Flowers are an easy and affordable way to bring color into any yard. Choose annual bloomers that bloom briefly each season or perennials that come back year after year; either will brighten any outdoor space.
Before planting, prepare your soil by mixing in garden compost and other organic material to improve its condition. Remember that flowering plants usually prefer sunny spots.
Location
Flower gardens add color, fragrance and beauty to any yard while also serving as an invaluable habitat for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. In turn, this attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds – providing food sources all year long!
Location for a flower garden depends on the kind of blooms you wish to cultivate and their light requirements. A sunny position is preferable, though some flowers thrive even better in shade.
Your flower garden might be possible to create on level or slightly sloping ground, while steep slopes present additional challenges and require special consideration such as terracing to prevent soil erosion and maintain adequate water levels for the flowers.
When planning a flower garden, be sure to utilize various heights and colors to create an eye-catching landscape. In general, taller plants like peonies and roses belong at the back while shorter varieties such as zinnias, impatiens and cosmos should adorn its front. Aim to plant perennial flowers since these will come back year after year to add color and structure.
Soil
Your garden should reflect the flowers you plan to grow; sunflowers require full sun and hot temperatures while perennial lilies and other shade plants are best grown under cooler temperatures and require shade for optimal blooming.
Your flower garden should feature different heights, colors and textures to keep visitors interested throughout the season. A path can help direct visitors while providing visual interest and providing visual focal points.
If you’re planting a new flower bed, amend its soil with organic material first before digging up any existing areas or digging holes for planting. When digging holes for planting, dig 12 inch holes – deeper than most plants need! A deeper hole helps keep roots out of water and weeds out! If the soil is too sandy for most plants to survive in, mix in some compost to enrich it; alternatively you may require amending with more nutritious garden mix or topsoil as an amendment measure if yours is particularly poor.
Planting
Typically, it is best to plant flowers after all risk of frost has passed. When creating your garden’s soil mix in ingredients that help promote drainage and avoid clumping (such as mulch, compost, sand and volcanic rocks like perlite or vermiculite).
Experienced flower gardens incorporate plants with staggered bloom times, according to Benzakein, so there will be color all year-round. Shrubs provide structure and four-season interest, especially those featuring colorful bark or twisty shapes.
Once your planting area is clear, observe how much sun it receives throughout the day – you may need to switch locations or select different plants in order to suit your climate best. When choosing flowers for the garden, pick several that repeat throughout and create continuity; consider also including foliage and filler flowers to balance out your overall landscape; if your garden is subject to windy conditions use taller blooms to protect delicate leaves from harsh elements.
Care
Once your flower garden has been established, it’s essential that it stays free from weeds and regularly watered. Avoid spraying water directly onto the flowers as this can lead to their wilting; rather water the soil deeply to encourage deep root development. Aim to water before the heat of the day sets in.
Make the most of your garden by selecting plants with different colors, sizes and textures – choose hues that complement each other on the color wheel (e.g. pink and purple) or directly opposite (such as red and yellow). Don’t neglect foliage either as this will continue blooming long after blooms have faded!
Consider planting native flowers, as these provide pollinators with food sources and contribute to maintaining local habitats. Or opt for more showy display with heirloom or hybrid plants if desired, or perennials such as lilyturf and delphiniums – either perennials that thrive without much care required, like perennial lilyturf and delphiniums, or annual flowers like petunias and geraniums which continue blooming as long as spent blossoms are removed regularly.