Preparing and planning correctly before planting flower seeds, seedlings or bulbs is the key to their successful cultivation. Read and adhere to any instructions found on plant tags or seed packets closely in order to achieve maximum success.
Pay careful consideration to the overall appearance and consider year-round interest and staggered bloom times when designing your garden. Experienced gardeners typically include plants that offer color in spring, provide winter structure, then bloom again in fall.
Location
Flower gardens require sunny locations with high-quality soil that drains well, and mulch should be added around them to retain moisture and discourage weeds if it’s used as cutting flowers.
Be sure that you have a method for regularly watering your garden – a soaker hose or drip irrigation is ideal, while using raised beds with layers of mulch helps minimize weed growth that might otherwise compete for sunlight and moisture with flowers.
When selecting flowering plants for your landscape, take into account their mature height and bloom time. Aim for odd numbers of each type to achieve visual consistency and avoid an untidy look. Furthermore, consider matching their light requirements with what your landscape offers; those receiving too much sun could become leggy without flowering properly.
Soil
Your flowers require well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter for proper development and bloom. Loosen the ground before digging in compost or slow-release flower fertilizer as this will prepare a bed in which to plant them.
Add variety to your flowers by mixing up height and colors for added visual interest. Flowering shrubs provide structure, four-season interest and four-season structure while native plants and ornamental grasses act as natural backdrops to your blooms.
Avoid overcrowding your flowerbeds; too many plants will crowd each other out and produce fewer blooms. Also, research each plant’s needs prior to placing it in the ground – some varieties require specific pruning at specific times and frequent mulching for optimum growth; the more you know about your flowers, the easier their care will be.
Water
Flower gardens require ample water in order to thrive, and this amount varies according to the types and number of flowers planted – with most needing around an inch each week during their growing seasons.
Perennial flowers provide the foundation of any garden and offer color throughout the seasons. Some perennial varieties, like Phlox, Foxglove and Heuchera are especially striking due to their attractive foliage which adds visual interest even when not blooming.
If you plan to create your garden from seeds or nursery plants, read and follow all packaging instructions to ensure proper depth and spacing of each planting area. Furthermore, take into consideration whether the plants are perennial or annual as this will determine how much maintenance is necessary over time.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer can play an essential role in encouraging healthy plant growth and supporting flower color. A fertilizer investment for any garden, it comes in various forms such as slow-release granular fertilizers, liquid feed applied directly to soil as a drench or spray, or even nutrient-rich compost.
Use a soil test to analyze its pH level and nutrient composition before making any necessary adjustments with limestone and fertilizers as recommended by your lab for your specific square foot area.
Most annual flowers, like petunias and zinnias, require regular feeding throughout their blooming period. A quality commercial fertilizer will assist these blooms by providing essential phosphorous while simultaneously limiting nitrogen and potassium. Look for label information stating what percentages these nutrients make up the overall mix compared with filler ingredients like manure or sawdust.
Pruning
Once your garden has been planted, regular pruning is key to keeping plants healthy and encouraging new growth as well as blooming and fruit production. Think of pruning like raising children: you can shape the outcome by making appropriate cuts at the appropriate times.
Consider your climate and desired maintenance level before planting annual or perennial flowers. Annuals require annual replanting while perennials will often recur year-after-year with minimal ongoing care required. When selecting plants, take into account color schemes, flower sizes, year-round interest and any special features such as fragrance or ability to attract butterflies, bees or hummingbirds as well as sunlight requirements for each.