Flower gardens bring spring through fall color into any landscape. Pick perennials and annuals of different heights, bloom times, colors and fragrances for maximum impact.
Make sure your garden gets plenty of sun. Keep an eye on any potential sites over several days to observe how much light comes through on an average day.
Location
Locating an ideal spot for your flower garden can save hours of effort and frustration. Sunlight levels in a given location will have an impactful impact on what plants you choose, as will soil type.
Soil must drain quickly in order to support healthy plant growth; overly wet dirt can rot flowers. Furthermore, when planting near or around trees it’s important to consider their shade and competition with roots for water resources.
Consider whether or not your goal is to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators; then select perennial plants that will provide food for them. Finally, think about how long you intend on maintaining your flower garden before selecting plants with different characteristics like fragrance and movement for maximum effectiveness.
Soil
Garden beds must have soil of the proper type in order to thrive; flowers thrive best in well-draining, fertile loam that drains well and contains an optimal mix of nutrients and drainage systems. Conducting a soil test is key in deciding what changes must be made; most varieties prefer loamy soil, while combining topsoil, compost and sand helps create balanced bedding while increasing drainage rates.
Plan to plant both annuals and perennials in your garden to provide a range of colors that bloom all season, and extend its enjoyment. Be sure to include showy focal points like lilyturf, irises and roses for added visual interest and long-term enjoyment.
When planting flowers, use a shovel or spade with a sharpened tip to dig holes for planting. Stepping on your flower beds compacts the soil, making it harder for roots to spread outward. Walkways such as garden paths or trellises can help define flower gardens while making maintenance simpler; additionally a garden hose allows you to reach hard-to-reach plants without having to bend over!
Plants
Before planting flowers, it’s essential to thoroughly weed and prepare the garden area. Clear away grass and weeds from the bed before turning over the soil. Now is also an ideal opportunity to add compost into the top layer of dirt – this will improve soil conditions while making life healthier for your blooms!
Create year-round appeal in your garden by planting a mix of blooms that provide year-round interest. Consider planting perennials like peonies and lilacs that bloom for several months each year as well as annuals like zinnias and impatiens that peak between summer and fall, such as annuals like zinnias and impatiens that flourish during these two seasons. Choose plants that attract beneficial insects like pollinators or predatory wasps to keep pests away.
Create visual consistency by planting three or odd numbers of identical flowers together in groups. Expert gardeners employ this design trick to make their gardens appear more dynamic than if a mixture of different plant types were planted together randomly.
Maintenance
Maintaining your flower garden does not stop after planting it; for optimal results and blooming blooms, follow some basic maintenance practices to ensure their wellbeing and color vibrancy.
Cover your flower garden in a layer of 2″-4″ of mulch to help save moisture, curb weed growth and enrich its soil. Shredded leaves, dried grass clippings or purchased mulches are great choices.
Weeds consume vital nutrients and water supplies necessary to the flowers in your garden, and can crowd out plant roots and reduce growth. Make it a part of your regular garden maintenance practice to check regularly for signs of weeds, and pull them as soon as you spot any to reduce their negative effect on your garden.
Pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies can add life and vibrancy to any garden, providing nectar-producing flowers as well as host plants for caterpillars and their caterpillars. Aim for an attractive, diverse garden that supports multiple insects.