Flowers thrive in beds that have been carefully planned, tailored to their site, and maintained regularly; but how exactly the flower garden is laid out depends entirely upon individual tastes and styles.
As in real estate, repetition is key for creating a flower garden layout that provides cohesion and ease of maintenance. Repetition of colors, shapes and plant species as well as colors located across each other on the color wheel appeals to our senses and makes the space appealing.
Location
Find a location for your flower garden that gets ample sun. A foundation garden located at the front of your home requires sufficient light so its flowers can reach full height, but make sure they don’t block windows or doors. Meanwhile, an island flower garden should allow for its tallest plants without encroaching on other parts of its surroundings.
Consider both soil quality and climate. A well-draining, loamy soil is best for most flowers; planting them in sandy or clay soil could prove disastrous. Becoming familiar with your USDA growing zone also helps determine which flowers can survive in your yard given climate and soil conditions.
Use an assortment of blooms to provide seasonal color. Experienced flower garden designers should plan for staggered bloom times so that when one type of flower starts to fade, another one is ready to step in its place.
Pathways
Definition is key when creating an effective flower garden, helping prevent grass and weeds from invading its precious space. Defined beds can be set apart from one another using garden edging, pavers, field stones or any number of materials available for this task.
Once your bed has been planned and designed, it’s time to start planting! Before doing so, take a careful inventory of existing plants in your bed, and remove anything that doesn’t meet your standards – such as plants that don’t thrive, don’t suit its environment or simply lack visual appeal.
Experienced garden designers typically cluster plants in odd numbers such as three, five or seven to create an eye-catching and dynamic design, which contrasts nicely with even numbers. Flowers that bloom at various times during the season can also be combined together for added color throughout the year according to Wiley.
Focal Points
Focal points in a flower garden serve to draw the eye and provide a sense of destination, whether that means one particular plant, a cluster of similar ones or even something such as a fountain or decorative piece in the form of garden decor.
An effective focal point provides year-round visual stimulation. Choose flowers that bloom at different times so when one set of blooms wilt, new ones emerge just in time to bring new bursts of color into bloom. Foliage adds another dimension of interest.
Framing a focal point requires some skill. Experts advise using an array of plant species and colors that coordinate well together; typically odd numbers of similar plants in groupings should help prevent an untidy look; for instance three Russian Sage plants surrounded by alliums and sunflowers are an eye-catching arrangement. Consider lighting up this area during night time to heighten its visual impact further.
Background
There is no perfect flower garden layout; rather, each garden’s design depends heavily on factors like soil type and quality, light levels and personal objectives and preferences. But there are some essential design principles you can employ in creating an aesthetically pleasing flowerbed.
Piet Oudolf, an internationally acclaimed Dutch garden designer, advocates beginning with shape. He suggests experimenting with combinations of flowers with similar silhouettes – for instance spires and plumes can pair nicely with daisies and buttons while globes and umbels pair nicely with screens. When designing a plot it can also help to consider height; tall plants may need staking while shorter varieties might look best in drifts.
Once your flowers and layout have been selected, it’s essential to use a critical eye and ruthlessly prune any plants or blooms that don’t thrive, bloom reliably or look untidy after they’ve gone dormant.