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.