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By Jeff Dahlberg
Planting flower seeds in the spring has some distinct advantages over growing them at any other time of the year. The spring rain and mild temperatures make the ground perfect for sowing new flower seeds. When planting a flower garden, most flower seeds can be planted as soon as there is no more threat of frost. Annual flower seeds particularly need warm weather and spring rains in order to take hold and grow. If the warm weather is present, but not the rain, make sure to water new flower seeds liberally. If the soil is particularly dry, try adding a potting soil or peat moss mixture in order to give flower seeds the best chance to flourish and bloom.
While there are other times of the year for planting flower seeds, spring is the ideal time in for seeds to grow. When planting annual flower seeds in the spring, the gardener doesn’t have to wait for the dormant period to be over, and will not be looking at a short life for the plants. Flower seeds grown in the spring will have the advantages of the rain and the spring warmth in which to sprout. Once the ground is thawed and there is not likely to be more frost, it is time to ready flower seed for the garden. In dry areas, the ground will need to be watered regularly in order to create the ideal environment for new flower seeds. In many dry regions, the soil may also call for fertilizer, peat moss, or mulch as well.
Annual flower seeds can be planted as soon as the weather is mild. Hardy annuals, those with a higher tolerance to cold, can be started at the very beginning of the growing season, even if there is the possibility of another frost. For those who wish to have their plants flowering as soon as possible, starting annual flower seeds indoors in the late winter or cold part of the spring, and then transplanting them outdoors, is one way to get early blooms. This makes for an early flower garden using cheap seed instead of using expensive plants or seedlings from a nursery. But annuals are not the only flower seed variety that responds well to spring planting.
As we move on towards the middle of spring, where the weather is lovelier and the frost is long gone, regular annual seeds that require warm temperature can be planted. For hardy annuals you can plant them in the early spring as they have a strong resistance towards cold spring frost. While you plant your hardy annuals, you can simultaneously plant your regular annual flower indoors and later transplant them outdoor when the weather settles. Once you have the regular and hardy annual flowers in your garden, you can see the result of having the prettiest garden as your flower would bloom continuously throughout the season. Besides annual, a lot of other varieties of flower seeds also can be planted in the season of spring as well.
Perennial flower seeds usually need some cold temperatures before being planted, but can do this naturally in the soil. Perennial flower seeds should be started early in the spring both to give them some cold temperatures in which to germinate, and to ensure that they will be large enough by winter to survive freezing temperatures. If the climate is warm and mild all year, these flower seeds may need to be refrigerated before they can be planted. Perennial flower seeds grow into flowers than can live for three years or more, making them a popular favorite for gardeners. Taking special care of these seeds will eliminate the need to replant them each year.
During the early spring, when the temperatures are still teasingly cold, perennial flowers can be planted naturally in the soil. This is because most of the varieties of perennial flowers need a little bit of cold weather to germinate before they began sprouting. This is also to ensure that they would have matured nicely and can withstand the cold and harsh condition when winter arrives. Not only that, growing perennial early in the spring would also guarantee that you would have a blooming garden with flowers earlier than any type flowers. Although not very suitable to plant in warm climate countries, those who simply insist of having them needs to keep them refrigerated before planting to give them time to germinate. Even if one is staying in a cold weather country, and had bought the seeds a little bit too late in the spring they still have to conduct the same practice of refrigerating these flowers. The beauty of perennial however is their life span as they can easily last for three years or more. Their life span would be longer if one takes good care of the seeds and nourish them appropriately.
Another seed that is usually planted in the spring is wildflower seeds. As the seeds can take root easily and are generally less tending than other types of flowers, it is known as one of the hardiest and most resilient flower varieties around. Not only that, they are usually cheaper and can grow easily in most climates. However, it needs to be planted in the early season so they can benefit from the spring rain in order to survive. It does not require any special fertilizers but may need some tilling in order to grow. Because wildflower seeds are cheap, easy to grow, require little labor and resources, most of the states have taken to planting them to prevent erosion. That’s also the reason why most people plant them at their flower garden.
Although the cost of bearing the wildflower seeds is cheap, the flowers that they produce can be quite a sight. That is also one of the reasons why many homes choose to have the wildflowers at their backyard or even along their driveway. The ease in which they can sprout and grow, as well as requiring little tending and care makes it a favorite in a garden or a yard. To get a better chance of them surviving longer, one can do a little bit of tilling. Like other plants as well, even if it’s low maintenance one still need to water it especially during the dry season to ensure it will stay blooming in your garden.
About the Author: Jeff is the founder and president of cheapseeds.com, a leading retailer of flower seeds, wild flower seeds, perennial seeds, annual flower seeds and much much more.
Source: isnare.com
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