At the core of every successful flower garden lies an organized plot. Knowledge of frost dates in your region will enable you to devise an optimal planting schedule.
Consider your color scheme when creating a flower garden. Foliage plays an essential part in adding interest even long after flowers have died off.
Location
Flower gardens are an exciting way to add curb appeal to any home. No matter if it is small space or an entire acre you have available to work with, selecting an optimal spot is key in creating the garden you envision. Look for areas receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight each day that are close to water sources for best results.
Location should also be convenient so that your garden hose can reach all of the flowers. A flower garden is easier to manage without many weeds residing within its boundaries.
At the core of any garden is its plant selection: choosing colors that complement each other such as purple gladioli and yellow iris; using combinations to add visual interest is also crucial; when adding foliage consider plants with unique textures like sword-like gladioli and bleeding hearts for maximum effect.
Soil
An exquisite garden begins with the right soil. Before selecting plants to grow, carefully research which soil type best matches them; read all tags or instructions of each one carefully for guidance. Finally, use this knowledge to prepare a soil bed ready for planting using compost or other organic material as necessary.
Flowers typically thrive in loose, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Ideally, soil should be screened to remove rocks or other debris and to ensure there are no pathogens lurking within.
Donna Hackman, a retired garden designer, advises keeping paths wide between flower beds so it is easier for visitors to walk through without accidentally treading on any blooms, which could damage or detract from their beauty. She suggests choosing perennial plants with long bloom times such as perennial flowers that require little sunlight or water and grouping them according to sun/water requirements. Foliage provides texture and color long after the flowers have faded.
Sunlight
As part of your garden planning, consider the amount of sunlight the area receives daily before selecting flowers and plants that best complement its conditions.
Common flower garden designs feature rectangular beds beneath front windows, long beds lining walkways and rows of organically flowing oval or circular shapes that give properties an organic vibe.
Flower garden design is no less critical than choosing its soil and plants. Mixing heights, colors and textures creates more pleasing landscape than rows of uniformly planted flowers. Use an online planner tool like Better Homes and Gardens’ Plan-a-Garden software to map out your design before digging holes for planting seeds.
Introduce flowering shrubs into your flower garden for structure and four-season interest, as well as colorful bark or twisty forms to add visual contrast. Also consider including bee-, butterfly- and hummingbird-friendly perennials like catmint, aster, phlox and coneflower as well as fruiting shrubs in order to attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Water
Flower gardens can do more than simply look pretty; their beauty can also promote mental well-being and support local wildlife. Flowers also attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds which help perpetuate plant reproduction and biodiversity while simultaneously improving air quality by absorbing toxins while emitting oxygen into the environment.
Consider choosing plants of various heights, colors, and textures to add visual interest to the garden. Avoid planting in rows; rather use the thriller, filler, and spiller formula which includes tall plants for structure; smaller blooming bloomers with colorful blossoms; and spreading or trailing plants that spread along the edge of the bed.
To keep your flower garden healthy, be sure to water regularly without overwatering. It’s best to do so either early morning or late afternoon so the heat of the day won’t erode away any moisture that lands there. Additionally, take prompt action against any weeds that appear as soon as they appear in order to stop their spread and continuously fertilize and mulch your garden beds.