What Flowers Do You Plant in the Spring?

Overview

The advent of spring is a time of renewal. All of the flowers that have died and wilted during the cold winter months can thrive anew. Many people want to brighten up their gardens made barren by the winter, but aren't sure what flowers will do the best in spring.

Perrenials or Annuals

If you are new to gardening, you may not be familiar with the terms "perennial or annual." It's important to know the difference between the two when you are starting a garden because it can affect the look of your garden as well as your pocketbook every spring.

Annuals

Some gardeners choose annual flowers because it better allows them to control how their gardens will look from season to season. Annual flowers can be bought in the form of seeds or already sprouted flowers. Some examples of annual flowers are Blue Bells, Asters, Cornflowers and Sunflowers.

Perennials

Perennial flowers are flowers that do not die at the end if the growing season although they may appear to do so. When fall and winter set in, the above-ground parts of perennials will wilt and die, but the roots are still maintained and live underground. When the warmer weather of spring sets in, the roots of perennials will sprout new flowers where the old ones used to be. Some gardeners choose perennials because they do not require replanting every season, so the relative cost and maintenance time is lower. Perennial flowers can be bought in the form of seeds, already sprouted flowers or bulbs. Some examples of perennial flowers are Lily of the Nile, Iris, Poppy and Peony.

Asters

It should be noted that there is some crossover between annual and perennial flowers such as the Aster. Whether a flower becomes an annual or perennial largely depends on the weather of the region, care, and subspecies of flower.

Choosing Flowers

If you are a novice at gardening, the selection of spring flowers available can seem overwhelming, but before you decide which flowers to buy you should take a look at where you want to plant them. If you live in a more urban area, the availability of land is probably rather limited. If this is the case it might be more difficult to plant a wide variety of flowers. Only 1 to 4 different varieties of flowers in a small garden often looks more aesthetically pleasing than several different varieties. Annuals often work better in smaller gardens because they are easier to control from season to season. Since perennials sprout and produce new seeds every season, you may find that one type of perennial has taken over your garden or sprouted in areas of your yard where you did not intend for them to sprout. When working with large expanses of land, perennials are usually not a problem because they have plenty of space to grow without getting too crowded. You might also want to consider the color and shapes of flowers that will work best with your garden in the spring. Again, if you have a smaller garden, less is usually more. If you are working with a larger expanse of land you can easily include a large scheme of colors and shapes that will look good. A good way to tell what kinds of flowers will look best in your garden is to look at your neighbors' gardens. Find the schemes they are using that you like best and get ideas from that. Most people are more than happy to talk about their gardens so if you happen to see one of your neighbors out gardening, ask them what flowers she has planted and how she maintains them. You can also think of flowers as being like clothes. Only certain colors and patterns will match with one another. You probably wouldn't wear a neon pink t-shirt with khaki dress pants and the same goes for flowers. For example, blues and purples will look nice together, so will reds and pinks.

Upkeep

f you are new to gardening you will probably want to start out with spring flowers that don't require a lot of upkeep and can thrive well in many conditions. This way you can get an idea of the basics of tending a spring garden without dealing with the frustration that can come with finicky flowers. Some of the easiest flowers to grow are marigolds. Marigolds are perennial flowers that come in a variety of reds, oranges, and yellows. Marigolds usually just require basic watering and sunshine to thrive. Cornflowers, also known as the Bachelor Button, are some of the easiest annuals to grow. Cornflowers usually come in shades of blue and purple and are very fragrant. Cornflowers are also easy to dry and press for decoration after they have bloomed. After you have planted your flowers, you still need to worry about the upkeep so that your flowers can thrive during spring and summer months. Most flowers prefer full or partial sunlight so make sure when you plant your flowers that they are not too shaded from the sun by trees or roofs. Most flowers also need watered about once a week. If you live in an area that gets regular rain you don't need to worry about watering your flowers too much, but if you live in a more arid area or are going through a drought you should water your flowers regularly especially if they appear to be wilting or slightly brown at the edges. Whether you're an experienced gardener or a novice, weeds and insects can always be a problem in maintaining a healthy garden. If you have a smaller garden digging them out of the soil by the roots can eliminate most weeds for good. If you are planning on planting a larger garden, you might want to consider an herbicide to spray over the weeds to kill them. If you are worried about potential environmental effects, there are many readily available herbicides that will kill weeds but don't harm other animals or plants. For flower-eating insects, the best solution for a large or small garden is a pesticide. As with the herbicide there are pesticide brands that will kill insects without causing damage to the environment. If you have taken care of the weeds and insects in your garden and are still having trouble getting flowers to grow, chances are the soil in which you've planted the flowers doesn't have enough nutrients. In this case you might want to consider a fertilizer or other aid that will stimulate and nourish the growth of your flowers.

Considerations

A spring garden can be a wonderful way to spend your free time, but don't get frustrated if your garden does not thrive in the first year you plant it. Like with so many other projects, gardening can take a lot of trial-and-error to figure out what flowers will grow best and how to maintain them in your garden. Flowers can grow in almost any type of soil or climate, so you will eventually find something that will thrive from year to year in your garden. Just as it is important to consider the flower characteristics and care above the surface it is important to consider what is below the surface. Annuals usually have smaller roots that won't spread very far. Many perennials, on the other hand, will have larger, wider roots. If you are planting perennials make sure to plant them at least 4 inches apart so that their roots will have room to grow and set in. Also make sure you don't plant them too close to a tree with wide-reaching roots. When perennials are planted too close together or to other long and deep-rooted plants you may run the risk of some of your flowers not getting enough nutrients from the soil and dying out.

What Flowers Do You Plant in the Spring? by lilypondplants.com