Seeds

• Most flower seeds prefer to be planted in the garden soil in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. Just a few of these types of seeds include wild flowers, zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers, sweet peas and larkspur. Work you garden soil as soon as you are able and give it some fertilizer to feed your flowers throughout the growing season. Plant your seeds in the warm soil with water. Arrange your flower seeds so that taller flowers are in the back and shorter flowers are in the front of your garden.
  
  

Transplants

• If you have a potted flower that you want to plant outside in your garden, do this after the soil is warm and there is no more danger of frost. If your potted plant has been in the house, you will want to harden it off before planting it in the garden. To harden off a plant, set it outside for a little while each day. Start with an hour or two and then gradually increase the amount of time until it spends most of the day outdoors. Now you can transplant your potted plant in the garden.
  
  

Bulbs

• Many bulbs are perennials, which means that the flowers will come back year after year, if taken care of properly. Bulb flowers are also known for spreading and growing new flowers. This is an economical way for you to get more flowers for your garden or to share with friends. It may be a few years before you need to divide your flower bulbs. Signs of necessary division include overcrowding or fewer blooms.
  
  You can plant bulbs at two times of the year. Plant some bulbs as early in the spring as you can work with the soil. These bulbs will probably not flower this year, but you can expect good results the following year. Also plant bulbs in the fall. These bulbs will winter over and start sprouting in the spring. There is a good chance that these will bloom the first year; however, the blooms may not be as numerous as in the second year.
  
  

Bushes

• Some flowers actually grow big enough to be called bushes. Lilacs, buddleia, bluebeard, burning bush, roses and crepe myrtle are all types of flowering shrubs. Since there is such a variety of flowering shrubs, all with different planting needs, the best way to tell when to plant these is when you see them at the garden shop. Growers make the shrubs available to home gardeners when they are ready for planting.
  
  You may want to plan ahead and prepare your spot by digging a hole before purchasing. This way, you can remove the roots of the shrub from the pot or burlap and plant it in the ground as soon as possible. Read through all the instructions that come with the plant, looking especially for information on large the bush will get. Allow plenty of space for a maturing bush.