Growing flowers might be a tedious task and it takes more patience and hard work to produce a spectacle of blooms each year. But proper care and maintenance is all what it needs after you have established good foundation. Here are basic techniques in taking care of your flowering plants:

Maintaining Your Flowers

1. Pruning
   It’s intended to control the growth or to thin a dense plant. Cutting the end of a twig thwarts outward growth on that point but growth redirects to the side buds below, resulting to a bushier plant. Here’s how to make it work without compromising flower reduction:
   Perennials and annuals: Cut the stems back immediately after flowering ends. Remove no more than one-third of the plant especially if it blooms in early summer. The plant will respond by generating more growth but sometimes less abundant encore of flowering.
   Flowering shrubs: Be careful on pruning because some shrubs are safe to prune only in late winter or early spring when they’re coming out from dormancy and growth’s just starting. These shrubs generate branches and leaves during springtime and burst into bloom in summer—typical of bluebeard, hydrangea, and sweet pepperbush. Shrubs that bloom in early spring like azalea, rhododendron, forsythia, lilac, and spicebush require immediate pruning and shaping after flowers wither. Later pruning causes to remove buds that are yet developing for the next bloom.
   Clematis vines: Make sure to ask the nursery what type of clematis you have and when to prune it. Clematis that blooms on new wood should be pruned in spring before growth, and clematis that bloom on old wood (previous season growth) may be pruned after flowering ends
2. Deadheading
   This is done after the flower dies. It ensures that a plant wastes no energy on forming seeds by removing mature flowers which are turning brown or losing petals. Otherwise, they will develop seeds but the plant will start to wane in preparation for next season’s growth. Deadheading disrupt this cycle and fools the plant to continue to produce more flowers, thus prolonging the plant’s blooming period. Picking fresh flowers also accomplishes the same thing. Remember to always make the cut on a slant direction to allow water and dew to run off the cut.
3. Staking
   This will help your towering, top-heavy, and floppy plants to stand tall in their beauty. Bring support in the earliest part of the season so you won’t disturb growing roots any more than is necessary. Early intervention also allows the plant to grow around its support, disguising stakes from view.
   Twigs: Prop up droopy perennials or shrubs by pieces of salvaged brush.
   Thin stakes: Use plastic, bamboo, dowel rods, or anything that can be plunged deeply into the ground to anchor plants well enough. Metal peony rings: Although these are designed for peonies, they can also be useful for other perennials as well. Early installation is ideal but make sure to center them over plant’s crown.
4. Winter Protection
   Above all, it’s best to know the hardiness zone, the climate zone a plant can withstand, to avoid all sorts of trouble and disappointments on buying flowers and plants. Upon knowing which flowers are hardy in your zone, do these tips for winter preparation:
   1. Reduce watering to slow down plant growth as it’s in its dormancy.
   2. Stop fertilizing to avoid early flower blooms that will only be damaged by frost.
   3. Apply mulch to keep heat and prevent frost heaving.
   4. Look for microclimates with little exposure to frost within your landscape where you can grow your plants before winter comes.
   5. Rip and toss annual plants on compost pile but save the seeds of the self-sowing types. Shake the seedheads on areas where you want them to grow the next year.
   6. Transfer your perennials and tropical plants in a pot and bring them indoors or any warmer place. Water them sparingly all throughout the season.
   7. Dig up bulbs, corms, and tubers of non-hardy plants. Cover them lightly with antifungal powder and place them in a cool, dry place.
   8. Cut back the spent flowering stalks of the perennials and apply foliage and mulch.
   9. Leave perennials or hardy vines and climbers on their support because it’s really impossible to extract them. On the other hand, annual vines and climbers won’t stand the frost and will die. After that, pull them out and compost.
   10. Give good soakings on flowering shrubs in late summer or early fall but don’t fertilize nor prune. Mulch the root zone or erect a wire cage around so you can stuff it with autumn leaves. For plants with broad leaves, you can spray them with anti-dessicant to prevent drying up.
   11. Also give good soakings on flowering trees in late summer or early fall. Always make sure to brush heavy snow off of the branches to avoid breaking.