Planning is the cornerstone of creating an exquisite flower garden. Whether your preference lies with perennial blooms that bloom year after year or annuals for quick splashes of color, choosing an appropriate design can make all the difference in success.
Start by familiarizing yourself with your USDA growing zone and monitoring where the sun hits your planting area each day. Take into account bloom times so that when one type of flower fades away, another one emerges to take its place.
Location
Make sure your flowers flourish by becoming familiar with the USDA Growing Zones in your region. Selecting plants outside their zone could severely stunt or kill their development; also pay attention to first and last frost dates in your region which help determine when plantings should take place.
Adjust the heights of your flower beds by mixing in tall perennials at the back with shorter annuals and shrubs in front. This creates visual interest while still leaving plenty of room for plant growth without overcrowding the area.
Consider using perennials that provide bees and butterflies with host plants for their caterpillars as well as nectar sources, while shrubs add winter structure or fall color – this will create an eye-catching garden year round! To further accentuate its natural beauty, use delineation such as edging to keep grass or weeds from intruding upon your floral display; repeating colors or shapes throughout adds a sense of unity within the space.
Soil
Flower gardens require soil that’s rich with nutrients and well-draining; soil tests help you assess this aspect. You should amend or change it as necessary and get rid of weeds and grass that could compete with your flowers for water and nutrients.
Consider Bloom Times. Perennials with staggered bloom times offer color throughout the season, while annuals add flashes of hue when perennials fade. Foliage Color and Form is also important; try mixing plants with small and large leaves, solid and variegated colors, round and oval shapes for added visual interest during non-bloom times.
Define the borders of your flower beds using garden edging or stones. This will prevent lawn grass and weeds from creeping in from the edges. Also important is depth: 3- to 4-feet is optimal to make reaching flowers and water plants easy without compacting soil too much.
Water
Planning an effective flower garden layout is essential. Careful measurements and thoughtful arrangement will help your blooms to thrive while making the best use of space available to you. Consider what types of blooms you would like to plant as well as their lighting requirements – for instance hydrangeas and lilies prefer full sun environments while many flowering shrubs fare better when exposed to partial shade conditions.
Instead of simply selecting eye-catching plants as focal points, you can also choose a color scheme and plant heights that work together to achieve maximum visual impact. A monochromatic palette works well here – using flowers of similar shades that blend seamlessly into the landscape; alternatively you could introduce vibrant color combinations for added zest!
Retired garden designer Donna Hackman advises planting showy flowers near the front of your bed, out of reach of lawn mower blades. Also keep paths wide to avoid trampling flowers when passing by them and water deeply to promote deep roots; avoid overhead sprinkling which loses half its moisture through evaporation.
Light
Sunlight is one of the key components to creating a thriving flower garden. While some species require full sun (6 or more hours a day), other do well with partial shade (3 to 6 hours). Before planting any new seeds or bulbs, be sure to research your growing zone in order to select flowers which will thrive there.
Arranging flowers is also key. Renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf advises taking into account the shapes of flowers you select when selecting perennials with spires, plumes, buttons, umbels and screens to create captivating visual designs in your garden.
Repetition of colors, shapes and plants throughout a garden bed is a simple way to give it cohesion and avoid an untidy appearance. Odd numbers of similar plants tend to look more appealing. Furthermore, adding hardscape elements like trellises, pergolas and birdbaths will accentuate your flowers while drawing visitors deeper into your space.