Flower gardens add vibrant hues to any landscape, adding vibrancy with every bloom that blooms. In order to successfully design one, it is important to consider several aspects such as location, soil conditions and sunlight availability when planning one.
Start by clearing away any weeds, then using a cultivator or bow rake to work the dirt in each area of the garden. Record how much sunlight each spot receives on an average day.
Location
Flower gardens should ideally be situated where they receive at least six hours of sun each day, as most perennials, annual flowers, and bulbs require full sunlight in order to flourish properly.
Search your yard for an area that could become home for your future flower garden. Possible sites could include near windows, in front of or alongside your house or next to your driveway; creative designs even hide utility pipes through plants!
A mixed planting plan gives gardens depth and year-round interest, mixing tall with short plants, including evergreens for structure in the landscape, shrubs with colorful bark or twisty forms for winter interest and to frame flowers in your flowerbeds.
Color coordination can be challenging and can often prove fruitful results can be found using a color wheel as your guide. Bright hues such as pink or red work well together while complementary pairs such as purple and yellow can also look beautiful when put next to each other on the color wheel.
Soil
No matter if you are starting from scratch or amending an existing bed, proper soil preparation is key to successful flower gardening. “Flora prefer well-draining, moist loamy soil that’s high in nutrients,” according to horticulturist Carol Bornstein.
To examine your soil’s composition, use a spade and dig down about one foot with it. Look out for any clumps of coarse roots or organic matter which need to be removed as well as pockets that might prevent drainage. Claylike pockets may impede proper drainage.
To create an appealing garden design, group plants based on their sun and water requirements. Mixing heights, colors and fragrances adds depth and appeal. Shrubs add structure and visual interest; don’t overlook foliage for its color and texture long after blooms have faded! Consider including pergolas and trellises into your design too – these structures define space while supporting climbing plants! Keep paths wide between flower beds to prevent trampling of delicate blooms.
Sunlight
Selecting the ideal lighting conditions for your flower garden is of utmost importance; most flowers need plenty of sunshine in order to thrive. Consider placing it in an area that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight daily – placing your plants under shade can result in unattractive and leggy plants, according to horticulturist Carol Bornstein.
When planning a perennial-only garden, select plants with reliable bloom times and colors – for instance perennials like peonies and mums can offer early summer color with simple maintenance requirements; fall color can come from bulbs such as tulips and daffodils as well as annuals such as zinnias, marigolds and nasturtiums.
A carefully planned flower garden should include both tall and short plants, trees and other shrubs, pergolas and trellises to frame them and add enclosure. For added visual interest, design with repeating key shapes such as peony spires or daisy daisies in similar hues for visual variety.
Water
Make sure your garden bed or flower containers have access to water sources for optimal growth and waste reduction, like using a soil moisture meter that notifies when beds require more moisture. Overhead sprinkling wastes up to 50% of liquid as it evaporates before reaching plant roots (via Gardening Know How).
Experienced garden designers take great care when selecting plants for a garden design that provides year-round interest and staggered bloom times, so the garden never appears bare. When selecting plants, consider color combinations, flower sizes and shapes, foliage texture and more when making decisions on species selection. Also keep pollinators such as butterflies or hummingbirds in mind when making decisions; native species help sustain local pollinator populations more effectively than nonnative plants can. When planting, group flowers into masses or blocks so bees have easier foraging stops; scattering individual flowers can confuse bees who could miss essential food sources altogether.