Summer is around the corner and one of the easiest ways to beautify your flower garden is to plant zinnias. Somewhat similar to dahlias, zinnias are easy to grow from seeds. You can find them in many gorgeous colors but the most popular ones are red, purple, orange, yellow, white, lilac and chartreuse. Zinnia flowers can also be cut and place in a vase for a summery cheerful look in any room in your home. I refer to zinnias as the happy flower because of its unique beauty.

When purchasing your zinnia seeds, take a good look at your flower garden design and buy them so that they will enhance your garden. Keep in mind that zinnias come in many sizes ranging from small pillow shaped mounds to towering 4 foot tall plants. If your garden has different types of flowers now, you can get small zinnias to plant as a border or you can get the taller ones and plant them as a backdrop in your garden. Following this method will prevent crowding in your flower garden.

Zinnias require little care and they thrive in dry heat and average soil. One thing to watch for is fungus and bacteria which could happen under hot and humid weather conditions. You may see some tiny brown spots that can develop into large brown areas on the leaves and can damage the plant if not treated. Some gardeners also report a powdery mildew or a white fuzzy spotting as another disease to watch for in zinnias.

If you encounter any of these diseases in you zinnia flower garden, just mix a teaspoon of baking soda in a gallon of water and spray your plants. Don’t wait until lots of damage has been done; spray your zinnia garden once a week with the baking soda mixture to keep them healthy.

Did I mention that zinnias attract butterflies? Yes, your zinnia flower garden will be full of beautiful butterflies and some gardeners plant them to attract them. And remember that the best way to grow zinnias is from seeds so start now before the summer gets here. Also, be sure to buy your zinnia seeds from a reputable seed company like Park Seed. They have been in business for many years and they do sell the best quality seeds for all your flower gardening needs.

Here are some other flower gardening sites that I found for you to browse. Thanks for visiting Best Flower Gardening!

AOL.com Video - How to Fertilize Your Annual Flower Beds
10 great places to get the jump on spring - USATODAY.com
Tips On Flower Gardening
Cottage garden - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Horticulture encyclopedia topics | Reference.com
Home & Garden Topics from Answers.com

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