I already have a flower bed in my yard and want to plant flowers. What do I do?

The flower bed is just filled up with dirt, weeds, and little pcs of rock. First I need to clean it out I guess but do I use the dirt that's already in there or do put soil down? If you want to know, I live in Charlotte, NC (Zone 7). I want to plant perennial flowers. I'm new to gardening and want to know how prepare the flower bed, what type of soil I need (if necessary) and any tips on types of flowers to plant. Thanks alot!

FlowersBirthday FlowersSympathy FlowersStart by amending the soil.


Soil by analogy: As we require food to support us so do plants. Our digestive system works to break down dinner to supply the basic units that will become us structurally, and provide energy, so soil acts to feed plants. Soil requires a steady supply of organic mater to support the worms and micro-organisms, which digest the organics into available plant nutrients. Then just as we take vitamins to complement our diet we can give plants trace minerals and other supplements but these are no substitute for the staple of organic matter to feed the plants. Balance and moderation are key.


You can do a visual soil survey by digging a small hole. First look at the hole and take some soil in hand. Check your soil's texture by picking up a handful and squeeze gently: If it feels sticky and stays in a tight mass, your soil is likely too high in clay. If it feels harsh or gritty and won't hold any shape or crumbles it is likely too high in sand. If it feels smooth or floury and won't hold any shape, it's likely too high in silt. If it molds into your hand yet crumbles apart when squeezed, it has the perfect texture. It is loam.


If it formed a sticky ball try to squeeze it upward to form a ribbon. Measure the length of the ribbon. Now wet the soil in your palm til muddy. Rub the soil against your palm with your other fingertips. Is it smooth, gritty or both?


1” gritty ribbon is sandy loam


1” smooth ribbon is silty loam


1” both is loam


1-2” gritty ribbon is sandy clay loam


1-2” smooth ribbon is silty clay loam


1-2” both is clay loam


GT 2” gritty ribbon is sandy clay


GT 2” smooth ribbon is silty clay


GT 2” both is clay











Amounts and Specifications: To make a significant change in your garden soil, an amendment must equal at least one-third of the volume of the soil you are amending.





For clay soils: the goal is to improve soil aggregation, increase porosity and permeability, and improve aeration and drainage. For example, to amend a garden to a depth of 1 foot, you need to add one-third of a foot (4 inches) of material.


*3 to 6 inches of organic material dug in 9 to 18 inches


*Perlite or pumice 5-25% of amendment


*Coarse sand 5-25% of amendment





For sandy soils: the goal is to increase the soil's ability to hold moisture and store nutrients.


*4 to 8 inches of organic material dug in 12 to 24 inches


*Vermiculite 5-25% of amendment








For both soils:


*Fertilizer - the type and amount of fertilizer to use CAN be determined by a soil test. Fertilizer comes in various forms (pellets, powder, liquid) and many nutrient ratios. If you add all the organics suggested above you can suppose a balanced organic like Whitney Farm rose and flower food 4-6-2 will be enough.





Design pointers for making garden pictures





Don't create fruit salad -- Without a focal point, there is nothing upon which your eye can rest. I suggest taking a black-and-white photo of the garden, because this lets you see form instead of color. It will be easier then to discover where you need to include an important feature. Take pictures as if from the house and towards favorite views. No favorites, then with an eye to creating a vista within your garden.





Use a strong evergreen element for year-round interest -- Outside the family room window, try copper or colorful clay pots to represent the "evergreen" element, and the seasonal plantings around them become "moments of glory." Evergreens can include ground covers like Acaena inermis, conifers that never reach 3 feet tall, or a trellis displaying a winter clematis as backdrop. Try an evergreen rhododendron, with hydrangea and seasonal bulbs like tulips, then allium and calla lilies.





Think in threes -- Each plant combination should use these three attributes: vertical, round and spiky. The contrast adds interest to even the smallest garden. Vertical can be the tall Daffodil arising from a bed of Wall Rock Cress with the daffodils orange center matched to the mounding primroses color. The tall waving lines of Feather Reed grass 'Overdam, with Heuchera 'Pewter Vail', and the round solidity of Bergenia.





Play to your strengths -- Choose plants with which you enjoy working. Intermingle plants with scented foliage to ambush you with their presence while simply weeding among them. Choose a play of color that reminds you of a favorite place. Cool blues to greens or flamboyant golds and oranges, vary the shape but stick with a color. Yucca 'Gold Sword' with Coleus 'Pineapple Queen' or Hakone grass with Hosta 'Sun Power'.





Be as organic as possible -- Lots of compost and thoughtful choice and placement are keys to organic gardening. "This is your chance to protect a small part of our planet."





Imagine looking out at the winter garden. Remember, the entire mood changes with the season. As the large vine maple (Acer circinatum) outside the window unfurls its leaves, the room takes on a decidedly spring green feel, while autumn turns the room warm with tones of orange and red.





Questions to ask yourself


Is a particular style of garden desired? Formal, informal, scented, night flowering for evening use, cottage style for growing herbs or vegetables as well as flowers?


What time of day is your garden most used, and by whom?


Will it be used year round or on summer weekends only?


How much time and energy will be available for maintenance?


Is there a particular view or landscape feature you like?


Is it visible from the house while seated?


Is it visible from a possible bench site in the garden?


Do you like what your windows frame?





To choose the right plant for the right place visit your local gardens. Lucky you to live in a state with such a choice of botanical gardens. The North Carolina Botanical Garden is one of the finest in the country and they have lists of plants. The Garden Club of North Carolina %26amp; the botanical garden cosponsor North Carolina Wildflower of the Year program as well as sponsoring many garden talks. It is well over an hours drive from you but would be worth the trip.


http://www.ncbg.unc.edu/


But you have three much closer to visit; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden http://www.dsbg.org/index.php


UNC-Charlotte Botanical Garden,


and Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary


248 Ridgewood Avenue (off Selwyn Avenue)


Charlotte, NC 28209-1632


704-331-0664
Reply:you know seeds? ok well you put them in the ground.... yay!
Reply:First you have to do is take the weeds out then level the dirt to your liking. You don't need to take out the little rocks, you can even put them on top of the dirt to be part of the garden itself. You don't even need to put a new top soil you can use the existing dirt.





Second, you go about and pick the flowers you like. At zone 7 you have a lot of choices for perennials. Check its instructions if it fits your garden location.





Lastly, as a starter gardener you can check this site and decide for yourself what methods you'll use. (www.squarefootgardening.com). good luck.
Reply:Take care of existing weeds first. Then you can either use the dirt that's there, or go get bags of garden soil (organic if you can) to top dress the soil with. Go to the local nursery for your plants, they can help pick out what you want. When planting, put the tallest growers in the back, shortest in the front. Mulch the beds to keep weeds at a minimum, and water daily until the plants are established and you can cut back. You can jazz it up by mixing in annuals for seasonal colors and variety. If you have a bed close to the house, intersperse cooking herbs such as basil, oregano, rosemary, and whatever else you want for fresh herbs all summer...remove flowers as they appear and at the end of the summer you can dry the rest for fresh dried organic herbs during the winter.
Reply:Clean out the garden of weeds and rocks. Then, dig small holes where you want the flowers and mix regular dirt with some topsoil. Then, put some of the mixture down, put the seed in, and cover it with the rest of the topsoil. If you don't want a seed, just use a pre-done flower. Your local flower shop manager should be able to help you choose which flowers.





Make sure your flower garden is watered regularly stays weed-free!
Reply:You didn't say how large of a bed you had. I would remove as many weeds as possible. Spread several bags of pine bark mulch over the area. Till and mix well with the soil. Wait a week or so and till again to remove any weeds you may have missed. Plant your flowers in the usual way. If you are using potted plants, apply root stimulator at the time of planting (available at your garden center). Carefully and lightly cultivate between plants with a hoe or rake periodically to keep weeds down.Shoes

My poted plants are producing leaves and flowers on one side of the pot only. how do i get more uniformed grow

sun all around , not just one side so its perplexing

FlowersBirthday FlowersSympathy FlowersTurn your pot anyway. One side is getting more sun than the other.loan

What causes squash plants to grow HUGE, and have many flowers but never produce any squash?

We planted a garden and the yellow squash plants took over! But every time we thought there would be squash....Nope!

FlowersBirthday FlowersSympathy FlowersKeep waiting trust me! Mines just started last week making squash. I live in Virginia. But the person talking about pollination is also right. Pollen needs to be transfered from the male to the female flower!
Reply:Excessive fertilization for the size and heat for the no fruit. Many varieties of squash will only produce male flowers if the temperature is above 90 F. This is especially true with zuchini types.
Reply:Sounds like they aren't being pollenated. There are male and female flowers. The male will be a more slender stalk without a bulge at the base. You can pollenate them youself when the bees are not. Use a small artist paint brush when the flowers are open.
Reply:pollination,, no worry , pick the flowers while somewhat small, batter and deep fry,, they are yummy
Reply:The wrong kind of fertilizer.


There are three numbers on a fertilizer bag.


One feeds flowers/fruit, another feeds foliage, the third feeds everything.


Buy tomato plant fertilizer, it's made to feeed fruit/flowers. And depending on where you live, you might be just a little early yet.
Reply:Honestly I don't know but Squash are like Pumpkins, they have a male flower and a female flower, only the female flower get a fruit on it, sounds like yours are all male flowers.puppy teeth

My rose plants are not blooming with flowers. what to apply?

If buds but no flowers or slow feeble blooms could be aphids examine the buds to tell , the ants tend to raise them like cattle.





Repeatedly washing them off with the spray of the hose will keep the ants busy. think ladybugs might eat them too.





Ob1

FlowersBirthday FlowersSympathy Flowersweekly once break an whole egg and pour it under the soil near the root.As i have experienced try this.
Reply:horse pooh
Reply:The rose plant is not getting enough sun. Roses need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day to perform well. 2. The rose needs more water. Roses like at least an inch of water per week during the growing season. 3. The plant has been given too much fertilizer, especially Nitrogen. Too much fertilizer can either damage the plant or cause it to grow extra leaves and stems at the expense of blooms. 4. The rose is a new plant. Don't expect too much from a plant during its first year. 5. Rose is a once blooming variety. This means it will bloom only once a year in the late spring or early summer. 6. Soil pH is too low or too high. If the pH is not in the range of 6.0 to 6.8 (ideally 6.5) then nutrient uptake will be reduced, and the plant won't be getting the food it needs to produce flowers. 7. Not enough foliage. If the bush doesn't have adequate foliage, it can't produce the food it needs to make new flowers. Inadequate foliage may result from disease or too little fertilizer.


edit


How much sun do roses need?





Roses prefer a full day of sun. Give roses at least 6 hours of direct sun a day. Morning sun is especially important because it dries the leaves which helps prevent disease.





Most roses do poorly in shade. Plants bloom less, are leggy, and are more likely to get diseases.


edit


Which roses can be grown in shade?





Many Hybrid Musks and some Albas can tolerate partial shade. A few other varieties including the Floribunda "Gruss An Aachen" can be planted in partial shade.





Some other roses that may grow in partial shade are the Rugosas, Iceberg(FB), Zephirine Drouhin (Bourbon), Souvenir du Docteur Jamain(HP) and Madame Plantier.





for more related questions visit this


http://www.wikifaq.com/Rose_Care_FAQs


hope this helps
Reply:epsom salt
Reply:May sound strange, but it works. Use bananna peels. Eat the bananna first of all. And just put it on the ground up next to the stem or stock. Roses love banannas!





They will even get fuller and bloom more flowers
Reply:They need good sunlight, heavy pruning and spray them to protect them from insectsReebok

Zuchinni plant flowers?

I have a zuchinni plant. The flowers started blooming, they are HUGE and yellow.In the morning I see the bloomed ones, but when I get home in the afternoon they are shriveled and closed, but the inside pollen fuzz thing is still intact. Are they supposed to close?

FlowersBirthday FlowersSympathy FlowersNormal, and they're probably males. The female blossoms start afterwards.
Reply:Yes. The flowers come right before the zucchini. If you pay attention, you'll see that a zucchini grows where each flower was. I noticed that the flowers love the morning sun and then close later in the afternoon and at night. These flowers don't last long. Before too long, they will shrivel up for good and fall off. A little while after that, zucchini starts to grow.
Reply:Yes this is were the zucchini grows from. The flower closes and shrivels and then you will soon see your zucchini forming.
Reply:yup. they stay open for a nice sunny day and hopefully will have been pollinated bu the end of the day so you'll get a beautiful vegetable.


tomorrow there will be lots more blooms.


actually some people pick the blooms in the morning and cook them. apparently they are quite delish when fried.
Reply:Yes! It is great you have blooms this means you are doing everything right. The bloom is supposed to close, if you leave it on, it will develop into a zucchini. If you see many blooms, you may want to remove some so that you end up with some large zucchini, that way the plant will not continue to put all of its energy into producing flowers, but will put its energy into growing the fruit. You will have to decide how many zucchini you want! Have fun, it is really exciting to watch them grow.
Reply:Yes, they close, dry up and fall off. Don't pick at them because that "pollen fuzz thing" is supposed to develop into the zucchini.





The Museloan

How do plants (such as trees and flowers) adapt to the environment?

Plants and trees give oxygen. They help us because if we have no oxygen, we would die! That's why it's important to our environment.

FlowersBirthday FlowersSympathy Flowersi can give u the genetic answer of environs and genes, why one plant may grow in saline or acidic conditions and why those with large genomes, like the giant redwood r so resticted, but i suspect u need pattie labelles 'if only u knew' -hw much i luv u... vs. jerry butlers 'find urslf anthr grl'... who would love u true true true' is what ur aftr.
Reply:Adaptation of plants to the environment is a long evolutionary process. It is found that the plants which are adapted themselves to different habitats survive better in that habitats. Plants in general get adapted to the environment. ( Your question says trees and flowers, I could not understand why you have specified this.)


There are three classes of plants based on three different habitats.


1. Plants growing in aquatic conditions


2. Plants growing in normal conditions


3.Plants growing in desert conditions





Depending upon the habitats, plants have different mechanisms which cannot be explained in detail at this forum as the answer will be tooooooo long.c++

Is it too late to plant flowers in Virginia? If not, what kind should I plant?

I just bought a house %26amp; we close on Monday!!!!!! In the front yard there is a few spots that have like dying or dead long bush looking things. Anyways, I wanted to add some color with flowers and I was wondering if it is too late in the season to plant flowers in Northern VA?? If its not, what is the best kind to get that will grow? Should I get the kind that are already bloomed %26amp; just plant those? Should I get seeds? Should I get the lil mats with the seeds? Plz help - I have no clue about any of this stuff!

FlowersBirthday FlowersSympathy FlowersIt's not too late to plant flowers.


First you need to know how much sunlight that your front yard get and find the plant that will grow there.





Annuals from seeds usually takes 3-4 months to bloom, some seeds are easy to grow like: Marigold, Zinnia, Cosmos, Coleus, Impatiens. Don't buy the mats with seeds, good in theory but not in reality.





If you want to buy plants, you can try Hydrangea (blue flowers in acid soil, pink flowers in alkaline soil), Daylilies (potted from nursery) comes in many colors not just orange, red, yellow.





Bulbs like Asiatic and Oriental Lilies are easy to grow, you can plant to fill in bare spots cause they don't take a lot of space. Gladiolus also very pretty with alot of bicolors.





Happy Gardening.
Reply:I haven't bought my annuals yet and I'm in NVA too. It might be a little late to get them going from seed, but the stores and garden centers are full of them ready to plant.





Impatiens do really well, as do marigolds, petunias and a ton of others.





Congrats on the house, and have fun with it.
Reply:Another Virginian here! I planted flowers just last weekend. If you want small flowers it's not to late to plant seeds. If you nick the seeds with a knife or razor and then soak them in HOT water (faucet, not stove) for a few hours, it cuts the germination time in half! Lilies are also great. There are tons of colors to choose from. I always plant mine closer together than they say to because I like them thick. I planted my Lily bulbs last weekend and they should be up between June and August. I rec. putting in fertilizer with the bulbs when you plant them. Get the timed release kind that releases fertilizer for 2-3 months. That will help make sure they are properly fertilized while they are first starting out. Good Luck and Congrats!yahoo finance