Planning can help you create flower garden layout ideas that are well-organized and balanced, including factors like focal point placement, plant heights, year-round interest and color combinations.
Be mindful not to neglect texture. A combination of coarse and fine foliage adds an organic vibe that draws people in.
Location
Location is one of the key elements in creating a beautiful garden design. If your area receives lots of sunshine, consider creating a sunlit meadow garden or something more colorfully vibrant.
Your USDA growing zone can help determine which plants will do well in your climate, advises horticulturist Carol Bornstein. Flowers that require too much warmth or cold to flourish will die of neglect – these flowers need the perfect environment in which to thrive for maximum success!
Before planting, clear away all grass or weeds in the location where your flower garden will go and mark off its boundaries with a hose or rope. If you intend to create a path through your garden, lay it out at an appropriate size to accommodate a wheelbarrow or other gardening tools without becoming overcrowded. Also decide if the path will run on flat ground or slopes which require terracing in order to protect soil against erosion.
Focal Point
Focal points draw the eye to one particular location in your garden. These could range from an eye-catching flower in the middle of a skinny border, to groupings of plants near a walkway or statues and garden art that add whimsy. Focal points can also be created through structures, like pergolas or arches that direct it upward towards the sky.
Consider plant height when choosing the location for your focal point. Tall plants should be placed toward the back, while short flowers should be brought closer to the front. Mixing colors or textures together to add visual interest; mixing fine foliage with coarse foliage, mixing different hues on different parts of a color wheel creates contrasts that draw the eye in different ways and draw visitors in closer.
Once you’ve determined the size and location of your focal points, test their effect by standing back far enough and looking at them from all sides. Rearrange or remove items which seem to compete for attention or compete against these focal points for placement.
Background
Flower gardens can take any shape you desire, and there are endless ways to design it. While soil preparation and plant selection will have an enormous effect on its final look, some elements of design may come down to personal taste alone.
Matt James suggests gardeners utilize color combinations and floral combinations to add visual interest in their flower bed, along with mixing plants of various heights to provide movement and create an open meadow-like feel.
Cowan emphasizes the “rule of three” when grouping flowers to help achieve continuity and less of an untidy look. She suggests consulting the White Flower Farm catalog or website, cultural instructions booklet shipped with each order for recommended planting spacing; often equal or less than the mature spread of each species – lower numbers give an open appearance while higher ones create fuller beds.
Hardscape
Flower garden design styles vary considerably; your selection will depend on both personal preference and the landscape style that best matches your home. For instance, in a modern-leaning garden you might favor clearly defined flower beds with hard lines and structured plant groupings; but in a cottage-style garden you might opt for more organic touches with sweeping curves and wilder clusters of blooms.
When planning a year-round garden, it’s essential to incorporate plants with staggered bloom times into its design. This way, as one flower starts to fade and another takes its place, keeping your flower garden vibrant with color throughout its existence. Tinkering with texture and size variations also provides variety; fine foliage juxtaposed against coarser bushier leaves offers visual interest while adding foliage plants whose colors complement those of the flowers can elevate its design further.