Landscaping Birmingham – Getting Ready to Plant Flowers

No matter what your level of experience, you can have beautiful blooming flowers in your garden. Start with a plan and a basic understanding of what flowers will work best in your zone and how to best care for them.

Landscaping Birmingham – 5 Tips for Planting Success

Soil is Very Important

Soil contains the food water and air that plants require to survive. Most plants thrive in moist, but well drained soil.  Ideal garden soil has the texture of crumbly chocolate cake and is easy to dig into. The soil’s pH is also important for plants to absorb water and nutrients. While some plants require very specific pH to thrive, most cultivated plants do well in a pH of 6.5.

Seeds vs. Plants 

Both annuals and perennials can be sown from seed directly in the garden. Seeds are inexpensive but it will take time for them to sprout, develop and bloom. Beginning with plants requires a higher initial cost but will yield faster results. Look for medium height plants with sturdy stems and healthy green leaves.

Annuals vs. Perennials

Annuals are widely available and easy to grow. They tend to be less expensive then perennials and last for one season. Perennials will last for three or more seasons with shorter blooming periods. Planting a mix of annuals and perennials with alternating blooming periods will give color to your garden all season.

Geography is Important

Select plants that will grow in your Plant Hardiness Zone. The other factors to consider when selecting your plants are when to plant, day length, amount of sunlight, temperature and rainfall.

Keep Your Flower Beds Looking Good

Prepare to invest the time to keep your beds looking good. Beds will require weeding and mulching during the year. One dose of fertilizer at the initial planting is usually sufficient. Pre-emergent will also help with weed control but will not completely eliminate weeds throughout the year. “Preen” is a good choice for pre-emergent.

The Nelson Team Can Help

If you want a beautiful garden we can help! Call The Nelson Team at (205) 702-4426 or click here to email us for one of our professionals to evaluate your landscape and design a plan that best fits your needs.