The following information on light and water in the flower garden provides general information for proper maintenance and cultural practices. More specific maintenance requirements and information will be addressed in the individual flower sections: Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs.

Light Requirements

Annuals provide color in a shady spot (Photo credit: Mary Meyer)

When buying and selecting plants, most retail nurseries provide information about how much sun the plant prefers.

See:

• You Say It's Partial Shade, Your Plant Says It's Partial Sun (Galveston County Master Gardeners, Texas Agriculture Extension Service). Use this quick summary to help assess how much light or shade there really is and what that means on a plant label.

• Shade Gardening (University of Minnesota Extension) is a publication that discusses the realities and possibilities of gardening in the shade.

Watering

Watering the flower garden might seem like a simple practice, but there is much more to it than just turning on the hose. Properly watering the garden can benefit your plants and budget by helping to prevent certain diseases, encouraging plants to develop deeper and more sustaining root structures, and conserving water. Learn more about sound watering practices by reviewing:

• Watering the Flower Garden

Soil Preparation

Soil is prepared before planting. (Photo credit: Mary Meyer)

Selecting a suitable soil for flower gardening will help your garden get off to a good start. Before you plant, have a soil test done. Contact your local Extension office for information. It is important to know your soil pH and nutrient levels before you plant. Correct the pH if necessary, according to the soil test results, and add fertilizer as recommended. Most soils also benefit from additional organic matter, such as peat moss or compost.

More relevant information about soils can be found within each of the following sections on flowers: Annuals, Perennials, and Bulbs.