Establishing a flower garden adds color and beauty to any yard. From perennials to annuals, using the appropriate site and proper preparation will help your flowers to flourish.
By understanding your growing zone, it will enable you to select plants suited to both heat and cold in your area. Get familiar with the first and last frost dates in your region for maximum success.
Location
First step to starting a flower garden is finding an appropriate location. Depending on which flowers are selected, some may require full sun while others can thrive with partial shade. Also important is discovering what kind of soil your plants require in order to thrive; alkaline or acidic conditions could hinder their development and hinder plant health.
Establishing the USDA growing zone where you live is of equal importance in choosing plants that will thrive in your climate or that may succumb to frost damage.
Make the bed slightly larger than needed for each plant so its roots have enough space to flourish, and be placed away from walkways or paths so as not to get trampled upon as people walk by.
Sunlight
Flower gardens need plenty of sunshine in order to thrive; at minimum, six hours of full sun should be available each day. For this to work properly, each individual flower should receive full sunlight exposure during their bloom cycle.
Experienced flower garden designers typically arrange their plantings so as to provide a display of color from early spring until the first frost of autumn, according to Wiley. Additionally, repetition helps ensure visual continuity by eliminating random placement of plantings that could create an irregular look in a garden.
Before planting, prepare the site by clearing away grass, weeds and any debris from its location. Add plenty of compost or organic matter to improve soil quality and create an inviting environment for your flowers. Avoid working the soil when too wet as this will compromise its integrity; when watering, do so regularly but infrequently to avoid too much root entanglement as well as fungal diseases at their bases rather than at their stems.
Soil
No matter if you are planting from seeds, small plants or transplanting, to achieve maximum results you require healthy soil. Start by incorporating plenty of organic matter when the ground is damp – add plenty of organic material when sowing seeds!
Choose flowers that complement the style and aesthetic of your garden, taking note of their growth habits. Some flowers grow upwards like trees or vines, while others spread outwards thickly across the ground.
Take note of your plants or seeds’ instructions or tags to understand their needs; some require full sun while others do well with partial shade. Also remember to plant in their USDA growing zones; choosing plants outside your zone could result in failure due to extremes in heat or cold.
Water
Flower gardens require different amounts of water depending on the variety and quantity of blooms planted, though in general require frequent watering to keep soil damp, pull weeds out, and keep moisture levels up in the soil. For optimal results, watering should occur early morning or late afternoon when evaporation rates are lowest.
As soon as you start planning a flower garden, the first step should be clearing away grass, weeds and debris from the area. Depending on soil conditions, organic matter such as compost, shredded leaves or coconut coir might need to be added before planting begins.
Choose native flowers to attract bees and other pollinators into your garden, offering natural beauty and fragrance as well as reduced maintenance requirements than fancy hybrids. Planting drifts or blocks allows bees to more easily locate their targets; for instance, one visit could see them collecting nectar from all daisies while later seeking nectar from all borage flowers.