Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Garden Blooming All Year Long!

There is nothing like a colorful, blooming garden to create an inviting atmosphere and curb appeal to your home. Some people seem to have a knack for creating the perfect garden, almost like a work of art. Every neighborhood has a home that is the envy of everyone else. Perhaps you would like to learn their secrets and have a garden oasis of your own. It's not as difficult as you think. Here are some techniques to keep in mind in order to have beautiful blooms all year long:

o Plant perennials - flowers that come up year after year and get bigger each season. There are hundreds of varieties of perennials, from day lilies to mums.
o Choose an assortment of plants that bloom at various times in the season. For example, Daffodils, Tulips and Crocus' come up in the early spring; Lilies, Lilacs and Hydrangeas come up in June; July and August will delight you with Gardenias, Star Gazers and Carnations; while the fall months of September, October and November, blooms will be in the form of Mums, Orchids and Sunflowers.
o Plant your seeds with each season in mind, so that no matter what season it is, you will always have flowers blooming in your garden.
o Use mulch to cut down on weeds. Red Cedar mulch makes a beautiful addition to any garden. Mulch also holds moisture, so you won't have to water as often.
o Choose a variety of colors for your perennials. Most plants come in many different colors.
o Water your garden at the right time of day; first thing in the morning, or as the sun is setting is best. If you water in the middle of the afternoon when the sun is strongest, it may burn the plants. (This rule applies to your lawn as well.)
o Plant your taller flowers and bushes at the back of your garden so that the shorter ones can be seen.
o Clip dead stems and heads to keep them healthier and nicer looking.
o Use good quality soil and fertilizer to keep your garden growing and healthy.

Whether you are blessed with a green thumb, or cringe at the thought of getting on your hands dirty, if you follow the above tips you will have a beautiful garden all year long. A trip to your local nursery for some research will educate you on which flowers bloom in which season and the different colors and species available. A bit of work now will give you a blooming garden for years to come.