Flower gardens add vibrancy and color to any landscape. From seeds or cuttings, seedlings or cuttings – no matter which you select – each will require proper planting in order to flourish and bloom beautifully.
First and foremost, think about the sunlight conditions where you plan to plant. Next, create an overall garden design plan.
Choose a Location
An expertly placed flower garden adds beauty and ease of maintenance to any home. From perennials that provide structure to annuals used as color splashes, choosing the appropriate location is critical in achieving the best result for growing beautiful blooms that flourish into maturity.
If the flower bed will receive full sunlight, for instance, you must choose plants that thrive in this type of climate. Sun-loving blooms won’t thrive in shaded spots while shade-tolerant perennials might succumb to harsh light conditions and become damaged.
After selecting your site, you should then consider the shape and size of your bed. Some people like a formal look with straight-edged beds featuring uniform clumps of flowers while others opt for more organic designs using curves or organic forms. If this latter approach appeals to you, try using various edging materials as markers between lawn and garden and add texture by marking their boundaries using various edging materials – this way creating visual interest while simultaneously adding textures in your yard!
Select Your Plants
Flower gardens can be breathtaking works of art when planned carefully and designed artistically. While soil preparation and plant selection must be performed, their design can also serve as an avenue for creativity.
To achieve a pleasing design, try mixing heights and colors within your bed, as well as bloom times so that when one type of flower fades another is beginning to blossom. Shrubs add structure and four-season interest.
As part of your research phase, read each plant or seed packet’s label carefully to learn their space requirements and to plan your plantings effectively. Tall plants should be placed towards the back of a bed while medium-height and shorter varieties should be brought forward for plantings in front of it. It may also be wise to keep in mind each plant’s individual growth habit; some might be more upright while others have spreading or cascading branches that require consideration when placing.
Prepare the Soil
Flower gardens require nutritious soil that provides all of their essential nutrients for vibrant displays of blooming blooms. When starting from scratch or revamping an existing garden, removal of grass and other unwanted vegetation should be the first step – this allows sunlight to warm the soil more effectively, which promotes better seed germination and growth.
Add compost and organic material, such as manure or fallen leaves, to improve its quality and water the area thoroughly before planting flowers. A watering system designed to deliver moisture directly to the root zone reduces evaporation while helping avoid fungal diseases.
Be familiar with your USDA growing zone and the first and last frost dates in your region in order to select flowers with optimal growth potential for your yard and ensure full sun or partial-sun blooms are suitable. Knowing your zone also helps determine how much sun a location receives – whether full sun or partial-sun blooms thrive best!
Planting
Success of any flower garden relies heavily on selecting plants suited to its growing conditions. Consider mixing perennials with seasonal annuals for year-long color, and adding shrubs as year-round structure.
Cowan advises her clients to learn their flowers well and gain an understanding of which varieties prefer sun exposure – be it morning shade and afternoon sunlight for hydrangeas, or full sunlight for sunflowers that bloom spectacularly. With that knowledge in hand, planting should take place with purposeful planning that respects both site constraints and the plants’ needs, she says.
As you plan your flower bed design, keep the mature overall height of each plant in mind. Arrange taller plants in the center of a foundation or island bed before gradually moving toward medium-height plants and finally short ones around its perimeter. Furthermore, consider both foliage color and texture: gladiolus provides contrast from bleeding heart or iris leaves with its sword-like leaves, for example.