Plant a Seed

• 1). Fill peat pots about 2/3 of the way with seed-starting soil, also called a medium.
  
  
• 2). Moisten the soil slightly to pack it down.
  
  
• 3). Consult the seed packet directions for the right planting depth for that particular type of flower, and place your seeds in the holes.
  
  
• 4). Cover the seeds with the amount of soil instructed on the packet, keeping in mind that some seeds need very little, if any, soil over them.
  
  
• 5). Place the peat pots on the seed starting tray and cover them with plastic wrap.
  
  
• 6). Place the seed starting tray in a dark, warm location with a temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and check daily for signs of germination, which will vary depending upon the type of flower you are growing.
  
  
• 7). Move the tray to a bright sunny spot once the first seedlings appear, and remove the plastic wrap. Water the soil in the pots if it appears dry to the touch.
  
  
• 8). Move the tray of seedlings outdoors when they are about 3 inches tall to an area where they will be protected from direct sunlight and high winds to get them used to being outside, a process called hardening off.
  
  
• 9). Leave the seedlings in this protected area for about a week, being sure to keep them moistened until they are ready to transplant.
  
  
• 10
  
  Prepare the soil in the garden where the plants will go, digging it down and loosening it to a depth of about 6 inches.
  
  
• 11
  
  Plant the peat pots in holes that are large enough to accommodate the entire pot; the pot's top should be located just below ground level. Be sure to plant them at the distance apart recommended on the seed packet.
  
  
• 12
  
  Mound soil gently around the base of the plants, and water them so that the soil is moistened but not saturated.
  
  

Planting a Flower

• 1). Buy established flower plants at a nursery or garden center, being careful to select the sturdiest and healthiest plants that show no sign of yellowing or wilting. Ask the nursery staff for help with planting depths and locations, or consult the small plant tags that are included in the pots.
  
  
• 2). Place the seedlings in a semi-shaded area out of direct sunlight once you get them home, and keep the soil moist until you are ready to transplant them into the garden.
  
  
• 3). Remove nursery-grown seedlings from their containers by pushing gently up on the bottom of each cell until the plant pops out, root and all, and place them in holes that are slightly deeper than the height of the cells.
  
  
• 4). Add soil gently around the base of the bare-root seedlings, and water them so the soil appears moist but no water puddles up around the plant.
  
  
• 5). Keep the area weed-free by putting down a 2-inch layer of wood chips or bark mulch around the base of the plants on all sides.