How to Pick a Flower to Grow

Selecting the flower you want to plant is a critical choice for determining the success or failure of your flower garden. Since you can choose from thousands of species of flowers, it is easy to make a mistake. By following a few precepts, however, you can select a flower well adapted to its site and that pleases anyone who sees it. All it takes to successfully pick a flower to grow is a little advance consideration.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Soil test kit

1. Make sure you choose a flower that can grow flourish in your climate. Discover what flowers thrive in your area by determining in which USDA Hardiness Zone you live.

2. Determine the purpose of the flower. Decide if you want the flower to add color to your garden or if you will use it as an edging or accent flower.

3. Decide if you want the flower to bloom in the spring, summer or later in the year. Pick a flower that blooms in the selected time frame.

4. Determine how the flower will fit into your garden’s color scheme. Pick a flower that adds color, if you have a multi-colored garden. If you have a one-color garden, select a flower the same color as the other flowers.

5. Decide how much time and effort you want to put into growing the flower. A rose, for example, needs a lot of attention. Marigolds, on the other hand, are much easier to grow.

6. Examine the site and determine how much sun the flower will get during the day. Plant a flower that needs full sun–such as alyssum or sunflower–only if the site has a lot of sunlight. Select a shade-tolerant flower–such as lily, viola or pansy–for a shady location.

7. Check and see if the flower is an annual or perennial. Understand that annuals need replanting every year. Perennials survive from one growing season to the next.

Tips & Warnings

• Test your soil if you are just starting your flower garden. Purchase a soil test kit at a local home and garden center or contact your county extension for assistance. A soil test will determine if your soil needs added nutrients for your garden to flourish.