Before beginning to plan a flower garden, first consider lighting conditions and soil quality. Most flowers require full sun to reach their full potential while some species can tolerate partial shade without experiencing significant reduction in blooming rates.
Before planting, mix plenty of compost into the soil in the bed in order to help plants retain nutrients more effectively and then clear away grass, weeds and any debris from its path.
Determine the Boundaries
An expertly designed flower garden can complement any landscaping style. From formal beds under windows to meandering paths, the options for design are nearly limitless. What matters is carefully selecting plants suited to their location and soil and placing them so as to highlight their best features.
Start by defining the boundaries of the space where you plan on building your new flower bed. Also familiarize yourself with your USDA growing zone – picking plants that won’t do well in your yard can become costly mistakes quickly!
Keep this in mind when planning your flower garden layout, as plants will reach maturity eventually and reach their full size. Also keep in mind that flowers often thrive better when combined with hardscape elements like pergolas, arbors or trellises for maximum effect.
Think About the Lighting Conditions
Flowering plants tend to vary greatly in their growth habits and require specific spacing requirements in order to flourish. Before placing them in your garden, make sure that you check each bloom size and suggested space requirements on their label; overcrowding your flowers could result in sparse blooms that have lost much of their appeal even if they make it through alive.
Consideration must also be given to plant height when creating a flower bed arrangement. Layering different heights of plants provides visual interest while keeping taller ones from overshadowing shorter ones.
Color combinations can also play an integral part of creating an inviting landscape. Colors near one another on the color wheel, like purple and yellow, often work well together. Foliage adds structure and color when blooms have faded; aim for a mix of bloom times so when one type of bloom begins fading another may just be emerging.
Group Flowers by Similar Water and Sun Requirements
Once you’ve established the boundaries for your flower garden, it’s time to plant. Select flowers which thrive in your region before matching up their water and sun needs with those of your chosen varieties.
Similarly, when selecting flowers for a sunny bed, make sure they thrive under full sunlight. Color selection is equally crucial; placing complementary hues next to one another or across from each other creates a pleasing aesthetic; annuals should be mixed in with perennials to provide structure to your garden and help provide color when blooms have faded. Foliage provides structure while adding structure when blooms have faded – don’t shy away from using plenty!
Finally, take into account a plant’s mature height and width when selecting its space allocation. Keep in mind that different flowers bloom at various times throughout the season; staggered bloom times ensure your garden maintains beauty even after some plants have finished blooming for the year.
Think About a Focal Point
Flower gardens don’t exist as standalone entities; rather, they must fit seamlessly into the landscape. A random flower bed plonked onto an existing lawn or jammed into an out-of-place corner would look disjointed at best and could become an eyesore at worst.
Once you have selected a location, start preparing it by clearing away grass and weeds as well as amending the soil with compost or organic matter to enhance its quality as a growing medium.
As you plan your plantings, consider including both focal flowers and filler plants to bring color, movement and interest to your garden. Symmetrical blooming flowers like roses work perfectly as focal flowers while spiked or airy blossoms (such as feverfew) make great fillers.
Group Flowers in Odd Numbers
When selecting flowers for your garden, it’s essential to take their mature size and color combinations into account. Finding plants that will complement one another is an art that many gardeners strive for; similarly grouped plants with similar water requirements or sun needs make maintenance of the entire garden simpler by eliminating overwatering or shading situations.
Reducing sterility by creating an organic garden requires adding plants of various heights throughout your flower beds and including those that grow wildly to add movement and color throughout the year – this way your flower garden won’t look sterile like “polka dots.”