How to Plant Flowers for Earth Day

Overview

April 22 is Earth Day, a day when the beauty of our planet is appreciated and efforts are made to prevent damage to it via pollution and other means. Planting flowers on Earth Day is a simple way to celebrate the environment. Whether you are doing it to beautify your own yard or are teaching the importance of the natural world to kids, flowers are one of the simplest but most appreciated of Earth's plants. April 22 is still cool in much of the country, so choose flowers that do not mind a light frost after being sown.

Step 1

Pick your seedlings from a nursery or start them from seed 6 weeks before Earth Day. Choose spring frost-tolerant varieties such as baby's breath, phlox or pansies.

Step 2

Loosen the soil in the planting area to an 8 to 10 inch depth using a spade. Remove any old plant material or large rocks.

Step 3

Spread a 3-inch layer of compost on top of the planting bed. Till it into the soil with a hoe to add nutrition and drainage to the bed.

Step 4

Remove the flower plant from its nursery pot. Loosen the roots on the bottom of the soil ball with your finger tips, taking care not to damage them.

Step 5

Set the flower transplant in the ground so that the top of the root ball is even with the soil surface. Fill in around it with soil and gently firm the soil around the plant.

Step 6

Water the flowers, thoroughly moistening the bed. Place a 2-inch layer of mulch around the flower plants to preserve soil moisture and protect them during any cold spring weather.