to plant your annuals until after the last frost of winter – after Memorial Day is a good rule of thumb for most areas.
They say a callused palm and dirty fingernails come before a green thumb. Gardening takes time, practice and a good deal of patience. Below are some tricks to learn so as to not kill your annual garden this year.
- Work your dirt. Good soil is the most important part of gardening. You can enhance your soil by adding organic matter (e.g. compost or manure). It helps the soil by releasing nutrients as it decomposes.
- Pick the right flowers. Match your flowers to the amount of sunlight your garden gets throughout the day. Many annuals need full sun, while others do best in the shade.
- Plant strategically. A best practice is to dig the hole for each flower twice as wide and twice as deep as the size of the flower. Give each flower enough space in between to prevent them from crowding as they grow and mature.
- Prep the roots. Gently remove the flower from its container and check the roots, which are usually wrapped around the root of the flower. You will want to gently loosen the wrapping to give your flower a better start in its new soil.
- Water. Once all your flowers are planted, you should soak the soil thoroughly with water. It’s also a good idea to add a starting solution to your initial watering.
- Keep it up. This includes regular weeding and watering. During the hot summer months, you will want to water your flowers every other day. Some annuals also require “deadheading” which is the act of removing the bloom once it begins to fade. This makes room for new growth.
- Prepare for next year. Once the cooler months set in and frost kills off your flowers, you should remove any remains from their location to prime your garden for the next year.
Trust
Marc’s for all your gardening needs. We sell a variety of flowers, plants and hanging baskets, as well as all the supplies you’ll need to keep your garden happy and healthy all season long.
Tell us, how do you not kill your flowers each year? Sound off in the comments section below!