Flower gardens add visual interest and dimension to any outdoor space. When selecting the location for your new garden, ensure it receives adequate sunlight while being easy for trimming, fertilizing and watering purposes.
Clear away grass and weeds before prepping the site with edging materials, mulch and compost to improve soil quality. Keep color, shape and foliage in mind for year-round interest.
Preparing the Soil
Flower gardens thrive best when grown on soil that’s loose, well-drained and full of organic material such as compost or mulch. Use soil amendments like this before you plant anything.
Make sure your planting site receives ample sunlight; most flowers thrive under direct sunlight; if you reside in an area with more shaded conditions, however, there may still be flowering plants which tolerate partial or diffused light sources.
Keep flower beds away from lawn areas in order to minimize having to mow around them, and install edging around your planting bed borders if desired. Edging will help define space more clearly while also making maintenance of its edges simpler using tools such as flat spades or half moon edgers or even weed trimmers.
Succulents offer both structure and four-season appeal in your garden, making easy-care flowering shrubs such as roses or spireas great options that require no pruning. Finish off the remainder of your landscape by filling it in with perennials and annuals to create a lush, colorful garden.
Selecting Plants
An attractive flower garden adds value and beauty to your home while serving as a welcoming habitat for butterflies and pollinators. When selecting plants for a new or revamped garden, take into account color combinations, foliage composition, fragrance characteristics and year-round interest as you make decisions.
Start by clearing away grass, weeds and debris in the area where you intend to establish your flower garden. If this is a new bed you are creating, amend its soil with plenty of compost so as to provide optimal conditions for flowers. If revamping an existing garden you should examine its pH levels and texture; these factors could impact their growth potential.
Be mindful of how much sunlight your garden receives; perennials that require full sunlight such as hydrangeas and sunflowers thrive in places receiving at least six hours per day of direct sun. Select plants with bloom times spread across summer so there is fresh color throughout. Evergreens that retain leaves during winter provide visual interest that keeps growing even through snowfall!
Planting
Starting your flower garden from seeds? Follow the seed packet directions regarding depth and spacing for optimal success. When planting nursery plants, ensure they’re placed in well-draining soil rich with organic matter for maximum efficiency.
Once the basics of your plot are in place, it’s time to add showpieces that stand out. Think bloom time and color combination as well as whether the flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds or other pollinators species.
Keep the overall design of your garden in mind as well. Hardscape elements, such as trellises, arbors and pergolas, can add structure and create focal points in the garden while groundcovers add soft textures while providing shade retention and water conservation benefits.
Be sure to consider how accessible the garden will be so that you can easily tend to it without trampling over precious flowers. A garden path is an effective way for both you and your guests to navigate your flowerbed effortlessly.
Care
A beautifully designed flower garden adds beauty and color to any landscape, while providing essential habitat for pollinators. In order to keep such a garden flourishing, proper care must be given on a daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal basis.
As the first step of garden planning, selecting an area for planting and watering must come first. Make sure the chosen spot gets at least six hours of direct sun each day without being shaded by trees and buildings, and keep track of when optimal planting and watering times occur throughout the day.
Include a range of plant heights and bloom colors when designing the garden. Plant perennials that bloom throughout spring, summer and fall as well as late season annual flowers will ensure an abundance of blossoms all season long. Shrubs for winter color and structure should also be added; consider including fruiting or berry-producing plants too! Furthermore, include foliage plants with varied textures like sword-like heucheras or variegated irises for added interest.