How To Plant Flowers For Beginners [8 Steps]
Are you dreaming of a garden full of beautiful and colorful flower beds, but do you feel overwhelmed by all the online information? Don’t worry. We are here to help you. In this guide, we will explain how to plant flowers and give you examples of easy flowers to grow for beginners.
14 Easy Flowering Plants To Grow For Beginners
In the world of flowers, many varieties exist that are easy to plant and maintain. But which ones should you choose if you are new to flower gardening? Here are some of the most common and easy-to-grow flowers:
- Daffodil & Narcissus
- Tulip
- Allium
- Crocus
- Grape Hyacinth
- Iris
- Anemones
- Spanish Bluebell
- Siberian Squill
- Dahlias
- Echinacea
- Helleborus
- Ixia
- Hyacinths
Equipment Kit For Beginners
Good equipment is key before you start planting flower bulbs. Here are several essential garden tools for your garden project:
- Top-quality bulbs
- A pair of gloves
- Hand trowel
- Garden fork
- Spade
- Watering can
- Garden rake
- Tape measure
Planting Flowers For Beginners: A Step-By-Step Plan For A Beautiful Flower Garden
1. Climate
The first important step is determining your climate to decide which plants are suitable for it. For example, the north of the US has a slightly colder climate than the south. When you know the climate, you can choose the flowers that will thrive. Tip: Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find out which gardening zone you live in.
2. Location
Not only is the climate important, but so is the right location in your garden. Most flowers need full sun to partial shade to grow, so it’s best to check their preferences before planting. Choose a relatively flat area with enough sunlight (around 6 hours of sun per day) and well-drained soil to avoid root and bulb rot.
Tip: The standard method for calculating the ideal planting depth is to dig a hole three times as deep as the bulb is high and place the bulb at the bottom with its pointy end up. Also, ensure you have enough space to plant the bulbs or roots so they don’t touch each other. Avoid overcrowding.
3. Soil
Preparing your soil for flower bulb planting is essential for beautiful, strong and healthy flowers. When you find a good location for a flower bed in your garden, loosen the soil structure with a spade or a garden fork. Dig down 10–12 inches (around 25-30 cm) and gently lift the soil to mix in some air. Break up any clumps and then rake the area smooth.
Read more: Preparing your soil for flower bulb planting
4. Plants
The next step is to choose the flower plants. The best option for a beginning gardener is to select plants that are easy to care for. Daffodils and Paperwhites are examples of easy-to-grow flowering plants. Limit yourself to just a few varieties to make the care process easier.
Bulbs, Corms, Tubers, And Rhizomes
Some flowers grow from bulbs or corms, while others have tubers or rhizomes. In addition, plants are annual or perennial. A plant that comes back yearly, often with more blooms than before, is called a perennial. Plants that only grow for one season are called annuals, meaning you must plant new ones yearly to get the same effect. But most annual plants bloom longer than perennial plants.
- Bulbs: Daffodil, Tulip, Allium
- Corms: Dichelostemma, Ranunculus
- Tubers: Begonia, Dahlia
- Rhizomes: Iris
Read more: The Difference between Bulbs, Tubers & Rhizomes
5. Timing
The right time to plant is also essential because you can’t plant each flower all year round. For example, you plant Allium in fall, and the plant will flower in the spring. On the other hand, Dahlia needs to be planted in the spring and will bloom during the summer months. Do you want a colorful late winter / early spring garden? Plant in the fall. And for a beautiful (early) summer garden, plant in the spring. A clear planting plan will help you plant at the right time.
Tip: At DutchGrown, you can find a great collection of high-quality spring-planted bulbs and fall-planted bulbs.
6. Food
Like humans and animals, plants need nutrition to live. Bulbs require N-P-K, or Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash. Nitrogen helps start the leaf growth, while Phosphorus and Potash protect the bulb from disease, help it grow strong roots, and support it in doing its most important job: making great flowers. Several fertilizers are available on the market, so choose the one that best suits the plants you want in your garden.
7. Water
Watering is a fundamental aspect of plant care. Flowering plants have varying water requirements depending on their growth and flowering stage, as well as the climate and season. New plants need, for example, more water to settle in the first period. Water flowering plants deeply and evenly, allowing excess water to drain away to prevent waterlogged soil. Avoid overhead watering, especially for delicate flowers prone to fungal diseases. Water at the base of the plant to minimize splashing on the foliage.
Our general tips:
- Water new flowers well
- Water potted plants more often to keep the soil moist, not soggy
- Use room temperature water
- Water in the morning, every 3–5 days when no rain has fallen
- Adjust the water frequency based on seasonal changes
- Monitor plant health and soil
- Group plants with similar watering needs together
More information: How To Water Different Types of Plants
8. Maintaining
After planting and watering, you must maintain your garden to keep the flowers healthy. It’s best to check your plants regularly to spot problems early, such as pests, diseases, weeds and root rot, and take action on time.
Deer And Other Animals
Deer and some other animals love various flowers as much as we do. They eat around as soon as the flowers grow above the ground. Luckily, there are many bulbs they don’t prefer to eat. Examples are Allium, Daffodils and Bluebells. Do you live in an area with deer, rabbits, squirrels or other animals that love to take a bite from your flowers? It’s best to choose deer-resistant flower bulbs.
Deadheading After Flowering
After the plants have finished flowering, the right maintenance is essential. Don’t cut the foliage of the flowers straight away: through photosynthesis, the leaves will create nutrients that the bulb will need for its next growing season. After a few weeks, the foliage will automatically turn yellow and die back, and then you can remove it. Now, the bulb will be dormant and won’t need watering until the next flowering season.
Discover A Wide Collection Of The Best Flowers For Beginners At DutchGrown
This guide covered the most important information for beginning gardeners, from climate to maintenance. Of course, there is much more to talk about how to get a garden with beautiful blooms. On our blog, you will find helpful articles, guides and more about various plants, from Tulips to Snowdrops.
Are you ready to create your own dream garden full of color? At DutchGrown, you can find a wide range of beautiful, top-sized bulbs, corms and bare-roots to plant beautiful flowers. Discover our collection now; we ship from the Netherlands to all over the US. Happy gardening!
