If you are like many people, you may not know that some of the flowers you receive as gifts can be replanted into your garden for you to enjoy for years to come. While fresh-cut arrangements and bouquets will not make it into your garden, you are in luck if you received a potted flower, especially if   it is a bulb flower. These flowers can be easily transferred to your garden in just a few simple steps. You will be thrilled with the results when you see your flowers bloom the following year and your floral gift continues to brighten your day. And, it is not just bulb flowers that make great home-to- garden transplants, any potted flower will do.

Follow these simple guidelines and you will soon have a happy new addition to your outdoor garden:

● Location. Understand the soil and light needs of the flower you will plant so you do not place it in too much or too little light for it to survive and thrive. While many flowers flourish with plenty of direct sunlight, others will promptly wilt and die.

● Spacing. Do not place the new bulb or flower plant too close to other residents of your garden. Plants and flowers need room and their own, dedicated soil to ensure they are getting all the nutrients and water they need from it.

● Soil. If the soil in your region is full of clay, prepare it a bit by breaking up the clay to get to the nutrient-rich soil below. Even if there is not clay in your soil, aerate it a bit to allow oxygen to get to the soil.

● Water. Newly-transplanted flowers and bulbs need extra water as they are acclimating to their new digs. Do not let them dry out during this critical time or they may reach the point of no return.

● Climate. If you live in a more volatile climate with extremely cold temperatures (or extremely hot), you may need to take extra steps to keep your flowers safe including covering them or watering them more often.

While it is a bit more work than just tossing your planted flower once it wilts, you will have the pleasure of seeing it for much longer if you plant it outside. And, the special friend or relative who gave you the gift will be touched that their thoughtfulness became part of your garden.

What to do next? Buy your flowers from our Toronto Flower Shop.