Watering - All flowers need more frequent watering
when first planted. Later on established plants require less water,
especially the hardier species. Many methods of watering work: use a
sprinkler or a soaker hose, or simply hold your garden hose over the plants.
The key is to water thoroughly to encourage deep rooting. Shallow
watering keeps roots close to the surface, making plants more susceptible to
drought.
Generally , 1 inch of water per application gets water deep enough in
most soil types. Measure this inch by placing several soup cans or
inexpensive rain gauges in the range of your sprinkler. Water until
the containers have collected 1 inch of water; then you will know how long
it takes to deliver a proper application.
Mulching - Mulch covers the ground like a blanket to help deter the
growth of weeds and to keep the soil moist. Organic mulches, such as
bark, compost, and shredded leaves, build the richness of soil as they
decompose. Much also protects plants from temperature extremes.
In summer, it keeps the soil around the roots color; in winter, it helps
prevent alternate freezing and thawing. Half-hardy perennials, such as
azure sage, may extend their range a bit farther north when covered with a
layer of mulch. Try out landscape curbing or with a large selection of concrete edging molds.
Pine straw, bark nuggets, finely ground bark, and shredded leaves are a
few of the many mulches you can use. Choose mulch based on the terrain
of your garden or on your personal preferences for the color and texture of
a particular mulch 2 to 4 inches thick.
Fertilizing - The purpose of fertilization is to meet a plant'
nutritional needs; those needs vary with both the age and the species of the
plant. For example, a young transplant or seedling generally needs
nitrogen early in its life to support rapid growth. Later, as the
plant reaches its full size, nitrogen is less important, and you can
encourage blooms with a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium but
lower in nitrogen. a few plants, such as sweet pea, generally do not
need fertilizer at all, because thy can generate their own nitrogen provided
a certain bacteria is present in the soil. However, most of today's
hybrid plants, such as improved daylilies, depend upon good fertilization to
reach their full potential.
Grooming - Certain plants bloom longer if you remove the spent flowers
before they can form seed. This is called deadheading. Most
annuals respond well to this, as do perennials such as asters, butterfly
weed, coreopsis, mums, reblooming daylilies, and salvia. Some
perennials, such astilbe, bluestar, peonies, and most iris, bloom only once
a year whether deadheaded or not. Few perennials also need cutting
back during the season to kelp them keep a neat form.
Propagating Perennials - dividing perennials live a long time and often
form clumps or spread. This makes it easy and economical to start new
plants from existing perennials, to expand a planting, and give plants away.
In fact most perennials bloom best if they are divided every three or four
years, as this encourages vigorous new shoots.
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