Experienced flower garden designers create the best flower gardens by incorporating perennials, shrubs and annuals that provide four-season color. Bulbs blooming in spring are integrated with perennials during the summer and annual flowers during fall to achieve full spectrum color throughout.
Height should also be taken into consideration when planning a flower garden, with taller blooms being placed towards the back while shorter varieties being planted nearer to the front.
Location
When planting flowers in a garden bed, make sure it’s situated where they will receive full sunlight – otherwise your flower bed could end up overgrown and neglected looking. Also ensure it’s accessible from your water hose so you can easily water it when necessary without needing to haul across your yard every time!
Repetition is key to flower gardening success. Repeating core colors, shapes and species across your flowerbed creates a sense of unity and balance for any space. A garden with both annuals and perennials adds color from spring until frost; adding shrubs such as hedgings, dwarf conifers and evergreens adds structure as well as four-season interest.
Sunlight
Most flowering plants require full sunlight in order to thrive; those that tolerate shade will still produce flowers, although perhaps less prolifically. Consider your location when planning.
Flower garden design is an art that many gardeners aim to master. A well-planned design ensures plants flourish while providing an eye-catching focal point in any landscape.
Add more eye appeal with curved lines instead of straight rows by mixing plant heights, maturation sizes and colors for an updated look. Don’t forget the value of including shrubs for four-season interest too!
Consider including perennials that cater to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds into your garden design. These plants offer year-round color while drawing pollinators in when your favorite flowers have gone into wane. Native species can help protect local wildlife while supporting ecosystems.
Soil
Soil selection for growing flowers is also crucial. “Different types of flowers require different soil conditions to thrive,” according to Cowan. Be mindful of direct sunlight exposure in your area as this will impact which plants you can grow there.
Consider also how much nutrient-rich soil there is, its pH level and water-holding capabilities; this information will allow you to better determine which plants your flower garden can support.
Before beginning to dig up your grassy area, draft a rough sketch of your new flower bed. This will serve as a guide for plant selection and layout as you progress with the project. Your sketch should ideally include dimensions as well as any existing paths or borders – having accurate measurements will enable you to purchase enough plants of each variety for each project phase.
Water
Your flower garden can make a statement about the style of your landscape design. From formal beds with clearly-defined edges to more natural designs featuring curvilinear paths and mixed plants, each garden should follow some core concepts for optimal design.
Notably, good drainage soil should be utilized. Avoid situating flower gardens where standing water may accumulate after heavy rainfalls or during spring thaws.
Gardeners should always work their soil when it is dry to avoid harming its structure and making it less conducive for plant roots. Aim for a rich, fertile site and add organic matter before planting shrubs for four-season interest and keeping your garden tidy after flowering has occurred. Repeat-blooming roses, colorful bark or twisty-shaped shrubs, deciduous trees all add winter interest as well.
Pruning
Care of a flower garden will depend on what flowers you select and their variety, but will at minimum require regular watering, weeding and deadheading of spent blooms. Be mindful of what it will look like at different points throughout the year as well as how it will complement other features in your landscape such as trees, shrubs and hardscape elements.
Search your yard for an area with full sunlight; this will enable most types of flowers you wish to grow to flourish. Prior to planting, conduct a soil test so you know if your soil contains adequate levels of nutrients; clearly mark out your bed boundaries using garden edging or other materials so weeds don’t overrun your plants!