Continue reading »]]> There is a lot of joy and accomplishment to be had in growing organic flower gardens. Not only do they provide you with a colorful view that can be enjoyed by all, but the scent of many of these flowers is absolutely amazing. Naturally there are some choices in organic flowers that take a lot more care and attention than others. However, there are also several selections that provide beautiful and vibrant blooms that are not that difficult to care for. Below is a list of a few of the most popular choices among numerous growers of organic flower gardens.

Cosmos, this is a colorful flower that can be chosen in multi-colors or single-color petal choices. The leaves of this flower are similar to those of a fern and they have stems that are long and slender. It does not take a lot of care to enjoy an abundant amount of blooms of the cosmos. They grow well in weather that is warm, and they even continue doing well without any water for certain periods of time. It is important however to make sure they receive adequate amounts of water during the hot summer months. The cosmos plant typically grows to be 4 to 5 feet tall.

Begonias ñ The blooms of this flower form in a cluster and they look very similar to that of a rose. Not only do these flowers provide a beautiful touch in pink, white, red, or yellow to your flower garden, but the leaves are also very appealing as well. What many people love about Begonias is they can easily be planted in outdoor flower gardens, in hanging baskets, and they can also be grown indoors. This is a choice that is great for ground covering, as it expands in width rather than in height like a lot of other choices. Feeding this plant organic fertilizers that contain phosphorus and keeping the soil moist will ensure the best results.

Petunias ñ The buds of this plant provide a unique trumpet shaped bloom that is available in a wide range of beautiful colors. Petunias are found to be prolific bloomers, and although they are slow growing, they require minimal care once they are full grown. While these flowers will do great in full or partial sun, they actually prefer weather that is cool. While it is not needed on a regular basis, organic fertilizers used occasionally can help to promote bud flowering.

Marigolds ñ This flower requires only a minimal amount of care. It is a favorite among many gardeners because the blooms provide such striking and bold colored flowers. The intense colors of orange, yellow, and occasional red blooms of this flower make a fantastic accent to any organic flower garden. Marigolds grow very quick and can be planted in full sun.

Sunflowers ñ The yellow golden petals of the sunflower supply a bright touch to organic flower gardens. They are very popular among many growers for the unique way that the blooms tend to always turn towards the sunís direction. For this flower to thrive they need plenty of sunshine and soil that is fertile. You must also be careful not to overwater them.

Continue reading »]]> Aside from following the basic steps to growing a flower garden, there are also some beneficial tips that will help keep your garden as beautiful and aromatic as ever. Below you will find some tips that are very practical and can go a long way towards getting the best results out of your flower garden.

Dead heading this is a term that refers to pinching off the head of blooms on your plants that are dead. This is a step that helps to promote the growth of more blooms growing on your plants. Some plants that this method is especially helpful for would include geraniums, roses, and verbena.

The use of mulch ñ Mulch is great to use when you want moisture to be retained around the plants in your flower garden. An added benefit that mulch can provide is it helps to prevent the growth of weeds. Fiber is added to the soil when you choose a good quality mulch to add in your garden. It helps to decrease the evaporation of moisture, and it reduces the amount of hand weeding that the grower will have to do.

The use of compost ñ Using compost is a great way to attract butterflies and worms into your flower garden. This of course helps the soil and is a necessary part of pollination. It is easy to make your own compost using such items as the peeling from bananas and the shells from eggs that have been consumed. Simply blend these items with a small amount of water and pour around the base of the plants in your garden. This is a beneficial way of supplying your plants with healthy nutrients that are needed for bright colorful blooms.

Fertilizer ñ Using a good fertilizer is essential when a robust and colorful flower garden is your goal. The right kind of fertilizer will help to promote a regular harvest of blooms that can be enjoyed all season long. An acidic soil and specific types of fertilizers should be used on flowers such as azaleas, hydrangeas, and blueberries.

Food-Water-Light ñ When you take care to provide the plants in your flower garden with the right amount of food, water, and light, you are sure to benefit from great results. It is important to follow the watering directions for the specific types of flowers you have planted. While some flowers may not need large amounts of water, there are others that require continuous watering.

Pay attention to arrangement – Arranging flowers that need the same amount of sunlight and watering together can make the maintenance much easier and much more rewarding. It is also important to note that certain varieties of plants repel insect pests, and there are some that seem to invite them. To ensure your flower garden is not overtaken by insect pests, it may be a good idea to plant a variety of flowers from each of these varieties.

Continue reading »]]> Mother Nature provides each and every one of us with a beautiful and dazzling array of wildflowers that can be seen in fields and along our cityís highways. For a lot of people, only seeing these bright colors on occasion just isnít enough and it frequently leads to the planting of their own flower garden.
As most people are aware, it takes a whole lot more than simply placing some seeds in the ground and watering them on a regular basis to enjoy a robust and colorful flower garden. While there may not be much care at all involved in the growing of wildflowers, this is certainly not true when it comes to flower gardens.

When your goal is to have a flower garden full of healthy beautiful flowers to enjoy day after day, you have to pay close attention to the condition of the soil before planting. When you are planting in an area that was used the previous year, the soil must be replenished with any nutrients that have been lost. Just as itís important to add an adequate level of vitamins and nutrients to our own diet, the same is true when the goal is to grow a robust flower garden. This is achieved with the use of fertilizer.

One choice of fertilizer is for growers to mix their own. This is an option that is safer for the plants and it is also an inexpensive option. Then, there are also fertilizers that can be purchased, which have already been pre-mixed and labeled for specific types of plants. Whether it is organic or commercial fertilizers that you choose to use, they should contain three essential nutrients. Plants need phosphorus to grow strong healthy cell walls and root systems. Potassium is a nutrient that is essential when growing any type of fruit or flowers. The third important nutrient is nitrogen, which ensures that the green shoots of the plants remain healthy and strong.

Compost is another factor that should be considered when growing flower gardens. This is an additional way of providing your flowers a boost of nutrients. An easy way to do this is to add about two cups of dry compost to one gallon of warm water. After the mixture has set overnight, you can then give your plants a healthy drink by pouring it along the base of each plant. This mixture should only be used a couple of times each season and you will want to take great care to not overfeed your flowers.
Another healthy option is to save the shells and peeling of eggs and bananas that have been eaten. Add just a small amount of water to the shells and peeling and then place them into a blender to puree. The shells of eggs provide a great source of phosphorus and calcium. The peelings of bananas are a great source of potassium. When feeding your plants, simply pour the mixture at the base of each plant to ensure it gets to the root system.

Continue reading »]]> There are more and more people that are choosing to plant their flower gardens on raised flower beds, and there are a few different reasons for this. One reason that a lot of people opt to use raised flower garden beds is simply because they are very appealing to the eye. They provide their own level of uniqueness and character that is not found in other styles of planting. While some growers may not be aware of this fact, raised flower beds make it much easier to contain a flower garden, improve soil conditions, and keep critters at bay.

While some people may only want their flower bed to be about a foot high, some find it to be much more effective to plan a design even higher. This may involve more time and work, but when it comes time for planting, watering, and weeding, it is certainly much easier on the back.

A good choice in wood to use for raised flower beds would be 2x12s. You will find them offered at most lumber yards in length sizes of 6 feet and 8 feet. In the event that you plan on building a flower garden that is a 4×8, you can purchase the 8 foot lengths and then cut them in half. You will find that a majority of places will do the cutting for you if you ask them.

To begin, simply line the boards next to each other and then fasten each of the corners with L brackets. It is best to use the ones that are heavy-duty. As you begin to add layers to the flower bed, these can easily be fastened together with the use of screws and flat brackets. If you would like your raised flower bed to end up being about waist high, you will want to build it about three boards high. This is an ideal height to make it much more convenient to work in your flower garden, water your plants, and remove weeds as it is needed.

Before you start adding any soil to your raised flower bed, you will want to consider lining the bed first. This is a step that helps a great deal in preserving the wood that is used in the construction of the bed. An adequate material to use that will drain adequately is roofing material that can be purchased in a roll. Whatever material that you choose to use, you will want to make sure that it provides adequate draining for the flowers you plant.

Some growers choose to place a layer of sand or even a layer of rocks in the bottom of the bed before putting the soil in. This is an easy step that will improve the drainage of your plants. Next, it is time to add the soil into the bed. It is important to mix some fertilizer in with the soil before placing it in the bed. This helps to ensure each of your plants will grow healthy and produce strong beautiful flower buds.

Continue reading »]]> For centuries there have been a countless number of people taking advantage of the benefits to be had in growing edible flowers. This is a hobby for lots of folks that continues to grow more popular with each passing year, and for good reason. There is a wide variety of different types of flowers that can be cooked in meals and consumed. Not only are they used for the unique texture that they can provide to many types of foods, but they are also great for supplying delicious flavor and color as well.

Just like various other items that many people choose to grow in a vegetable garden, you also have the benefit of being able to preserve edible flowers to use at a later time. This comes in very handy during the cold winter months when youíd like to add a specific flower to various items you have cooked. Just a few of these would include desserts, certain beverage items, syrups, jellies and other sweet dishes, soups, salads, and jams. There are many people that even like to use some flower varieties as a garnish for their meals.

Using sugar and the whites of eggs, you can crystalize candied flowers to be used as a great preservative. When the petals of edible flowers are steeped on the stove, they also provide wonderful tasting vinegars and flower oils. Each of these can add a tasty and unique flavor to the meals that you cook.

While there is a wide selection of different types of edible flowers you can choose to grow in your garden, you will want to make sure the varieties you choose are in fact edible. There are some flowers that are actually poisonous and can make you extremely sick when they are consumed. There are also some of them that taste absolutely horrid when eaten. You will also find that with some edible flowers that are grown for consumption, only certain parts of the plants are safe to cook with and eat.

Another important factor to consider before selecting the edible flowers that youíd like to grow in your garden is the specific care and attention that they will require. In order to achieve blooms that are vibrant, edible flowers must be planted in a soil environment that is fertile. Other important factors are to ensure the flowers can be watered frequently, the area can be drained well, and they will also need to receive full sunlight.

Popular Edible Flowers That Are Commonly Grown for Cooking and Consumption

Below you will find a list of a few of the most common edible flower varieties that are often chosen for their taste, color, and texture.

Pansy ñ This type of flower is one of the more popular varieties that are frequently used as an ingredient for cooking cakes, pastries, and appetizers. What is so great about the pansy is the petal of the flower in its entirety, including the sepals can be consumed.

Lavender ñ This is a species that is commonly used in the making of several types of sauces. This is because of the sweet floral taste that it adds. It is also the perfect touch to add to champagne, and when it is used as a garnish on cakes it provides a stunning touch of color.

Roses ñ These awesome smelling flowers are commonly used in the making of a variety of drinks and dishes. Not only is this because of the nice color they provide, but also the tantalizing aroma.

Chrysanthemums, Bee Balm, and Marigolds are a few other edible flower varieties that you might want to consider as well.

Continue reading »]]> Perennial flower gardening is chosen by many growers, and for a wide variety of reasons. Some growers prefer plants that are perennials because they feel they offer a much more colorful variety of beautiful blooms. A lot of growers feel as if it is much easier to grow and maintain perennials. Another big reason is the fact that perennial flowers are believed to be much less of a problem when it comes to insect pests.

Regardless of the type of flowers it is that you choose to grow, perennials and other types of plants require a certain amount of time and effort from the grower. Following the steps below will help in rewarding any grower with a beautiful perennial flower garden to be proud of.

1. Planning the design of your garden ñ The specific area of your yard that you choose is an important part of the planning process. For best results, you will want to make sure it is free of any shrubbery or trees. Many people find it to be very helpful to draw a sketch of the perennial flower garden they have in mind, before actually starting the soil preparation. There is one tip about planting perennials that a lot of growers are not aware of. You can achieve a much more appealing design by planting perennials in either a triangular or circular pattern, rather than simply planting flowers in straight rows. To ensure overcrowding does not occur, you will also want to plan for appropriate spacing between flowers.

2. Soil preparation ñ When growing perennial flowers it is important that the soil contains the right pH level. Levels of pH that are between 5.5 and 6.5 are ideal for growing perennial flowers. If certain areas of your garden are not at the appropriate level, this can easily be fixed by simply adding in a little lime into the soil. The composition of the soil is also important for growing perennial flower gardens. It is important that the composition of the soil not be too sandy or has high levels of clay. If you have problems with either of these, bark humus placed on the soil is a great fix that helps to hold in nutrients and allows for proper draining.

3. Time to begin planting ñ The colors and types of plants youíll want to select will have a lot to do with your individual personality. While some growers prefer soft colors that blend together smoothly, others find it to be much more appealing to use a variety of contrasting colors and plant choices. While planting perennials itís important to remember that each plant will need adequate spacing in order to prevent overcrowding.

4. Watering and feeding ñ The best time to water perennials is either in the late afternoon or in the early morning. Watering in the heat of the day not only causes the water to evaporate, but it can also cause the sunís rays to burn the plants and blooms. Feeding plants organic material is a great way to ensure they will thrive well, growing healthy and strong.

5. Maintenance of perennial flower gardens ñ To ensure your garden stays healthy and beautiful, dried or dead flowers and weeds should be removed on a regular basis.