Beautiful flower gardens begin with healthy soil. Flowers tend to thrive best in loose, well-draining soil that has been amended with plenty of compost.
When selecting plants for your site, look for ones with full leaves rather than those that have faded or are scraggly. Consider sun and shade conditions along with color combinations, bloom times and year-round interest; as well as foliage that remains even after flowers have died back.
Location
Location for a flower garden depends on the types of blooms that you want to cultivate; lush hydrangeas prefer sites receiving both morning sun and afternoon shade, while vibrant sunflowers and drought-tolerant succulents need full direct sunlight throughout their growing period.
Make sure your soil drains effectively as well. Poor drainage is one of the major causes of plant death; choose an area with sufficient drainage.
Consider creating pathways in your flower beds; they add visual interest while making tending the garden simpler. If space constraints prevent this option, try planting flowering shrubs throughout your yard for four-season interest.
Exploit texture and size when designing your flower garden design. Groupings of plants with fine and coarse foliage as well as larger and smaller flowers add visual interest and contrast. Also try changing up leaf length and shape for extra depth and intrigue to your landscape design.
Soil
Planting a flower garden requires more than simply digging holes and planting seeds; the soil must provide sufficient support to the flowers as their roots spread outward.
Improve the soil at your site by mixing organic matter into the top 6-8 inches – where most flower and shrub roots reside. Avoid working wet soil as this could harm its structure in your garden bed.
Consider a plant’s mature height when selecting it for planting. Tallest plants should go at the back, while smaller ones nearer to the front of your bed. Tall annuals such as zinnias or sunflowers may need support like trellises to hold their heads high during windy conditions.
Color combinations, flower shapes and foliage textures should all be carefully considered when designing flower gardens. Shades of the same hue, like pink and purple, look striking together; foliage with multiple hues and textures like Iris Aureo-Variegata adds interest. Experienced garden designers also consider year-round interest as well as staggered bloom times when placing perennials and colorful annuals into their gardens.
Seeds
Once you’ve decided where your flower garden will go, be sure to purchase the appropriate seeds to create it. Read through each seed packet’s descriptions so you understand which flowers require sun or shade and whether they’re perennials or annuals.
Once seeds have been planted, it’s important to take proper care in maintaining the soil environment to ensure your flowers thrive. Many types of azaleas and some types of hydrangeas require slightly acidic soil while coneflowers thrive best in neutral to slightly alkaline environments.
Similar to perennial flowers, perennial nasturtiums and sweet peas need cool shaded areas while others like dahlias and cleome prefer full sunlight. Climbing varieties such as climbing nasturtiums and sweet peas require support from trellises or netted structures for support.
Water
Your garden’s flowers require water in order to thrive, so place flowerbeds near a garden hose or water faucet so you can easily water the plants when necessary. Use a soil test to gauge your yard’s pH level and organic matter content; amend as necessary so your blooms have an ideal growing environment.
Make your flower garden even more eye-catching by paying attention to the shape of your plantings. World-renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf recommends planting similar-shaped flowers together in dynamic patterns.
Make a note of when your plants bloom. Perennial flowers often begin blooming in early spring and continue through fall; annuals such as impatiens and zinnias bloom continuously during the summer, adding color year-round. If you want your blooms to look full and lush, pruning regularly is key in order to remove spent blossoms and promote new growth.