Spring flowers are almost ready to go outside, whether you grew them from seed yourself or are beginning to pick them up from garden centers and nurseries. Before you dig into last year's beds, though, you should take a few days to harden off those plants so they don't suffer transplant shock.

Hardening off helps flowers and bedding plants adjust to the temperature fluctuations, sun intensity and changeable weather conditions outdoors. Until now, these plants were growing under pretty controlled conditions. While this results in a healthy plant, it also results in one ill-equipped to handle real life outdoors.

Begin the hardening off process about week before you intend to transplant. Set the pots outside in a protected area, such as a shady area of the patio. You want to bring them in at night before the temperature cools for the first few nights. Gradually increase the time you leave them flowers outdoors while also moving them slowly to a more exposed area. You can leave them out overnight toward the end of the hardening off period if cold weather isn't expected.

Select an overcast day for transplanting. Too much sun can scorch the leaves or result in dehydration while the flowers are rooting in the new bed. Giving each plant a nice thorough watering with a starter fertilizer also helps perk up the leaves and flowers so they experience less shock. Take the time to harden off those bedding flowers, you'll be glad you did when they begin producing healthy new blooms quickly.