Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Plant Flowers in North Carolina

...
garden tools image by MichMac from Fotolia.com

Tip

For annual plants, remove dead flower heads (called deadheading) to encourage blooming and growth. Every other year, split up perennial plants and replant elsewhere so they do not take over a garden. Consider fertilizing plants every two weeks to increase growth and maintain health.

Warning

Avoid overwatering container plants. This can cause the roots to rot, which damages and eventually kills the plant. Closely follow directions for plant fertilizer because too much can burn the plants.

North Carolina has an ideal climate for growing flowers in the spring and summer. Annual flowers, or those that die off after the first frost, and perennial plants, or those that come back every season, can be planted in early spring and throughout the summer and fall. Planting a flower garden can be a simple and rewarding task when the gardener is armed with the right tools and information.

Flower Planting in North Carolina

Choose a location for your garden. Depending on available space, a flower garden can consist of various sizes of containers placed on a patio or into plot of land. Whatever the location, full-sun plants will need at least six hours of sunlight per day, and partial-sun plants need two to four hours of sunlight. When buying seeds and plants, the package will indicate the amount of sun needed.

Prepare the soil by filling containers with potting soil, or loosening the ground soil with a hoe and bow rake to prepare the land for planting. Remove any weeds. If there has never been a garden in this location, consider adding fertilizer or humus to improve the soil.

Decide when to begin planting, and if you will use seeds or nursery plants. Depending on your location, the last spring frost for North Carolina is anytime from the beginning of April to May. Locations in western North Carolina will have a final frost closer to mid-May, while locations in the eastern and southern parts of the state will see a last frost at the end of March to the beginning of April. Seeds and plants can be planted outside after the last frost.

...
Marigolds image by kds from Fotolia.com

Choose your flowers. Seeds are an inexpensive alternative to buying mature flowers from a nursery. However, mature plants from a nursery don't require any waiting time for a beautiful garden. Because of North Carolina's climate, most annuals and perennial plants will do well. Annuals such as marigolds, zinnias and petunias are low maintenance. Perennials, such as the black-eyed Susan, iris and daylily, will come back every season.

Plant your flowers soon after North Carolina's last frost. Press small seeds directly into the soil, and place larger seeds in shallow trenches. Water after planting. To plant mature flowers, dig a hole the length and width of the pot that the flower came in. Remove flower from its container by squeezing the bottom and gently tugging out the plant. Loosen the roots, and place in the hole. Cover with soil, and then mulch. Water every few days when the soil is no longer moist.

Related Articles

How to Plant Ironweed Seeds
How to Plant Ironweed Seeds
How to Plant Cox Comb Flowers
How to Plant Cox Comb Flowers
How to Get Seeds Out of Carnation Flowers
How to Get Seeds Out of Carnation Flowers
How to Make a Container Garden
How to Make a Container Garden
How to Grow Marigolds Indoors
How to Grow Marigolds Indoors
Why Won't My Gladiolus Bloom?
Why Won't My Gladiolus Bloom?
How to Plant Poppy Seeds
How to Plant Poppy Seeds
How to Grow Helichrysum
How to Grow Helichrysum
Growing Alstroemeria
Growing Alstroemeria
How to Grow Mexican Evening Primrose
How to Grow Mexican Evening Primrose
How to Transplant Impatiens
How to Transplant Impatiens
How to Plant Johnny Jump Up Flowers
How to Plant Johnny Jump Up Flowers
How to Grow a Plant in Less Than a Week
How to Grow a Plant in Less Than a Week
Garden Guides
×