| Knowing the proper way to care for your | | | | 3. Deadhead your flowers. Deadheading is |
| flower garden can be the difference | | | | just what it sounds like. By clipping |
| between a beautiful swath of flowers | | | | wilting or dead flower heads from the |
| that everyone makes glowing comments on | | | | main plant you will encourage the growth |
| or a so-so garden that seems on the | | | | of more flowers. Be sure to pick up any |
| verge of dying all the time. As with all | | | | deadheads and put them in your compost |
| things learning the how to care for your | | | | pile. Leaving them in the garden can |
| garden can take time , but if you follow | | | | attract bugs or cause plant diseases to |
| some of these basic tips you will be | | | | attack your healthy plants. |
| well on your way to having beautiful | | | | 4. Learn about bugs. Most garden insects |
| blooms all summer long. | | | | do more good than harm. Butterflies, |
| 1. Do you have the essentials covered? | | | | beetles and bees are known pollinators. |
| Just like any other plant, flowers are | | | | They fertilize plants through |
| living growing organisms and without the | | | | unintentional transfer of pollen from |
| proper necessities they will wither and | | | | one plant to another. 80% of flowering |
| die. They need a consistent water | | | | plants rely on insects for survival. |
| supply, varying amounts of sunlight | | | | Sowbugs and dung beetles together with |
| depending on the plant, and rich fertile | | | | fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms |
| soil. The more pampered and cared for | | | | are necessary to help in the |
| they are the better they will respond. | | | | decomposition of dead plant material, |
| During times of intense heat and little | | | | thus enriching the soil and making more |
| rain be sure to water more often. | | | | nutrients available to growing plants. |
| When planting you new flowers it is | | | | Other insects like lacewings and |
| important to follow the directions on | | | | dragonflies are natural predators of |
| the packaging they came in. Bulbs need | | | | those insects that do the real damage, |
| to be planted at the correct depth. | | | | like aphids. |
| Shrubs, perennials, and annuals can't be | | | | Be sure to give your flower garden a |
| planted to deep or to shallow. Try to | | | | shot of fertilizer every few weeks to |
| keep mulch and soil from around the | | | | keep the flowers blooming longer. It is |
| stems to allow for proper water | | | | important to not over fertilize because |
| drainage. | | | | this can cause the plants to burn. |
| 2. Mix perennials and annuals. | | | | Following these few simple tips will get |
| Perennials will return year after year, | | | | anyone novice started on their way to |
| at least for a few years after planting. | | | | becoming a well rounded gardener. |
| Annuals will usually only last for one | | | | Building on these tips will keep you |
| growing season. By mixing annuals in | | | | garden blooming and bringing great |
| with the perennials you will be assured | | | | satisfaction all growing season long. |
| of always having flowers in bloom. | | | | |