This publication about caring for flower beds completes a series of articles on the website “Flower beds - finishing touch Vcreating a garden." You can view all articles in this series in the sectionAnd .

We would like to draw the attention of readers - these four articles only briefly listbasic, most important issues creating flower beds in your garden. Morein detail various aspects We discuss garden floriculture in new articles,regularly appearing on the site. You can find the topics you need using thematic links highlighted in the text of the main, “skeletal” publications - or use the list of tags in the side right panel.

The flower garden should always be neat. Atit must be taken into account that to maintain its decorativeness you will need youractive and continuous intervention!

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Planning a flower garden for next year

The beauty of a flower garden depends not only on the combination of plants in color, texture,height, flowering time, but also on what conditions will be created in it forcare Each type of plant is demanding in its own way when it comes to moisture, light, and soil.The problem is that plants have different growth rates anddevelopment (annuals and perennials, slow and fast growing), and in additionIn addition, we must take into account the constant invasion of unwanted and more activealiens - weeds!

Some flowers need to be replanted in the spring, others in the fall. Some plants needfrequent watering, and those planted in the neighborhood require little water; somecrops must be divided annually, others - once every 5-6 years... It is clear that caring forbig amount variety of plants becomes more complicated, and the appearance of the flower garden itselfgetting worse.

What are the main components?

Regular care includes: watering, fertilizing, preventive treatments against diseases and pests, pruning plants to rejuvenate and inhibit growth, and, if necessary, replanting or replacing plants.

Watering- the main element of plant care immediately after planting. Knowing that after transplantation the root system is usually damaged, we striveWater the flowers as often as possible, but little by little. However, such watering moistens only the upper layers of the soil and thereby contributes to the formation of surfaceroot system, which, unfortunately, is not able to provide plants with water from deeper layers! Such a flower garden will have to be watered endlessly...

So, you need to water it rarely, but abundantly, to significantly wet it.layer of soil. Only in this case will the plants form a deep coreroot system. In addition, frequent watering leads to the formation of crusts on thesoil, which prevents the passage of air to the roots. According to the rules for the nextthe day after watering must be carried out surface loosening soil. Experiencedgardeners even call loosening dry watering; this technique allows for moreeffectively retain moisture for plants. The soil in which flowers grow should never be dry to the point of crumbling.

Watering frequency regulated based on the requirements of a given plant type and soil properties, as well as depending on weather conditions; When these factors are taken into account, the same plants have to be watered either more often or less often. Moisture-loving plants need to be watered regularly even in the absence of rain. However, with a large amount of rainfall there is a risk of fungal plant diseases, so it is important not to thicken the plantings of flowers.

Weed control is not the best exciting work. Weeding- importantmoment of care, especially in the first year of planting. In subsequent years, expandedperennials close their leaves and this partially prevents the growth of weeds. INIn such flower beds, the main weeding will take place in the spring.

When weeding, aboveground and partially underground parts of weeds are removed.The easiest way to solve the weed problem is with regular loosening. This important procedure will prevent annual “guests” from growing and deplete the underground parts of perennial weeds, especially with creeping rhizomes. Loosening should not be done deeper than 3 cm, otherwise the shallow roots of ornamental plants can be damaged.

A good weed control agent is (tree bark or wood chips, sawdust, garden peat can be used as mulch). Mulch is poured between plants after planting, and the layer of mulch that prevents the growth of weeds must be at least 8 cm. In addition, mulching prevents moisture evaporation, stimulates the reproduction of earthworms and beneficial soil microflora, protects the soil from the drying effects of wind and hot sun, and promotes improving its structure, and, decomposing, additionally introduces organic matter into the soil.

Top dressing is very important element plant care. This is the topicseparate conversation. We give some advice on this matter on the website atregular " about garden care, at the beginning of each month.

Also, you can see more detailed recommendations in reference booksabout caring for specific plants.

Summer pruning

Withered flowers and dry shoots are not the best best decoration flower garden, so theirshould be removed regularly. In addition, removing old peduncles stimulatesthe formation of divisions in perennials, and in some species even causesrepeated flowering (for example, delphinium). Trimming also allows you to createplant the desired shape and height (this is important for and in carpetsflower beds). Removing a growing point stimulates branching and, as a result,abundant flowering. Actively growing specimens also need pruning so that they do notdrowned out the leisurely neighbors in the flower garden.

U cut out all dead, thin and weak branches growing inward, thickening the crown (usually done at the beginning of the season). This stimulates the formation of young shoots, regulates the intensity of flowering and facilitates light access into the crown. All cuts must be smooth, which requires sharp knife or pruning shears.

Autumn pruning

After frost, they are removed entirely and cut at a height of 5-10 cm from the ground. The exception is the cultivated delphinium, the stems of which are cut to a height of 20-25 cm. Since its stem is hollow, if pruned low, water may enter it, which can cause root collar rot.

Flower garden update
Perennials, as they age, lose their decorative properties. Over time, shoots in the centerbushes die, flowering decreases, or the plant grows too much andgoes beyond its allotted limits. In this regard, every few years manyherbaceous perennials require renewal.

For this late autumn, and in heavy soils in the spring. Strongshoots with roots are separated and planted in the right place. Planting depththe same as before. This helps not only to rejuvenate the plant, but also to get several new specimens. However, before carrying out rejuvenation, check whether it is required for this type. Some perennials do not need renewal at all or do not tolerate transplantation well.

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Caring for flowers in the garden consists of several activities. Without proper care and attention, the flower garden will quickly lose its attractiveness, and the flowers may die. Let's look at the main types of work required when caring for flowers.

In addition to watering and loosening the soil, the main measures for caring for flowers, you can extend the flowering period of the plant or form a bush at your discretion. Attentive care and care is the key to beauty and long flowering.

How to care for a flower garden and prolong the flowering of plants

The most important and simple work Flower care includes watering and spraying. These jobs have to be done most often. Flowers need watering, but how to water flowers correctly? First of all, you should determine the condition of the soil and its moisture.

Naturally, in dry conditions sunny weather plants need more abundant watering than in cold and wet conditions. You need to very carefully monitor flower seedlings planted in the ground for the first two weeks. Seedlings grown in boxes should be watered daily or every other day for the first 10 days.

If seedlings are grown in peat pots, then watering should be done less often. In the future, water the flower garden 2-3 times a week. After the plants have rooted, the flowers are watered as the soil dries. Watering should be done to the depth of root growth. It is correct to water in three steps.

The first watering, especially if the soil is dry, does not reach the roots and only the top layer of soil is wetted. After the first watering, you should wait until the water is absorbed, or even loosen the soil if a crust has formed, and then water again.

Water the flowers from a watering can at the root or use an irrigation system where drops of water fall on the flowers as rain without damaging the plant. Small watering installations with water sprayers are very convenient.

When to water flowers in the garden

If the soil is moist to a depth of 5 cm and the weather is not hot, then the flowers do not need to be watered. It is better to water flowers in the evening, when the heat subsides. IN evening time the moisture is well absorbed into the ground and does not evaporate, but remains until the next morning.

If this is not possible, and the weather is very hot, then you should water the flowers during the day so that the flowers do not wilt, and in the evening, do the main abundant watering. Dry hot weather It is necessary to spray the plants from a watering can or from a hose with a sprayer.

Loosening the soil

After watering, the soil should be loosened. After moistening, a crust forms on the soil, preventing air access. Loosening is designed to destroy this crust and provide oxygen access to the roots of plants.

Mulching the soil

When the flower seedlings take root, water, loosen, and then mulch the soil. Humus, peat chips or decorative mulching material are used as mulch. Today you can choose decorative mulch by color and shape, which allows you to create interesting compositions.

Mulching protects the soil from drying out, prevents crust from forming, improves gas exchange and makes it difficult for weeds to grow. When loosening, the mulch layer is mixed with top layer soil and serves as a good fertilizer.

Weed control

Weed control is the main thing headache gardeners. Weeds deplete the soil and choke out planted flowers with their rapid growth. Besides, weeds dry out the soil. The main weeds that cause a lot of trouble are wheatgrass, coltsfoot, and dandelion.

Wheatgrass has long creeping rhizomes. It propagates easily from a piece of root left in the soil. Coltsfoot has long, far-reaching roots, grows on any soil, breaking through stones. The thick root of the dandelion should be trimmed and the fluffy seeds should not be allowed to spread throughout the garden.

These weeds spread very quickly throughout the entire area. To free the area from these weeds, you need to dig up their rhizomes. Dandelion and coltsfoot, by themselves beautiful plants and have healing properties, but in the flower garden they are superfluous. Weeding and loosening the soil are the main measures to combat other annual weeds.

Feeding flowers

If the soil is nutritious and well fertilized, then annual flowers do not need additional feeding. Although feeding during the period of budding and growth provides more long flowering. Perennials and bulbous flowers need feeding, as nutrient reserves decrease over time. In general, flowers are fed four times during the summer. General scheme feeding:

• In early spring
• During the budding period
• During the flowering period
• Perennials are fed after flowering

Dry feeding

In dry form, perennials are fed during spring tillage. The ground around the bushes is covered with a 5 cm layer of humus or a mixture of humus, peat and compost (2-4 buckets of this mixture are used per 1 m2). You can use ready-made mineral mixtures for feeding flowers. Around the bushes, embedded in the soil.

Before application, mineral mixtures are mixed with peat and scattered around the bushes. Dry fertilizer is applied at a distance of 5-10 cm from the base of the stems to avoid burns, and only when the soil is moist.

Liquid fertilizer

This is the most affordable and quick way supply the plants with the necessary nutrition. Liquid fertilizer can be organic or mineral. Organic feeding: mullein infusion in a ratio of 1:7, infusion bird droppings in a ratio of 1:10. Leave and water in cloudy weather or after watering, 1 ladle per bush.

Mineral fertilizing: as a rule, 20-30 g. fertilizers in a bucket of water. You should only fertilize healthy plants. Sick plants with a weak root system are best removed.

Pinching andgiving stepsons

The purpose of pinching and removing stepsons is to form a bush and ensure abundant flowering. Pinching (removing the top) of the main stem leads to the formation of side shoots. The result is a more lush bush with numerous flowers.

The technique works well on petunia seedlings, although the onset of flowering is somewhat delayed. Stepsynching (removing stepsons) is the removal of shoots in the leaf axils. This technique works well especially on dahlias. Some plants produce many side shoots in the leaf axils, which also produce flowers.

But the plant is not able to “feed” so many flowers in a short summer, so excess shoots should be removed, as they retard the development of larger buds. Thus, more large flowers on the main shoots. Excess buds should also be plucked from peonies, leaving the largest ones.

Extending flowering

The purpose of flowering is the formation of seeds. When the seeds set, the flowering weakens. All the energy of the plant is spent on the formation of seeds, and flowering stops. Therefore, if you prevent seed setting, you can extend the flowering cycle. Faded flowers should be plucked out to prevent seed formation. This technique greatly prolongs flowering.

Frost protection

In capricious weather conditions, plants may suffer from early autumn and late spring frosts. Therefore, flower beds are arranged in elevated, sunny areas, protected from northern winds. If the weather forecast is unfavorable and frosts are expected, then the plants should be protected. Dahlias, some types of lilies and other flowers especially suffer from frost.

It is best to pull it onto the frame protective covering. It could be polyethylene film, modern covering material, burlap. Frost protection will save plants and prolong flowering. These are the main activities for caring for flowers in the garden. A little love, attention and care, and flowers will delight you all summer.

Having planted perennials, the gardener can forget about seeds, seedlings and caring for small seedlings that require special attention and care for several years. Already in the second year, the leaves are the first to unfurl in the spring, the corollas are the first to open and become a decoration of the garden until frost. Their life in one place lasts more than one year, and, it would seem, does not require human participation. But you won’t be able to get the full benefit from any crop, even the most capricious one, without regular and attentive care.

Like all plants, perennial flowers need watering and fertilizing. They can be hampered by weeds, pests and diseases. And in the fall, it’s worth making sure that green pets are protected from the coming winter frosts.

Watering perennial flowers

Plants get everything with water nutrients for growth and flowering, so flowers are watered abundantly and regularly, Special attention paying attention to this issue, in hot, dry summer days, as well as during the period of active growth, that is, in spring and during flowering.

You can make sure that watering is necessary by checking the condition of the soil in the flowerbed at a depth of 5–10 cm, that is, where the bulk of the moisture-absorbing roots are located. The frequency with which perennials should be watered and the amount of water per meter of area depends on the crops planted and the type of soil.

On average per square meter flower beds, the gardener pours out 20 liters of settled, heated moisture:

1. If a flower garden is in the shade, it is moistened much less frequently than one planted in the sun.
2. On sandy soils Water does not hold water as well as on loam or black soil, which is why perennials on sand like to drink more.
3. Planting perennials with a taproot system, for example, delphiniums, poppies, lupins or aquilegias, requires the grower to pour more moisture under these flowers than under plants of rudbeckia, coreopsis, or feathery carnations.

Young plants that have not yet wintered with a weak root system, as well as lushly flowering specimens that spend all their energy on maintaining flowers and buds, depend more than others on the regularity and quality of watering.

Watering flowers is carried out early in the morning or in the evening, when the sun is not so active as to leave burn marks on wet foliage. If the weather is cloudy, there are no restrictions on watering.

Weeding and loosening the soil under perennial flowers

In order for the flowers to get all the moisture, the roots to breathe and not experience nutritional deficiency due to the abundance of competitors nearby, the soil under the plants must be loosened and weeded. The complexity of this procedure is associated with a high risk of damage to flowers with a hoe or other mechanical tool. A similar situation cannot be ruled out when using chemicals combating unwanted flowerbed residents.

Therefore weeding group plantings of overgrown perennial crops is carried out manually. The work is quite labor intensive and experienced flower growers They prefer to thickly mulch the spaces between flowers. Shredded grass clippings, pine bark chips, small pebbles or expanded clay are suitable for this purpose. Latest materials, in addition to inhibiting the growth of weeds and protecting moisture, they create additional, decorative effect and can be used as DIY decoration garden

Rules for fertilizing perennials

The life of perennials in one place leads to natural depletion of the soil. Therefore, such plants need competent support with the help of minerals and:

1. The first time to fertilize perennial crops occurs immediately after the snow melts.
2. Then the plants are fertilized when buds appear, during flowering and during flowering.
3. IN last time organic matter is introduced in the last days of July, and from the second half of September this care is completely stopped.

Adding organic matter improves soil quality and provides plants with nutrition, but this happens quite slowly.

So that flowers do not feel a shortage of “food” necessary for development, the entire area of ​​the flowerbed not occupied by plants in spring and autumn is covered with a layer of well-rotted humus, cleared of foreign inclusions. Mineral supplements It is convenient to do this using granular mixtures, which in dry form are scattered under the crops and penetrate into the soil with irrigation water.

Moreover, in the first half of the growing season, flowers need more, and towards the end of the season, phosphorus and potassium predominate in fertilizers.

Pruning and staking flowering perennials

To ensure the decorative appearance of flower beds with perennials, in some cases the plants have to be tied up and pruned. Tall species with large inflorescences, which are under own weight fall apart on the sides of the center of the rosette and lose their shape. Therefore, such flowers are tied up as they grow, and faded or dried shoots are promptly cut out.

For climbing crops, trellises or arches must be installed that can support the weight of the plant and ensure its growth during the summer.

The purpose of pruning perennials is not only to maintain them sanitary condition, but also, if possible, prolongation of flowering. This method is effective against mallows, lupins and other species that set a lot of seeds and spend energy on their ripening.

Perennial flowers can be pruned in spring or autumn. Specific dates are chosen depending on the flowering time of a particular crop. Often pruning is combined with replanting and dividing adult plants.

Preparing perennials for winter

In late autumn, perennials are prepared for wintering. To do this, cut out all the dry parts, cover the soil with mulch or other insulating materials, make shelters for large specimens, or dig up the most heat-loving species for storage in the basement or at home.

If necessary, flower beds are additionally covered with snow in winter, which creates a powerful air cushion and actively protects perennials from freezing.

Video about caring for perennials

Flower beds are the brightest and most colorful element of landscaping. In order for them to look decent and also have a lush color, it is important not only the selection flowering plants, but also timely care. And, more than ever, spring is the ideal time for this. This article will cover the main stages of caring for blooming flowerbed V spring period time.

Where to start spring work?

Gardening always takes a lot of time. And for this process to proceed consistently and systematically, it is important to draw up an action plan. All spring work caring for a flower garden can be divided into the following several steps:

1. Mulching and loosening the soil.

1. Fertilizer application.
2. Care aboveground part plants.
3. Weed control.
4. Flower garden repair.

Following this simple plan will allow you to achieve positive results, and the work itself will not be so tedious and difficult.

Note! Sufficient attention should be paid to all types of plants in the flower garden, starting from evergreen perennials and ending with the subsequent planting of annual plants.

The first step is to remove dry leaves/branches and plant debris from the flower garden. Some perennials should be pruned, especially those that have entered winter period with leaves.

Important! If the stems of phlox and peonies were not cut before winter, then in the spring this must be done to the very level of the soil.

It is best to dispose of all generated waste and plant debris, since when used as compost they can be a source of various diseases.

As soon as warm weather sets in in the second half of April, you can begin dividing the following perennials:

• Astilbe.
• Monarda.
• Daylilies.
• Phloxes.

It is important to be careful not to cut off the leaves of perennials that have come out from under the snow. In early spring they will look ugly, but they will play important role and benefits for strengthening the plant. This group of perennial flowers includes:

• Iris.
• Primrose.
• Carnation.
• Geider and the like.

At the end of April you can start organic fertilizer soil. Such fertilizers should contain a large number of nitrogen. The soil around perennials is carefully loosened, since the roots of some perennials are located very high to the surface, for example, phlox or irises.

Note! It is especially necessary to loosen the soil if mulching of the soil was not carried out in the fall.

Soil care

After winter, the soil in flower beds can become very compact. For this reason, there is a need to loosen it to a depth of fifteen centimeters. As stated above, it is important to be careful not to injure plants with weak root structures. Moreover, you should be careful with those plants that begin to grow later than others, for example, these are:

• Volzhanki.
• Astilbe.
• Bells (some types).
• Hosts and others.

In the process of tilling and caring for the soil, weeds are removed. In early spring, the weeds have not yet had time to take root, so eliminating them will not take much time and effort.

Note! If flower beds contain weeds such as sow thistle, cowgrass and wheatgrass, then it is during this period of the year that they will grow longer. root system easiest to remove.

If, in the absence of snow, there is a sharp change in temperature, then some flowering plants may bulge or rise above the soil. If such a phenomenon is noticed in a flower garden, then the plant must be immediately replanted, and the surface of the earth near it must be covered with mulch. In this case, you can prevent overheating of the soil during the day and freezing at night. These are, perhaps, the main points, the observance of which will lead to lush and colorful flowering of the flower bed!

The decorative qualities of flower beds are determined by timely and proper care. Untidy flower beds very quickly lose their beauty and attractiveness. Flowerbeds and borders overgrown with weeds, borders and mixborders with half-dried flower plants cause sadness and disappointment.

Caring for flower beds consists of rhythmically alternating activities: watering, weeding, loosening the soil, fertilizing with organo-mineral fertilizers, cutting and harvesting dried leaves and shoots, gartering, sampling for the winter.

Watering flower beds should be done every other day at a rate of 20 liters of water (2 buckets) per 1 m2 usable area. Greatest efficiency Provides watering using a sprinkler system. Watering flower beds is best done in the early morning or evening after sunset. This should not be done during the day, especially in hot weather.

Weeding is usually carried out simultaneously with loosening the soil. This work should be carried out regularly, on average every two weeks. The delay in carrying out such activities only sharply reduces decorative qualities flower garden, but also impairs the growth and development of cultivated plants. In addition, a hard crust appears on the soil, which, firstly, greatly reduces air exchange, and secondly, significantly increases the evaporation of moisture.

Carpet and border plants require trimming, which should be done once a month. During the summer season with favorable weather conditions haircuts are performed up to 10-12 times.

Plants should be fertilized with organic and mineral fertilizers at least twice a season. Application rate mineral fertilizers on average, per 1 m2 of flower bed area is: nitrogen - 10 g, phosphorus - 10 g and potassium - up to 5 g.

Organic fertilizers (humus, peat, compost, leaf soil) are most often simply scattered on the ground and then mixed with the soil when loosening it. Can be fed flower plants also a liquid solution of mullein.

The application of liquid organic and mineral fertilizers must be accompanied by careful and abundant watering. It is advisable to carry out these works in calm cloudy weather.

Perennial flowering plants especially need feeding.

Grandiflora and tall plants- peonies, dahlias, gladioli, cannas must be tied to special pegs, which are usually painted in light green color or aluminum color. The height of the pegs should not exceed 2/ 3 plant heights.

The vast majority of annual plants, as well as carpet plants, are removed from flower beds in late autumn, when frosts begin in the mornings, and the soil is carefully re-ground and carefully leveled with a rake.

Perennials that cannot overwinter in open ground(cannas, dahlias, gladioli), dig up, cut off and throw away their aerial parts, and carefully inspect the rhizomes, tubers and corms, remove damaged and diseased ones and place them on winter storage to special rooms.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the following conclusions can be drawn:

· Flowers are integral element garden, they not only decorate it, but also perform a number of other useful functions. In combination with stones, water, herbs, sculptures, lawns, you can create entire complexes of flower arrangements. With the help of flower beds they decorate planning solutions in the garden, improving the area.

· Flower garden is a very powerful technique for highlighting any area of ​​the area, allowing you to organize overall plan garden, identify its main points and hide undesirable aspects, revive the monotonous landscape in spring and autumn and add zest to it.

· The most traditional flower composition- flowerbed. It is always slightly raised above the surrounding lawn and adjacent path.

· Flowerbed -- small area(up to 10--15 m2) any geometric shape, on which one or more crops are planted. IN in some cases The size of flower beds can reach 50 m2 or more. The composition of flower beds also includes a lawn, paving with tiles and other materials, and various fences.

· In the literature, the following main types of flowerbed plants are distinguished:

Heat-loving annuals;

Heat-loving perennials;

Exotic heat-loving perennials;

Cold-hardy biennials;

Cold-hardy perennials;

Cold-hardy annuals.

· Biennial flowering plants are a group of plants whose development cycle occurs over two years. In the first year they will develop a rosette of leaves, and in the second year they will flower. IN middle lane biennials are able to grow and bloom well in subsequent years. However, in some plants, due to the exposure of the center of the bush, the death of shoots, and the death of leaves on the lower part of the stem as it grows, the decorative effect decreases.

· What are the benefits of biennials? They bloom in spring or early summer. For the most part, biennials are cold-resistant and undemanding plants. Thus, forget-me-not, poppy, bellflower, mullein, and foxglove are easily seeded. It comes from self-seeding strong seedlings. Another advantage of biennials is that they do not require a greenhouse or greenhouse for sowing, that is, it is not difficult for an inexperienced gardener to grow these flowers.