Half of the plants were in a $7/bag brand. The other half were in $3/bag brand. Here’s the contrast …

On the left is $3 and on the right is $7.

Since it was obvious the $3 ones weren’t doing very well, I started supplementing their soil with plant food.

I used the Expert brand which recommends feeding once every 2 weeks. Realizing that the plants were severely lacking, I fed that first week and again the following week. (We had a lot of rain between the two feedings so I wasn’t too concerned about over feeding or burning the roots.)

Immediately after the first feeding, the plants began to show improvement. They were all around healthier - greener, more buds, and a little growth.

After a month and a 3rd feeding at 4 weeks, the plants are still smaller than the $7/bag ones, but there is a noticeable improvement…

Here’s another before and after…

After…

So, when it comes down to choosing potting soil for your flower beds, choose wisely or plan on additional sources of nutrients for the plants.

Related posts:

1. Different brands of potting soil I never thought much about the differences in potting soil...
2. Gladiolas: Care and Preservation On Friday, we went over some basic information about growing...
3. Planning for Spring I just realized the other day that we’re halfway...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Our tiger lilies are blooming in abundance this year! A week ago, before the first flower opened, I counted approximately 1200 buds. Aren’t they gorgeous?

For more Wordless Wednesday, go here.

Related posts:

1. Asiatic Lily in Bloom My favorite flowers to grow are lilies, and I...
2. Wordless Wednesday: Surprise! Imagine my surprise Sunday morning when I found this...
3. New in the Garden We have a new flower bed! My mom brought...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The entire flower appears to be fake. Almost like plastic. The petals have a high shine resembling wax.

Then there’s the little raised bumps and the fuzzy white piece on each petal. How amazing!

I have no idea what type of asiatic lily this is. It’s a “surprise” plant that hitched a ride in some of the day lilies my mom brought me last fall. I must say that the photo doesn’t do the flower justice as it is very striking in the flower bed.

Related posts:

1. Wordless Wednesday: Surprise! Imagine my surprise Sunday morning when I found this...
2. Lily blooms My first lily opened a couple of days ago!...
3. Asiatic Lily in Bloom My favorite flowers to grow are lilies, and I...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

What’s blooming at your house?

Related posts:

1. Planning for Spring I just realized the other day that we’re halfway...
2. The Last Roses of Summer For more Wordless Wednesday participants visit the main site....
3. Wordless Wednesday: Sunflowers Sunflowers = Autumn? For some reason my mind associates...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

My first lily opened a couple of days ago! This is an asiatic lily that my parents gave me 2 years ago for my birthday.

I really want to call this lily a “stargazer” but I’m not 100% on that. I know I have the tag somewhere … I’m just too lazy to go find it.

Today, the lily has 2 flowers open, except the 2nd flower has some pieces of the petals missing. Apparently, some critter likes munching on lily buds. I assumed that the petals had been munched on until I looked back at my photos and discovered that the bud (to the left of the flower) had a nice chunk missing.

Anyone know what kind of pest likes to eat asiatic lily buds?

Related posts:

1. Asiatic Lily in Bloom My favorite flowers to grow are lilies, and I...
2. Intricate flower designs One of my favorite things about flowers is how intricately...
3. Irises abound Irises (or flags) are one of those heirloom flowers...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

In the spring, at the end of the day,
you should smell like dirt.

by Margaret Atwood

Related posts:

1. Garden Quote by Van Dyke “The first day of spring is one thing, and...
2. Garden Quote by Browning The year’s at the spring, And day’s at the...
3. Garden Quote by Dickinson An altered look about the hills; A Tyrian light...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

You might have to click through to watch the video if you are reading this in a reader.

Related posts:

1. Free Garden Plans and Design Tool Yesterday I was checking my new blog posts to make...
2. A Garden Transformation My parents are visiting for the week, so I’m going...
3. No More Crying Over Stinkin’ Onions Do you cry when you cut onions? Try running cold...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Flowers have an expression of countenance
as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile,
some have a sad expression,
some are pensive and diffident,
others again are plain, honest and upright.

by Henry Ward Beecher

Related posts:

1. Garden Quote by Beecher The best stock a man can invest in, is...
2. Garden Quote by Thoreau I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder...
3. Garden Quote by Van Dyke “The first day of spring is one thing, and...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Irises (or flags) are one of those heirloom flowers that I adore. Heirloom flowers are typically found in old-fashioned gardens and may be hard to come by unless you know someone who has grown the plant for years or are willing to pay the price.

I’ve been very impressed with my irises this year. At one point I counted over 70 buds - the most I’ve ever had! Apparently they really liked the potting soil we used in the new flower beds last year. (And after my previous post about potting soil, I do remember the brand name - Expert (available at Wal-Mart.))

The yellow iris is a young plant so the flower is a little smaller. I also think that’s an iris in one of the clumps that my mom brought me in the fall, so it didn’t have as much time as the others to get established.

The purple irises are my most prolific with a handful of the burgundy ones scattered around.

My favorite part of growing irises? Seeing the intricacies on each flower. They have little fuzzy bits and the petals are extremely detailed.

Related posts:

1. New in the Garden We have a new flower bed! My mom brought...
2. Flowering Friday: ID Needed I confess … I’ve planted a plant and have...
3. Flowering Friday: Touch Me Nots I love heirloom flowers, and last year I discovered a...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

However, a firsthand experience showed me just how big of a difference a good brand versus a so-so brand can make.

Here’s a glimpse at one of my flower beds. I used cement blocks to create a border around the bed and then used the blocks as planters for violas and pansies. The conditions (sunlight, water, temperature, planting time) are identical for all of the plants in these photos.

See if you can recognize the difference between the good brand and the so-so brand…

Okay, those two photos were of the violas and pansies planted in the $3/bag potting soil that claimed to feed, was excellent for plants, blah blah blah. Now check out this …

Can you see the difference? The plants are greener, bigger, fuller, and loaded with flowers. They’re planted in the $7/bag potting soil. I wish I remembered the brand. I know it wasn’t Miracle Gro, but it was a very similar.

And just in case the difference isn’t that noticeable (and in case anyone is skeptical because the above photo is mostly of pansies, not violas like the previous two photos)…

On the left is the $3 bag and on the right is the $7 bag.

So, based on the plant progress after one month, I believe the $7 bag is a better investment. The $3 bag plants are going to require TLC and some extra nutrients from plant food (purchasing plant food eliminates the savings of buying the cheaper priced bag of potting soil).

Have you noticed a difference in potting soil brands?

Related posts:

1. Potting soil update A month ago, I wrote about the dramatic differences I...
2. Irises abound Irises (or flags) are one of those heirloom flowers...
3. Flowering Friday: Morning Glories Are you familiar with Morning Glories? If you have...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.