Attention Gardners!!!What flowers should I plant?

I am planting flowers for the first time and I have no idea what to plant. I have two beds to work with. One if full sun and one if part shade.I really would like them to bloom as long as possible. I live in Ohio. I was thinking about flats of Petunia's or Pansies...something along those lines. Also, I bought some bulbs that I have yet to plant, like Freesia and a few others, could I plant those now? I need cheap and easy if possible...I can't wait to have a garden of my own. Thanks.

Attention Gardners!!!What flowers should I plant?
Unless you really like planting every year, stick to perennials. There are so many plants that it's impossible to advise you. My preferences might not be yours. You can do contrasting garden colors or do color themes. You might like a garden with just a few types of plants or you might want a specimen garden with one or two of many plants. It's all up to you. Probably the best thing to do is to visit any place that sells magazines and look for the annual garden issues. They have great ideas and in some cases, even plans that you can follow. As far as your bulbs go, plant them in the fall - they need to over-winter in order to bloom the next season. Which, by the way, brings to mind something you might like to try to keep your garden colors year round. Bulbs can be kept indoors in pots so you can enjoy the blooms in the winter. After they bloom and the blossoms die, cut them back and put them outside in the cold for a couple of weeks, then bring them back in. They will re-bloom. Good luck and most of all, have fun!!
Reply:for your sun garden.. petunias or zinnias should be easy.



you can do begonias in the part shade.



When you plant. be sure to get a little container of osmocote or nutricote fertilizer ( you can even buy this stuff at wal-mart). it's a controlled release feeder that will help keep the flowers perky and happy all summer. After all that, spread 3" of bark mulch around the plants.. you will have an easy, inexpensive and pretty flower gardens.



Good Luck!
Reply:I think that pansies and petunias require some more care. They grow long and need to be trimmed.

I prefer maragolds and geraniums for the full sun, they are very easy to care for. For part shade begonias and impatiens are good.
Reply:Are you wanting something that you will have to plant every year (annual), or something that will come back (perrenial)? I live in northwest Ohio and I have tons of Hostas (big green leafy with stalky flowers) Coral bells (various shade of leaves with spikey flowers) Columbine (really cool looking flowers on a green plant) and Astilbe (red leaves, pink spiked flowers). All of these are perrenials. For annuals I get Dreams petunias and Gerbera Daisey's and plant them here and there for immediate splashes of color. Most bulbs are to be planted in the fall. I don't know where you live for sure, but go to your local garden center (I prefer real garden centers over Lowe's, Home Depot etc. kid of store) and simply tell them what side of the house you will be planting on, how many hours of direct sun the area gets, and if you want annuals or perrenials. I love my gardens. I also do veggies and strawberries! As for cheap and easy-petunias do not get any cheaper or easier! You can just about neglect them all summer long and they will keep blooming as long as they have a little rain! Tell the people at the garden center that you have a budget as well. Good luck-enjoy the beauty!

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