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2. Mix and match perennials with annuals.
Perennial flower bulbs need not to be replanted since
they grow and bloom for several years while annuals grow
and bloom for only one season. Mixing a few perennials
with annuals ensures that you will always have blooms
coming on.
3. Deadhead to encourage more blossoms.
Deadheading is simply snipping off the flower head after
it wilts. This will make the plant produce more flowers.
Just make sure that you don't discard the deadhead on
the garden or mildew and other plant disease will attack
your plants.
4. Know the good from the bad bugs.
Most garden insects do more good than harm. Butterflies,
beetles and bees are known pollinators. They fertilize
plants through unintentional transfer of pollen from one
plant to another. 80% of flowering plants rely on
insects for survival.
Sowbugs and dung beetles together with fungi, bacteria
and other micro-organisms are necessary to help in the
decomposition of dead plant material, thus enriching the
soil and making more nutrients available to growing
plants.
Other insects like lacewings and dragonflies are natural
predators of those insects that do the real damage, like
aphis.
5. Mulch and compost.
An occasional application of compost tea when plants are
flowering will keep them blooming for longer.
Mulches are
important
for both water conservation and slowing down weed
growth.
Always prune any dead or damaged branches. Fuchsias are
particularly prone to snapping when you brush against
them. The broken branch can be potted up to give you a
new plant, so it won't be wasted.
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