How to make your starter plants & flowers bloom & grow

Before, I spill the beans…

For the record, I am no master gardener.  I have a multitude of weeds, the grass is literally always greener on the other side of our fence, & I’ve never won “Yard of the Month” – yet.

But I have a cheap {and I do mean cheap} dirty secret…

would you like to know what it is?

it

is

only

at your local hardware store.

are

you

ready?

Yeah, I know.  I am probably the only one in blog land that would blog about Composted Cow Manure, but it is my cheap dirty little secret.

But if you could see her flower garden, you would believe me in a heartbeat.

My Mom calls this stuff – GOLD!

Here’s a few beginnings & midways through Summer pics –  or the best I could come up with when I got this crazy notion to blog about cow manure with you.

The one on the left – barely planted.  Some are the smallest flowers available to buy – others are from a huge pot, that I separated after purchase.  The one on the  right – same planter just a few weeks later.

As we all know, buying flowers can be outrages.  I could spend a lot of money on flowers.

I try really hard not too.

I usually buy the smallest/cheapest annual flowers available or the best bang for my buck.  Because I know I have the *crap* to help me out & make them grow in no time.

here’s another example of baby beginner plants on the left below

&

a few weeks later.

The one on the left looks like there is hardly anything in there. But trust me there is ~ and soon, they will grow to be like the one on the right.

It just takes small doses of cow manure to add to any baskets or in the ground.

I place a handful of the GOLD{cow manure} in the bottom of the hole so it will be right there when the roots of your plant hit the hole.

Then I place a smaller handful at the top of the dirt once your plant is planted.

I know all you peeps who are not familiar with the composted cow manure, have one question on your mind…

Does it stink?

To me, it smells like earth or a bag of potting soil.  HONESTLY.

Now, I also know many of you do this as well, but I thought I would include this as a tip for what it’s worth.

I’ll buy big pots of something & I’ll divide them into smaller plants, to save on money.

Just look in your pot before purchasing & make sure you can get to the roots fairly easy.  Usually, I do this to some key focal points around the porch. Because, some places you need a big “WOW factor.”  If you know what I mean.

I love doing this with Geraniums.  I love Geraniums.  So easy, and they have such a variety of colors & you can divide them with such ease.

It is amazing what will grow from just a simple cut vine {like the ivy in this pot} or with good soil, & a little extra Gold {cow manure.}
I wish I had all the time in the world to work on flowers, but I don’t.  The rare moments I do get to dig in the dirt – I will always, hands down add my “dirty little secret to every hole so my little efforts will turn into scrumptious gorgeous overflowing flowers. ~ how’s that for a run-on sentence & some adjectives? 😉

Trust me, it can make your .99 cent annuals look like the $19.99 overflowing flower pots in no time!

***This is a re-post from last year. Since this particular topic is loaded with a lot of {ahem…} crap that is seasonal appropriate, I thought re-post was seasonal appropriate.***

linking with:
Tatertots & Jello – TidyMom – Tip Junkie