I have been planting flowers in my flower bed in front of my house for a number of years. I have noticed that some years they look better than other years. I have tried to look and get some hints to see what other neighbors do because theirs always look so nice. This year I am very pleased with how everything looks. I did a few things differently and I think it made the difference.
Some years I didn’t bother cultivating the dirt before I began planting. I realized this is probably not good for the flowers and for the entire garden or flower bed. It doesn’t really take very long to do and I think you do grow better flowers. After cultivating, I begin the planting process. I have realized that if I plant more than one flower in the designated spot, you really have a nice plant in a couple of months. In the past I was only planting one flower in each hole and they looked very skimpy. In fact, someone described them as looking like lollipops. I planted maybe half of the flower bed with two plants in each hole and now they look nice and blossomed. In the holes where I only planted one flower, they don’t look as full and healthy.
After planting I put mulch around the flowers because it makes it look a lot nicer and better landscaped. Mulch also prevents some weeds from growing which could ruin your flowers. Some weeds get caught right around the flower, preventing it from growing properly. I have also learned that the rain tends to shift or move the mulch. So, at times you need to replenish the mulch after it has rained.
Certain years I have used Miracle Gro. When I’ve used this I have seen a better and healthier growth. Miracle Gro is food for the plants. Sunshine and watering is not enough. All living things need food to grow. Also, I tend to be away a lot in the summer time and when I come back, some plants look almost dead because they did not get enough water. It may be a good idea to ask a neighbor or relative to water them every other day when you are away.
Lastly, in the past I’ve had trouble with deer and rabbits eating the flowers. This year it wasn’t a problem at all because I sprinkled garlic and cinnamon around the flowers a number of times. The smell was very strong and it kept the animals away. So it worked. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on repellents which are expensive. Just buy these two spices at your local grocery store and apply it every few days.
By following just these few steps, you can have a beautiful looking flower bed. If it is located in front of your house, you especially want it to look good because it will give a nice curb appeal.
