Install a garden that will draw butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators by choosing flowers with blooms that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators. Select plants that require minimal care.
Take into account the climate in your growing zone to select flowers that thrive. Keep an eye out for when frost begins and ends so that planting occurs according to plan.
Plan the layout of your flower garden, selecting focal flowers and filler flowers to group together in groups. Leave plenty of space between plants so they can expand freely.
Location
Finding an ideal spot for your flower garden is key when creating one. Flowers require full sunlight throughout the day, so select a location which provides plenty of direct sun. Furthermore, it helps if it is situated away from areas where people walk or play; nothing beats having all your blooms tramped on during a backyard BBQ!
Make sure your flower bed has proper drainage – without adequate drainage, soil can quickly become waterlogged and cause root rot in plants. It is wise to work in your garden when soil moisture levels are damp but not wet; otherwise digging can become cumbersome and could even lead to fungal disease outbreaks.
When planning your garden, try to organize it based on height and structure. Plant taller plants at the back before gradually transitioning them toward shorter plants closer to the front can create an appealing visual balance.
Soil
Garden flowers thrive in loamy soil that has been enhanced with compost. When planning to dig a flower bed, remove rocks and large clumps of dirt before mixing in compost with your shovel to loosen up the soil for easier planting and better growth throughout the season. Loosened soil allows water to drain off more effectively which will benefit flowers planted into these beds.
When planting from seeds, follow the directions on their packet for best results. When using nursery plants instead, simply pull them from their container and loosen their rootball using your fingers before setting into place in your hole.
When designing your flower garden, mix up its heights and colors for an eye-catching design that doesn’t rely on just one type of bloom. Mixing plants of various heights, sizes and textures creates an impressionistic meadow feel while increasing biodiversity according to garden designer Matt James. Doing this also keeps the space looking natural throughout all four seasons – and keeps you smiling every season!
Sunlight
Full-sun locations provide optimal conditions for creating flower gardens; however, shaded locations may still support one if your plant choices can thrive under light shade conditions.
Though it can be tempting to focus exclusively on color when designing a flower garden, renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf encourages his clients to also consider shape when making designs for their outdoor space. He suggests layering flowers of various heights, sizes, shapes and textures for maximum movement in any season of the year – something which Oudolf also recommends as he suggests planting layers with different heights, sizes, shapes and textures of blooms to keep their garden interesting year-round.
He recommends planting Astilbe to enhance any shaded garden with long tassel-like blooms in summer and fall, pairing it with other perennials that feature unique foliage colors like Gladiolus sword-like leaves or bleeding heart’s fine, lacy texture. Furthermore, use curved edges in your DIY flower bed so it will fit in seamlessly with the rest of your yard landscape and makes mowing around easier.
Water
At the center of any flower garden is creating an ideal soil. An ideal flower garden soil should be loose and crumbly with plenty of organic matter such as well-rotted manure, leaf mold or compost and just the right balance between sand and clay particles.
Planting should take place during spring after all risks of frost have passed and temperatures are warming, though always check the specific instructions of your flower species to see when is best to plant them. If planting seedlings or cuttings, give them a good soak first in a bucket before placing in the soil.
Arranging flowers requires taking into consideration both shape and color when choosing arrangements. For instance, snapdragons and daisies have very distinct spires from bleeding hearts with delicate lace-like foliage – two strikingly different flower forms which when planted together work wonderfully together. Also, pay attention to color choices: bright hues stand out while more subdued hues such as blues, lavenders, mauves or subdued pinks offer subtler contrasts.