Seeds: I have a cut flower farm where I start thousands of seeds each season under grow lights. We’ll talk below about how to start seeds.

Seedlings: But I also order in some of the really hard-to-grow plants that we call plugs, basically seedlings that have had a good jumpstart on their root growth but aren’t quite all grown up yet. They are like adolescents in the plant world. You can also buy seedlings.

Plants in Pots: And still yet, when I drive by a nursery or just want to spend time looking at different varieties of flowers and shrubs, I inevitably end up taking home a few plants that look lonely. I’m a sucker, and I won’t deny it!

How to Start Seeds and Plants Start Your Own Seeds Inside: If you are planting your beds in the springtime, then you will have a lot of options. You can plan ahead and start your seeds inside your home under grow lights so that, depending on the hardiness of your plant choice, you can get those seedlings tucked right in as soon as we pass the safe planting date in your zone. In this way, you give them a great head start and get a jump on the growing season. This is especially helpful if you live in a cooler growing zone that has a short season of sufficient light and temperatures.

Start Your Own Seeds Outside: Directly sowing your seeds right into the soil is a perfectly fine option though it can be a little bit trickier and I find it less dependable. If you choose to directly sow into your flower beds be sure to plant according to the package instructions, water often, protect from birds looking for an easy food source and keep vigilance and patience close at hand. Many flower seeds are small and have tough seed coverings and it can take some time for them to sprout When seedlings are young, they require daily attention.

Buy Local: At local plant nurseries, they have started the seeds for you. By early spring, the plants have surpassed the plug or seedling stage and entered early adulthood. They are a bit stronger now. Whenever I go to a nursery I ask for their native plant section. For starters, I like to see what options there are that I haven’t come across before and also I think it’s important to let the nurseries know that I am interested in buying native plants, not just the imported ones. Our native plant species are the ones best suited to our climates as they have co-evolved within our ecosystem. They also are the basis for the local food web and what our pollinators and birds rely on as a food source and for some, a habitat. Whether you go in looking to browse or for something specific, if you are anything like me, you will not leave empty-handed!

Plant Trades: Swaps with friends, plant groups or neighbors can be a great way to share the florabundance. You can also divide from other plants in your flower beds or source from other parts of your property where the plants have spread beyond their boundaries. Where I live there are many church and civic groups that offer plant sales early in the springtime and again sometimes in the fall. Usually some of the community members who have years of gardening and a plethora of plants in the garden, divide up and sell their cuttings to raise funds for their particular groups. There are also a number of gardening clubs in the area where trades are par for the course among plant lovers. Plants might just be the best ROI (return on investment) if you are one to dig into the numbers.