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When I was a child, my mom was in charge of the flower beds and gardens around the house. Oh sure, all of the kids got roped into weeding and watering – but mom was in charge of planning the gardens, selecting the plants and planting them at the right times. When I was an adult and had my own place, I wanted flower gardens like my mom had, but was woefully ignorant about what to plant and when to plant it. I got mom to give me a crash course on when to plant flowers, including annuals, perennials, and bulbs. Then, I added to my knowledge through trial and error to achieve the best possible results.
Annuals are flower plants that bloom for one season and then die off. Some common annuals are marigolds, impatiens, and geraniums. They should be planted in the spring after the danger of frost has passed and the ground can be easily worked. Check with your garden supplier and read the seed packets for planting instructions for specific times in your area. Although there is no specific cutoff date for when to plant flowers, you should be aware that tender new plants have a more difficult time establishing themselves in the high temperatures of summer. For that reason, you should plant in mid to late spring to give your annuals a chance to be firmly established before summer heat arrives.
Perennials, on the other hand, are generally hardier plants. Perennials are plants or seeds that grow for one season, enter a dormant period in winter, and come back the next spring. Some examples of common perennials include hostas, daylilies, and dianthus. For perennials, there is no specific recommended date for when to plant your flowers. As a general rule, if they are available in your local nursery, it is okay to plant them. All plants however, will get stressed and have difficulty growing in extreme weather to include – heat, cold, high winds, excessive moisture or drought. For that reason, your perennials are best planted in spring after the last frost or in fall four to six weeks before the first frost.
Flower bulbs are a different animal altogether. Flower bulbs bundle up the flower itself and their initial food source in one convenient package. Flower bulbs are divided into two types – hardy and tender bulbs. Hardy flower bulbs are planted in the fall and enter their dormancy period over winter, then bloom in the spring. Examples of spring flower bulbs include tulips, daffodils, and iris. Tender flower bulbs are those which cannot survive in the ground over winter. They are planted in the spring after the last frost, bloom in mid-summer, and must be dug up and stored in a cool dry place over winter. Examples of tender bulbs include begonia, gladiolus, and dahlias.
As you can see, there is no easy answer to when to plant flowers. Your best bet is to take the time to do some research and plan out your flower garden before you start. Ask questions, read the instructions, and learn as you go. If all else fails, do what I did – ask mom.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about When to Plant Flowers and gardening articles at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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