Many flowers require direct sunlight in order to flourish, so choose a spot in your yard where you receive full sun throughout the day and observe how the sunlight moves before deciding where you should place your garden.
Keep in mind that a pathway may be necessary to allow access to your flower garden without accidentally trampling on any plants, as well as adding an aesthetic flourish to its look.
Choose Your Plants
Flowers have the ability to stop people in their tracks, from showy blooms like hydrangeas or low maintenance perennials such as daylilies. A flower garden adds beauty and fragrance to any outdoor space; with minimal care required in terms of weeding and watering needs. To maintain its best appearance, regular maintenance visits should also be performed to keep its blooms looking their best.
When selecting flowers to plant, pay close attention to both their colors and blooming times. Look for plants with different hues; even those from opposite ends of the color wheel such as purple and yellow may work well together. In addition, think about how the foliage color complements other plants in your yard.
When choosing the ideal planting spot, always consult the tags of each plant to understand its depth requirements. Dig a hole that matches its container size; ensure there’s enough room for its roots to move freely inside it and add general soil amendments as necessary if planting seeds or seedlings from seed.
Dig the Plot
Flowers thrive in healthy soil that drains well and contains plenty of organic matter, and digging your garden’s area allows you to loosen dirt and remove weeds while simultaneously decreasing re-growth of unwanted plants.
If planting flowers from seed, read the instructions on their packet for guidance as to the depth of planting. When using transplants or potted flowering plants as opposed to seeds, refer to their label for guidance as to when and how deep to bury them.
After you have dug out your flowerbed, consider adding a layer of compost or leaf mold as the final step in developing it. This will add nutrients to your soil while improving its texture allowing it to hold moisture better for flower blooming. Also remember to regularly weed this area; weeds steal nutrients and sunlight away from blooming blooms, leaving them looking dull. Additionally set up protective measures against animals or fungal infections as this will keep them looking their best!
Lay Out the Bed
Before beginning to dig, it is a good idea to sketch out your garden bed on paper (or by using garden design software of your choice) in order to ensure there is enough space for all the flowers you plan on planting. Also conduct a soil test so as to identify how much compost or other material should be added in order to enhance its condition and increase productivity in your flower bed.
Consider your USDA Hardiness Zone, first and last frost dates and any special considerations when determining which plants can grow in your garden. Knowledge of your growing zone will prevent planting anything that won’t thrive there.
Once you’ve outlined your plot, begin by spreading a layer of mulch over it to keep weeds at bay while your flowers establish themselves. If your flower garden will be seen from multiple directions, place taller plants toward the back while shorter ones move forward toward the front. You may also wish to edge your bed with brick or wooden edging for a more formal appearance or distinguish it from your lawn.
Plant the Flowers
Planting flowers in your flower garden is an exciting part of gardening! When using seed or purchasing plants from a nursery, be sure to follow all instructions listed on their packet or tag regarding planting depth for seeds, as well as removal from pots/containers so as not to smother their roots when placing in holes in the ground.
Once your flowers are in place, mulch your flower bed to retain moisture and control weeds. Be sure to weed regularly – unattractive weeds not only look bad, they take nutrients away from your precious blooms!
Do not overlook adding shrubs. Shrubs provide structure, four-season interest, and some color to any flower garden, providing structure as well as easy maintenance (repeat-blooming roses or those with colorful bark and twisty shapes are recommended). Shrubs also help your flowers thrive by adding much-needed winter interest while masking summer’s dying leaves!