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Flower Gardening for Newbies
 Kate Greenwood
Growing a lush, beautiful flower garden does not have to a project of epic proportions. If you are new to flower gardening, start with a small area of your yard, and you can beautify your property with minimal effort and expense. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Amend your soil. This means adding organic matter such as manure (I know, but no-one every said flower gardening would always be pretty) or compost. Whether you have sandy soil or clay soil, or anything in between, your chances for success will be vastly improved by providing your plants with a nurturing environment.
Place the right plant in the right place. Some plants are sun lovers. Others prefer the cooler shade. Putting shade plants in full sun and vice versa is asking to fail. The little tags on the plants are not merely suggestions. It is very expensive to find this out through trial and error. Believe me.
Annual plants are the shooting stars of the garden. Annuals are flowers that only live for a single blooming season, but they pack a lot of punch. They are indispensable for filling in holes in the garden, especially when your perennials are not in bloom. Most annuals do best in full sun, so its something to keep in mind.
Perennial plants are the real backbone of the garden. Perennials are plants that come back year after year, bigger and better each season. They have a shorter bloom time than annuals, so it is good to have a mixture of both in your beds for continued color and interest throughout the growing season. Once established perennials require very little maintenance.
Weed and mulch, mulch and weed. Flower gardening does involve a bit of drudge work, but it is more than worth it to be rewarded with a gorgeous spot you and Nature have created together. It is also addicting so do not be surprised if every season your garden expands!
www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/beginner-gardening.html offers some great advice on gardening basics. Happy digging!
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