Beginners Gardening Guide #5 : A Beginner’s Guide to Planting Flowers and Trees

For young or beginning gardeners, planting annual or perennial flowers from containers, or planting a tree in the yard’s landscape, will produce a great start to a wonderful hobby. Let’s start with some basics about planting flowers.

First, make sure that you obtain healthy flowers from your local garden center. Check them for good color, healthy-looking leaves, and the absence of pests on the plants, including the undersides of leave where they like to make their home.

Secondly, if you don’t have a small spade or garden trowel, purchase one to work the soil and dig the holes for each plant. When you decide where to plant your first container of flowers, dig a hole twice as wide as the container, and about as deep.

Thirdly, if the container is flexible, and most are, squeeze it gently sideways and length ways to loosen the soil. Never attempt to pull the plant out by the stems, even if the soil has been loosened. Push the roots up from the bottom of the container, and once it starts to emerge, pour the contents into your hand. When the plant and its roots are free, gently loosen the roots, being careful not to break their delicate strands. Then place the plant in the hole prepared. You will want it to sit so that it’s stem is slightly below ground level, but no lower. A slight depression will hold water nicely, but if the stem is constantly wet, it might lead to rot. Now, gently pack loose top soil around the plant to hold it securely in place. Give the flower a good, gentle watering, and allow the soil to drain and settle. Pack additional soil around it if the settling has created gaps or low spots. That done, you have yourself a perfectly planted flower!

When transplanting a tree, make sure that time of year is right. Spring and fall are best. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball, but no deeper, and twice as wide. Loosen the root ball by removing any binding material like wire or twine, as well as the burlap, especially if it is synthetic. Natural burlap should at least be loosened from the top of the roots, and the rest of it will rot in time, without hindering root development. Many gardeners like to add a shovel-full or two of manure to the hole, to give the roots a nutrient-rich start in their new home. Add dirt and manure or compost around the base of the tree to fill the hole. Water it thoroughly, let the water drain, then add more dirt where it has settled.

Around the base of the newly planted tree, sprinkle several inches of mulch, which will serve to hold water and keep the soil from drying out. If the tree is at all unstable when you push on the trunk, it might be wise to employ some wire supports attached to stakes, driven into the ground a few feet from the tree. Water the tree heavily for the first couple of weeks, keeping an eye on the leaves. The leaves might wither a bit at first, but within a few days they should rebound and regain their healthy appearance.

A-Z Beginners Gardening Guides

• Beginners Gardening Guide #1 : How To Start Your Garden
• Beginners Gardening Guide #2 : Steps for Designing Your First Garden
• Beginners Gardening Guide #3 : Choosing the Right Tools for your First Garden
• Beginners Gardening Guide #4 : How to Keep Pests Out of Your Garden
• Beginners Gardening Guide #5 : A Beginner’s Guide to Planting Flowers and Trees
• Beginners Gardening Guide #6 :How to Choose What to Plant
• Beginners Gardening Guide #7 : First Steps in Vegetable Gardening
• Beginners Gardening Guide #8 : Maintaining Your Garden
• Beginners Gardening Guide #9 : Lawn Care for Beginners
• Beginners Gardening Guide #10: Blossoms for Every Season
• Beginners Gardening Guide #11 : Your Garden During the Fall
• Beginners Gardening Guide #12: What Steps to take as Winter Approaches
• Beginners Gardening Guide #13: Preparing for a Great Spring Start