How do I keep different flowers blooming in my garden?
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009 at
1:41 am
Jeni asked:
I have planted tulips and crocus in my Minnesota North Shore flower bed. There is still snow on the ground so I don’t expect to see them soon. I am trying to figure out what to plant next so when the tulips stop blooming something else will bloom. Then what to plant to start blooming when the second wave is done blooming. Is there a website somewhere that can help with this? I am really new to the flower gardening. I am renting, so I can’t plant any bushes or trees and I like flowers a lot better than decorative greenery.
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Since you have already planted tulips and crocus, and if you planted them at the correct depth you can plant day lilies on top of them. (day lilies are great because in a few years you can divide them to get twice the amount of plants). We do this so when the tops of the bulbs die off, the day lilies will take their place so you get two growths in the same amount of space. Now since perennials usually have only a 2 week bloom time you will want to fill in with long blooming, no fuss annuals such as marigolds or I like wave petunias in ground you don’t have to dehead them like regular petunias and one plant will cover a lot of space. Happy Gardening Theresa
Hi, the bulbs that are coming up now were planted last fall. The only way to get continuous flowering until later on in the season is to plant different species and varieties then. They will come up at different times of the spring. Checking with your local garden center, not the box-store garden centers but someone who knows horticulture, will help you understand the difference between early flowering, mid season flowering and late season flowering spring flowers, from April trough May. You are in the north and depending upon your last frost date, you can put in annuals as soon as the last frost is past. Annuals will bloom all summer, but need daily care and water. The day lilies will not blossom until late June to July. After the flowers are gone and the foliage is still there, it is time to fertilize your bulbs to ensure they will flower next spring. Do not fertilize them while in flower because that will shorten their flowering season. I have been there and done that! Good Luck and Happy Gardening!
The next step is to get into perennial gardening that will allow you to see flowers all summer and into fall. Perennial gardening is a work in progress, however, so be prepared to spend time researching before you dive in. It can be extremely costly and time consuming, as well as addicting so beware!