Once the flowers are all planted, water them thoroughly and make sure the soil stays moist till they’re established.

Most annuals and perennials can get through a season with just the fertilizer applied to the soil in the early spring.

But a mid-season feeding of a high phosphorous fertilizer will help them through the summer. That’ll promote flowering. (Always follow package directions)

Be sure to pinch back flower blooms once they start to fade. Just nip it off back at the stem so you don’t leave a stub.

That’ll promote further blooms elsewhere on the flower, and it also leaves the remaining foliage more attractive.

After the first frost, the garden will pretty much be history (except for any cold-loving perennials like sedum or chrysanthemums, which will survive several frosts).

To save work in the next spring, it’s a good idea to pull out the debris.

With annuals, pull the roots and stems both, but with perennials, just pull stems. Leave the roots for next year!

Spread organic amendments like peat moss, manure or compost over the soil as needed along with any fertilizer to replace nutrients used up over the summer. (Always follow package instructions)

Then turn the soil over to mix in the new elements, being careful not to disrupt the perennial roots, and rake it smooth for next spring.