Flower gardens bring color and brightness into any outdoor space. Selecting appropriate flowers will ensure a garden that blooms all summer long.
Start gardening as soon as all frost risk has passed in springtime. Prepare the bed by clearing away grass and weeds while adding compost to enrich its soil.
Layout
Flower gardens vary considerably in layout depending on their surroundings and available space, yet there are some general rules which should be taken into consideration when creating one.
Start by drawing out your flower bed in order to determine its size and placement of plants. Stationary stores carry drawing supplies like graph paper and ruler, while compass (a plastic template used by artists to draw circles) is useful in helping determine the shape of its borders.
Strive for an aesthetic balance by including taller flowers at the back, small edging plants in front and mid-sized blooms throughout to add visual interest and create visual tension. Also consider including plants that will bloom at different times throughout the season so when some fade, others start opening. Incorporate foliage plants for texture and color when blooms don’t put on their show.
Soil
Soil quality is integral to flower garden success and can easily be improved. Before planting, dig down to spade depth and remove all weeds. This preparation will ease flowers into their new home and help them thrive as you watch!
Every flower has its own set of requirements for optimal bloom, such as pH levels, temperature settings, watering requirements and sunlight conditions. According to horticulturist Carol Bornstein, research the plants you want to incorporate into your garden and discover which conditions they prefer before making the investment.
If you’re uncertain of how much sunlight a particular area gets, make a chart for each hour of the day by noting where shadows fall throughout your garden. Record whether there was full sunlight (more than 6 hours), partial sunlight (6 to 6 hours) or shade (3-3 hours). A combination of pebbles, small stones and larger rocks will help divide a flower garden while adding interest and distinction between areas.
Plants
Flowers may be the focal point of any garden, but other elements must also be taken into consideration. Shrubs provide structure while berry-producing plants add winter interest while providing a texture backdrop to your flowers.
Try to achieve year-round color by selecting plants with various blooming times. Choose plants that produce vibrant hues to stand out, as well as softened hues (blues, lavenders, mauves and subdued pinks) which fade into the background.
Be sure to select plants that suit the site and conditions perfectly. Consider where you would like your garden located as well as how much sunlight the area receives; most flowers prefer full sun (6+ hours), though others can thrive under partial shade conditions. Take a walk around your garden and create a chart highlighting where sunlight comes in during a typical day; this will help avoid errors when selecting seeds and plants.
Care
Flowers gardens require ample amounts of water, especially newer gardens, so locate it near a water source such as your hose or hydrant to reduce carrying heavy cans of water around your yard.
Select plants of varying heights, bloom times and textures for year-round interest. Flowers with complementary hues should work well together while shrubs provide structure.
Before planting, prepare your soil by mixing in well-rotted manure or compost to your area and raking to an even tilth. It’s best to start a garden in spring after the risk of frost has passed; individual varieties have their own growing guidelines. Mulch helps prevent weeds and conserve moisture. Shredded hardwood mulch provides aesthetic value while decomposing into feed for the soil as a whole; other options may include bark or evergreen ground covers. You may also deadhead faded flowers so as to coax more production, also known as deadheading.