Choosing the best flowers for your garden
When starting a new garden, the choice of flowers to start is a critical decision. Choosing only the healthiest seedlings from your favorite garden center will help make sure you get off on the right foot.
Some health problems will be obvious as you shop for plants and flowers at your local nursery, but others can be harder to spot. If you have a friend or family member who is already an accomplished gardener, he or she can help you choose only the best plants. It is possible, however, to choose great plants even if you do not have the assistance of a master gardener.
Be sure to carefully examine the flowers, leaves and foliage of any plants you are considering. Be on the lookout for white or black spots. These good indicate bacterial or fungal infections. Also be sure to check for wilted leaves, waterlogged roots or other signs of trouble. Plants which have been over watered at the nursery and become waterlogged are unlikely to thrive when transplanted. Also look for cut stems or other types of wounds.
Just as important as the selection of the plants is the procedures you use to transplant them once you get them home. It is important to get the plants into the garden as soon as possible. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball of the plant to be transferred. When transplanting, be very careful not to disturb or damage the delicate root structure. Once the plant is in place, gently tamp the earth around the planting and provide water and fertilizer.
It is a good idea to do a thorough soil analysis before starting any new garden. A good soil analysis will let you know whether your soil is acidic, alkaline, sandy, etc. Once the soil analysis is completed, the staff at your local nursery or garden center can assist you with additives which can change the chemistry of the soil. Knowing what kind of soil you have will also be a big help when it comes to knowing the best plants to buy.
Once your plants are selected, watered, fed and in the ground, be sure to carefully weed them on a regular basis. A little bit of work and planning will help ensure a beautiful garden for years to come.
More info you can find at: Flowers