| The loveliness of flowering plants needs little | | | | the soil. You might think about the character of your |
| embellishment by description. Certainly every | | | | soil and consider the particular fertilizer which contains |
| gardener seeks the beauty and color that can be | | | | the elements your soil needs most. Should you use |
| brought to his grounds by a variety of flowers. The | | | | manure, be careful not to let it touch the roots of |
| proper arrangement of flower beds in your garden | | | | plants. |
| and attentive care to them can insure you a | | | | Flower Beds and Borders |
| continuing bloom of lovely flowers year after year. | | | | The problems of color should be kept in mind when |
| For with planning, it is possible to maintain flowers in | | | | planning flower borders and beds, so that while there |
| your garden during the entire length of the growing | | | | is sufficient contrast in texture and color of the |
| season. Borders and beds are planted with flowering | | | | flowers, there is at the same time an attractive |
| annuals and perennials which bloom at different | | | | blending. A plan for a bed of annuals, for example, |
| periods during the year. By choosing carefully initially, | | | | might be designed to stress zinnias, with contrast |
| and by caring for the flowers thereafter, the blooms | | | | provided by such softer flowers as chrysanthemum, |
| will overlap each other, so that there will never be a | | | | scabiosa, nasturtium, cosmos and candytuft. Also |
| period when an old bloom disappears but that a new | | | | consider including neutral large or small water |
| one will start to show its color. | | | | features, such as a water wall fountain or piece of |
| Soil Requirements | | | | garden statuary. |
| Preparing the soil for flower beds or borders requires | | | | The setting of the flower bed is important. Ideally, it |
| greater care than planting a lawn. For one thing, | | | | should be close to the house, facing south or |
| digging must be deeper, especially if outdoor water | | | | southwest. Any location that gets good sun, |
| features such as patio statuary or large fountains are | | | | however, will produce well. The border should be |
| to be included in the garden. It is not too much to dig | | | | located away from trees or shrubs. These plants |
| the bed 2 feet deep, although 1 1/2 feet is suitable. | | | | absorb more than their share of moisture and |
| It is, of course, possible to grow flowers in a | | | | nutrients from the soil and, because of their strength, |
| shallower bed than this, but the deeper you dig, the | | | | can overpower the more delicate flowering plants. |
| better your production will be. All heavy lumps should | | | | A good back- ground such as a stone wall or a fence |
| be broken up. It is a good idea to spread some sand, | | | | adds to the beauty of a flower bed or border, and |
| cinders or ashes in the bottom soil to break it up. | | | | evergreen shrubs make a pleasing backdrop. Edgings |
| Also, you might work manure, well-rotted compost, | | | | need not be restricted, as they so often are, to one |
| grass clippings or peat moss into the bottom. Do not | | | | color (e.g., the white of alyssum). Coral bells, whose |
| firm the bottom soil down, but let it settle naturally. | | | | lovely foliage makes a handsome edge, are an |
| Good loam should be used for the topsoil, for | | | | all-season flowering plant, and they provide unusual |
| example, well-rotted manure, humus, peat moss, | | | | cut flowers. Baby pansies, violas, portulaca, ageratum, |
| well-sifted leaf mold or heavy sand. Wood ashes are | | | | dwarf double nasturtium and dwarf marigolds are |
| fine for spring, and lime may be used for loosening | | | | multi-colored flowers. |