Why Don’t My Plants Flower?

There are several reasons why flowering plants don’t bloom, however, one of the leading reasons is lack of adequate light.

Sun equals flower buds!

Often when homes are built, either there are no trees or some large trees are removed and a few small trees are planted in the landscape. Over time, these small trees mature, cast more shade, and our full sun gardens become more and more shaded. Too much shade will affect the bloom on many plants including lilacs, Azalea, Rhododendron, Forsythia, Peonies, and Iris.

Increase the Light!

• In order to get more sunlight to your plants, it may be necessary to limb up your trees and shrubs. This basically means removing some of the lower branches and thinning out some of the internal branches. Depending upon the size of your trees, you may need to hire a professional tree service such as Bartlett Tree Experts. You may even need to thin out and remove less desirable trees.
• Allow enough light into your shadier areas so that you can see your shadow. This is called bright or filtered shade.
• Afternoon sun, between 11am and 5pm, is the hottest and brightest. Many sun-loving plants can thrive in all afternoon sun environments.

Other Reasons for Lack of Bloom

Sometimes excessive nitrogen and not enough phosphorus, disease problems, or improper pruning can also reduce or inhibit blooming.