There is a wide variety of flower bulbs and seeds available for any garden and many of them are very easy to grow and look after.
Different varieties flower at different times of the year and you can plant several bulbs in one area so that you can have colourful displays of blooms all year round.
Bulbs can be planted directly into the soil outside but seeds sometimes need a little help to get going and may need to be started off indoors. Bulbs are the most undemanding plants, and can be very long-lived. The Majority of bulbs are tolerant of other plants too so you can be creative with your planting.
It is best to plan your planting for the year with both bulbs and seeds.
Bulbs especially need to be planted several months before you see the flowers and knowing when to plant is crucial.
Information on Bulbs and Seeds including where to buy the best selections for your garden
When flower gardening you will soon discover that summer plants need a bit of pampering to get the most from them. Regular watering is essential, especially in the early stages when the plants are establishing a root system. In the absence of rain, a thorough watering twice a week is generally sufficient for the plants in the ground, but those in containers may need a daily soaking if the weather is hot and dry. Early evening is the best time for this as less water will evaporate from the compost in the cooler night temperatures.
It is also vital to feed the growing plants regularly – this helps to produce healthier plants and lots more blooms, so it’s well worth the effort.
Dead heading is also vitally important. Most varieties of plants will do their best to produce seed, this diverts the plants energy from budding to seed production and it will, after a while, virtually stop budding. So as soon as you notice fading blooms pinch them off at the base of the stalk.
If you are thinking of planting your flowers in pots take a look at our pot plant section or have a look at these planters:
Growing geraniums either from seed or from cuttings can be an ideal choice for first-time home gardeners due to their great versatility. They are one of the most popular flowers around that are very easy to grow. Whether geraniums are planted outdoors or indoors, they will do well on their own or grown in arrangement with a group of complementing flowers.
The Majority of geraniums will grow to a height of 12 to 24 inches, though some varieties of geranium can reach an incredible height of five or even six feet.
You can start growing geraniums from the seeds. Geraniums can also be easily propagated through cutting young shoots and place them in moist soil for weeks to promote growth of the root.
Geranium Black Velvet Collection
Click the image above to order this variety
Click the image to order this variety Geranium Orbit Collection
The geranium plant produces five-petal flowers that bloom from the mid-summer season to the first frost. The colors of the flowers are usually a range of red, white, orange, purple, salmon and even a combination of two colors. Geraniums typically live up to 18 months.
To grow geraniums in the outdoor area, the plant would prefer an area ranging from partial shade to full sun. Partial shade for geraniums is usually recommended if you happen to be living in a country with a warmer climate.
A slightly dry soil is needed to plant geraniums; with sufficient water during dryer periods. Fertilizers then can be added once a month. Also, in order to enhance the health of the geranium plant, you may want to add compost and all-purpose fertilizer if the geraniums are planted in poor soil.
As for houseplant geraniums, it is best to move them indoors when at the approach of winter. You can place them near a window where there is constant light from the sun shining in.
When purchasing your plants look for plants with plenty of leaves as well as shoots growing from the base. Well cared for geraniums are usually trouble free and resistant to most pests and diseases.
A preferable temperature for these houseplants would be anything below 70 degrees. Be careful not to over water your geranium plants and do allow the soil to dry out a little in between watering the plant. You can also fertilize them using a liquid fertilize such as algoflash (click the bottle to the right for details).
There is always a huge choice available on eBay, here’s a selection:
Hydrangeas are best grown in rich soil, so it is recommended to dig in a lot of compost and other organic matter before planting them. The best conditions for Hydrangeas to grow is from partial shade to full
sun.
Hydrangeas are fertilized in the spring season, during May in the South and again in August. In Northern areas, fertilization should be done in June.
A good pH balanced, slow-released fertilizer should also be used, with the amount depending on the size of the plant. For a very small plant, you would need to use a quarter cup of the fertilizer to spread around the base, whereas larger plants would require 1 or 2 cups.
Pruning the plant should be done in spring to remove the old or damaged growth of the plant, as well as old flower stems. Beware not to cut the new shoots though.
Problems that may occur when cultivating Hydrangeas include powdery mildew; sighted by white powder on leaves that will turn yellow and then wilt. You can treat it by removing parts of the plant that are infected and proceed to spray with fungicide.
Other external factors such as the harsh weather of the winter, too much shade, and poor fertilization can disrupt the Hydrangeas from blooming well.
An interesting gardening fact to note about Hydrangeas is that you can alter the color of the blossom just by adjusting the soil acidity. For blue flowers, aluminum sulfate can be added to make soil acid. Those who prefer pink flowers may add lime to make the soil more alkaline.
Hydrangea Angel Wings Click the image above
to order this variety
Hydrangea Lady in Red Click the image to order this variety
There is always a huge choice available on eBay, here’s a selection:
Petunias are among the easiest to plant and grow in your garden. They are very suitable for container planting too. When growing Petunias will bloom from spring season until the first frost, with bright and lively looking petals of the flower that emit a fresh scent in the air.
Petunias are grouped into four distinct categories based on the size of the flower and growth habit. Some are suited to grow in containers while others are more apt to be planted in mass in the garden.
There are a variety of Petunias to choose from, with Grandiflora petunias being the popular type. They produce large flowers of 3-4 or more inches across in size.
Petunia Wave Collection Click the image above to order this variety
Aside from Grandiflora petunias, there are Multiflora petunias which produce smaller flowers compared to Grandifloras, Milliflora petunias that are miniature plants with an abundance of little flowers measured by just an inch, and groundcover or ‘spreading’ petunias.
Petunias require plenty of sunlight to grow well, needing at least five or six hours under the sun. In fact, petunias can take the sun all day as this will enable the flowers to blossom in generous amount.
For well cultivated petunias efficient draining is a must for healthy plants. Growing petunias may not need to grow in rich soil and such, but it is best to improve garden soil by conditioning them with organic matter.
The organic matter should be spread 2 to 3 inches thick. Then, using a garden fork, add it in into the soil to about 8 to 10 inches depth. This will help to ease up heavy clay soil which improve drainage and increase the ability of re-conditioned soil to hold moisture and nutrients which are beneficial for the plants.
Watering the plant once a week is sufficient. However, the ‘spreading’ type petunias would require frequent watering as they tend to cover a huge area in growth.
Handy Tip – dead head the blossoms as soon as each flower starts to fade and you petunia will put out more and more blossom.
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