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Do you want to create a flourishing flower garden but often find you just don’t have the time? Or perhaps you’re just uncertain of where to start?

Don’t be overwhelmed! Gardening doesn’t have to be a chore. It is surprisingly easy to get your garden into full bloom with minimal effort. Follow these simple tips and reap the rewards…

Choosing Flowers

Do a little online research before purchasing your flowers so you can plan your garden to perfection. If you want plants that will take minimal effort to maintain, chose some perennial flowers. These plants are very low maintenance and practically take care of themselves. They continue to thrive five years after planting, are resistant to insects and are tolerant of most weather conditions - hot or cold. Plant them on a cool day that won’t be stressful to you or the flowers.

Marigolds bloom from spring to frost and won’t take over your garden. Cosmos are another perennial flower which even do well in poor soil. They also attract plenty of bees into a garden which will help to pollinate other flowers.

Of course, you could just grow what you love - have fun and keep it simple.

Containers To Contain

Let’s be honest, it’s far easier to control your garden if you use pots and other containers. Such boundaries will give you more control over water, sun exposure, soil and will limit growth (no more unruly flowers growing wherever they please).

Choose pots that have drainage holes and are a suitable size - remember to leave room for growth. Terracotta pots are frost-proof and a good long term investment. Traditional too!

The Right Soil

Even if you have the right containers and the perfect plants in mind, it just isn’t going to happen if you don’t have the right stuff to grow it in! To simplify, you can purchase top soil, compost, peat moss for your flower beds - although this can be costly.

You can check whether the soil is suitable for your plants by testing the PH (acidity) of it. Most plants prefer a pH of 6.5 to 7, where nutrients are most accessible. Testing kits are available at most garden centres.

Watering

It is a common misconception that flowers need watering every day. But over-watering leads to shallow roots that become dependant on your watering can. So don’t create more work for yourself. Only water new seeds, plants during dry spells, and no more than twice a week.

Weeding

Now this is never fun! These ill-mannered plants keep your garden from looking good and can even choke your flowers. Pull them up as soon as you see them and invest in a decent weed repellent to keep them from coming back.

Creating a beautiful garden doesn’t mean back-ache, stress and many hours lost. Just remember to keep it simple: choose plants that you love so that you’ll want to invest in it. If you don’t enjoy it, you’re missing the point!

Do you have any gardening tips you want to share? Let us know in the comments below.

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• License: Creative Commons image source

Laura Stone is a Journalism and English graduate with a slight addiction to blogging. She specialises in literary reviews and loves gardening with her Gran.