How to
Buy Flowers for Your Garden
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A flower garden can offer a
romantic and fragrant feast
for the senses, a renewable
source for fresh bouquets,
or simple color to brighten
a patio or deck. The key is
understanding what annuals
and perennials are, knowing
your planting seasons, and
matching a plant's light and
water requirements to what
your garden offers.
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Annuals |
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Steps: |
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1. |
Remember that annuals are
plants that grow, bloom, set
seed and then die in one
growing season, typically
from spring to fall. In mild
climates, some annuals grow
and bloom through winter.
Popular examples are
petunias, marigolds and
zinnias. Annuals generally
produce maximum bang for the
buck, but require seasonal
replacement. |
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2. |
Choose cool-season annuals,
such as pansies and Iceland
poppies, for spring and fall
displays (and winter in mild
climates). |
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3. |
Select warm-season annuals,
such as marigolds and
impatiens, for flowering
from late spring into fall.
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4. |
Purchase seeds from catalogs
or nursery racks, or buy
seedlings sold in flats or
small packs at nurseries.
Starting from seed is less
expensive but takes longer
and is more labor intensive.
Some annuals grow better
when sown as seeds directly
in the ground; others, such
as begonias and petunias,
take a discouragingly long
time to grow from seed.
Start your own seedlings at
home for inexpensive and
satisfying garden additions.
Seed starting kits are
available at garden centers
or from online dealers such
as Gardener's Supply Company
(gardeners.com).
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5. |
Give a plant what it needs
in terms of sun or shade.
Most annuals prefer full
sun. A few, such as
impatients and begonias, do
well in shade. |
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6. |
Make sure you choose
vigorous nursery seedlings.
Examine them for healthy
green leaves just coming
out, and avoid seedlings
with many yellow leaves.
Select plants with mostly
unopened flowers. Avoid any
that are root-bound, with
wads of brown roots coming
out the bottom of the
container. |
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Perennials
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Steps: |
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1. |
Choose perennials if you
want plants that live for
several years or more. Some
die back to the ground in
winter and reappear in the
spring. Some may remain
green all year in mild
climates. |
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2. |
Shop for perennials nearly
year-round, generally in
nursery containers or small
pots. Starting perennials
from seed takes time, and
some seeds germinate only
with special care, so this
is an advanced project.
During late fall, winter and
early spring, many
perennials, such as phlox,
display no top growth, so it
looks like you're buying a
pot full of soil.
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3. |
Try to plant most perennials
in early spring or early
fall. The earlier in the
growing season, the smaller
the container and the less
expensive the plant will be.
Perennials in 4-inch (10 cm)
pots may look small, but
they are actually easier to
establish in the garden than
larger plants. |
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4. |
Neighborhood nurseries and
garden centers may offer
limited variety. Check out
specialty perennial dealers
with mail-order or
direct-mail catalogs;
specialties include
daylilies, geraniums and
salvias. |
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5. |
Look for signs of vigor in a
nursery plant: healthy green
leaves just coming out,
either right by the soil or
on a branch. Avoid plants
with yellow, limp leaves or
those that are root-bound.
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6. |
Buy perennials in bloom if
you want to be sure of the
color. |
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Overall Tips:
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Easy-to-grow annuals include
impatiens, marigolds,
zinnias and sunflowers.
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Save money by sowing
nasturtium, sunflower,
cosmos and California poppy
seeds directly in the garden
in spring. Make sure to keep
them moist until they're
established. |
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For a quick colorful effect
in summer, look for sales on
annuals potted in
gallon-size containers.
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Fail-safe perennials for
sunny spots include yarrow,
coneflower, daylily, and
Shasta daisy. For shade, try
bleeding heart, hellebore,
hosta, and Japanese anemone.
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You can increase your supply
of perennials by dividing
and transplanting existing
plantings. The best timing
depends on the type of
plant, but generally you'd
do this in fall and spring.
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SEASON |
ANNUALS |
PERENNIALS |
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Early Spring |
Plant cool-season
types: stock,
Iceland poppy,
pansy, snapdragon,
larkspur, calendula. |
In bloom:
forget-me-not,
bellflower,
corydalis,
columbine. |
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Look for short,
stocky plants in
four or six-packs;
choose plants with
or without flower
buds, but with few
or no open flowers. |
Look for 4-inch or
1-gallon containers;
at this time of
year, some plants
don't show above
soil in pot. |
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Midspring to
Midsummer |
Plant warm-season
types: impatiens,
petunia, marigold,
salvia, lobelia. |
In bloom:
delphinium,
penstemon, daylily,
peony, Shasta daisy. |
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Look for 1-gallon
containers, good for
quickly assembled
patio displays. |
Look for 4-inch or
1-gallon containers;
plants should have
leaves and some will
have flowers; cut
off dead flower
stems. |
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Late Summer to Early
Fall |
Plant selected
warm-season types:
salvia, zinnia. |
In bloom: salvia,
black-eyed Susan,
joe-pye weed. |
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In hot climates,
take short break
before planting more
annuals. |
Look for unwilted
plants; it's OK if
they aren't
blooming--they will
next year. |
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Fall |
Plant cool-season
types in mild
climates: pansy,
calendula. |
In bloom: aster,
chrysanthemum. |
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Start with seedlings
or small pots only
in mild-weather
climates where you
can garden
year-round. |
Watch for sales at
nurseries. |
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What to look for:
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Annuals sold as seedlings in
small packs |
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Perennials sold in small
pots or gallon-size
containers |
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Vigorous growth, no
rootbound signs |
