Want your flowers to look amazing? Follow these simple steps for big, beautiful blooms!
Watering: Giving Your Flowers a Drink
Water is super important for your new flowers, especially in the first few weeks after planting when they need the most care.
So for the first few weeks, it's best to water your flowers by hand. This helps you make sure each flower gets enough water. You want the soil to be moist, but not too wet. Imagine a sponge that's been wrung out - that's about how wet the soil should be.
To check if your flowers need water, stick your finger into the soil. If it feels dry about 2-3 inches down, it's time to water. You can also use a screwdriver to check deeper. If it comes out clean and dry, your flowers are thirsty!
That said, be careful not to give your flowers too much water which can drown the roots. And remember that as the weather gets hotter, you'll need to water more often.
Once your flowers have been in the ground for a while and their roots are strong, you can start using your sprinkler system. Keep in mind that even the best sprinkler systems are perfect. Keep an eye out for missed spots, because if your flowers don’t get enough water, they could die.
The water needs of your flowers differ from those of your lawn. During the heat of summer, we recommend deeply watering your lawn twice a week. This encourages deep root growth and helps the grass stay resilient. However, flowers are more delicate and require more frequent watering. To keep your flowers hydrated and healthy in the intense Texas heat, be sure to water them regularly. During peak summer heat, watering only twice a week is rarely enough for flowers.
Mulch: A Blanket for Your Flower Bed
Mulch is like a blanket for your flowers. It's usually made of things like wood chips or bark, and it goes on top of the soil around your flowers and it actually does a lot of good for your flowerbeds.
First, mulch helps keep water in the soil, so that you don’t have to water as much. It also keeps the soil from getting too hot or cold, which is good for the flower roots. Mulch even stops a lot of weeds from growing!
To use mulch, put a layer about 2-3 inches thick around your flowers.
Protecting Your Flowers from Hungry Rabbits
Rabbits might be cute, but they love to eat flowers!
There are also sprays and granular products you can buy that rabbits don't like. These are usually made from things that smell bad to rabbits but won't hurt your flowers. You can find these at most garden stores and on Amazon.
Products To Try:
- Liquid Fence
- Rabbit Scram (granular)
- Plantskydd (granular option)
- Bobbex
These products are applied to foliage. As grass grows, new growth lacks the product, and mowing removes treated grass, necessitating weekly applications. Bushes and flowers need less frequent applications, but rain and irrigation wash the product away over time. Granular products are the easiest to apply if they work in your situation.
Some flowers naturally deter rabbits, such as lavender, marigolds, and geraniums. Planting these might help keep rabbits away from your flower beds.
Feeding Your Flowers
Just like people, flowers need food to grow and be healthy. While it can be tempting to feed them right away, it is best to wait about 6-8 weeks after planting. This gives the roots time to get settled.
When it's time to feed your flowers, use a fertilizer made just for flowers. You can find this at any garden store. The package will tell you how much to use and how often to use it.
Regular feeding will result in bigger, healthier, more vibrant flowers. But, it’s important to watch your flowers for signs of overfeeding. Overfeeding can cause your flowers to grow too quickly, leading to weak stems, excessive foliage, and fewer blooms. Rapid growth can also make plants more susceptible to pests and diseases.
Adjust your feeding schedule as needed, and always follow the recommendations on fertilizer packaging to avoid overfeeding. With the right care, your flowers will reward you with a season full of stunning, robust blooms.
Keeping an Eye on Your Flowers
The key to keeping your flowers healthy is to pay close attention to them. Are the leaves turning yellow? Is part of the plant wilting? These can be signs of underlying problems.
For instance, flowers can sometimes fall victim to fungal infections, often caused by overwatering. Alternatively, missing just a few days of watering due to an irrigation system issue during the intense Texas heat can lead to rapid decline, from which your flowers may not recover.
Flowers are delicate. Early intervention when you notice a problem can save you both money and the disappointment of losing your flowers for the rest of the season.
Take Care of Your Flowers
Taking care of flowers isn't hard, but it does take some time and attention. With a little effort, you'll have a beautiful garden full of healthy, happy flowers.
If you ever have questions or need help, the team at CitiTurf is always here for you.
