Once you’ve decided on a location for your flower garden, clear away grass and weeds while marking any underground utility lines. When working in the soil it is ideal when it is slightly damp but not wet; otherwise it can become oversaturated quickly.
Take note of your USDA planting zone when selecting plants suitable for your garden site’s sunlight and soil conditions, particularly flowers which prefer loose, well-draining soil with lots of organic material.
Soil
As any gardener knows, proper soil preparation is key to creating a successful flower garden. While vegetable gardens rely on additional nutrients for success, flower beds require well-draining, loose and organically rich soil in order to produce vibrant plants with vibrant foliage.
Before beginning to dig, use pegs and string to mark the borders of the planting area. Sandy or loamy soils may be suitable for rototilling; for clay or rocky ones it must be hand turned.
An easy water test can help you assess how well your soil drains. Simply dig a one-foot square hole, fill it with water, and observe its rate of loss – this indicates how efficiently or poorly the soil absorbs and releases moisture. If the soil is heavy and compacted, add organic matter (compost or leaves) and incorporate into the top six inches of your bed bed every other year in order to create loose and well-draining top layers of soil.
Sunlight
Flowers require sunlight in order to thrive and bloom, whether in full sun environments with six hours or more of direct sun daily, or dappled shade areas where light intensity is less intense.
Choose the optimal site depending on what kind of flowers and garden style you intend to create, such as lush hydrangeas that require morning sun and afternoon shade, while sunflowers would likely die quickly in an area receiving too much shade.
Most flowers thrive in loose, loamy soil that’s rich with organic material. Before starting planting, add compost and other organic matter to improve drainage and reduce compaction; mulch your garden to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature and conserve moisture levels; water regularly but avoid overwatering when necessary – to test its moisture level simply stick your finger in one inch deep into the soil – if it feels dry you know its time for irrigation!
Water
Before planting flowers, ensure the soil is damp before starting. Add organic matter such as compost, shredded leaves, coconut coir or well-rotted manure to help retain water in your soil. When starting from seeds or nursery plants, follow instructions on their packaging for how deep to plant each seed or how far apart to space each nursery plant.
Consider your site needs, as sun or shade will significantly impact which flowers you can grow. Plan your flower garden using perennials and annuals of both varieties with different blooming times to create an appealing landscape throughout the seasons. Choose flowers native to or at least hardy in your region so as to support bee, butterfly and hummingbird populations, as well as shrubs such as ligustrum, deciduous holly or ornamental grasses which offer texture as four-season interest – consider using thriller, spiller filler formula when creating height, color and textures throughout your garden design plan to achieve height, color and textures simultaneously!
Fertilization
Flowering plants require proper soil, water and fertilization in order to bloom beautifully. Information found on seed packets or plant tags can help you choose what plants to grow, where to place them and the amount of maintenance each one requires – for instance succulents thrive in dry environments while hydrangeas require consistent moisture levels as well as fertilization in order to achieve vibrant hues.
If your garden soil contains clay, sand or silt, amending it with compost, manure or well-rotted animal manure is key to opening up roots and helping your flowers absorb nutrients more readily. Loosening up your soil loosens roots for better accessing their nutrients more readily allowing flowers to flourish more readily.
An interesting flower garden features perennials and annuals in equal measures to add visual interest and to keep its bloom times varied from spring through frost. Add shrubs and trees for four-season appeal; include food sources for birds and other animals in the landscape. Prune spent flowers to promote reblooming, as well as cut or pull away any brown foliage for a cleaner appearance.