Flower gardening can be an enjoyable pastime, but to achieve success it’s essential that a few key details are adhered to properly.
Make sure the garden gets adequate sunlight; flowers that need full sunlight may perish quickly if grown in shaded environments. Combine perennial bloomers and annuals for long season blooming and colorful summer/fall hues.
Location
As with any project, selecting the location is key when designing a flower garden. This step is particularly crucial if creating an aesthetic flower bed outside a home as taller plants may interfere with windows and doors.
Find a location with full sun as most flowers require at least six to eight hours of direct light each day for optimal growth. Hydrangeas and succulents prefer morning sun with afternoon shade while other blooms such as sunflowers and drought-tolerant perennials can thrive under direct sun for most of the day.
Experienced gardeners create vibrant flower gardens by selecting plants with year-round interest and staggered bloom times, to guarantee a steady supply of color throughout the year. When selecting flowers for a flower garden, pay attention to shape when selecting flowers from similar shapes; according to world-renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, flowers with similar shapes often complement each other well; spires and spike flowers look particularly good together, as do bell-shaped or button-shaped heads.
Soil Preparation
Your flower garden soil must be rich, moist and capable of supporting plant roots; that is why adding organic matter such as Black Gold Compost to it helps flowers flourish. Black Gold Compost contains Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss and Forest Humus which help improve soil texture while improving drainage; chemical fertilizers may be used instead, however their application could only replenish certain nutrients at best and may burn or harm plants over time if overused.
Your garden’s location is also important. Make sure it receives full sunlight as most flowering plants need at least six hours of exposure daily to bloom fully. Also ensure there is enough space to move around freely without accidentally trampling over plants when watering or trimming them – creating pathways can not only look attractive, but can save time when going to water or trim your flower garden!
Before beginning your planting project, research the flowers you plan on planting and their care requirements. Each species of flower has unique pruning, mulching or watering needs that need to be considered when choosing how much sunlight should reach their plants; while some must be placed in full sun while others require partial shade conditions.
Planting
Planting a flower garden is both rewarding and relaxing; it also challenges both mind and body. Before breaking out the shovel, take some time to plan out its layout and prepare the soil – whether for window boxes, porch containers, or beds alongside your house, follow these essential guidelines for successful blooms and foliage year after year!
Before planting flowers in your climate zone, get acquainted with your USDA growing zone to make sure the ones you choose will thrive and avoid having to replant in fall. Doing this will save time and frustration!
Experienced flower garden designers know that using a combination of perennials, shrubs, and annual flowers creates year-round color in their designs. Additionally, staggering blooming times of the plants keeps beds looking full. Repetition of key shapes or colors adds visual unity that makes a garden appear less disjointed.
Watering
Flower gardens add beauty and life to the landscape by drawing birds and pollinators into your yard. While planting in garden beds is one option, container gardening on decks or patios also works, or scattered among perennials and annuals can add color.
Maintaining an abundant flower garden requires understanding each plant’s individual requirements. Some flowers, like zinnias and dahlias, require full sun while others thrive under partial shade conditions. Pruning when and how appropriate is essential as is understanding each species’ bloom period.
Watering correctly is key. Overwatering, which can drown roots or lead to their rotting, should be avoided using a soil moisture meter as this allows you to know exactly how much your plants require. Cooled soil should be watered either early morning or in the evening for maximum absorption rather than run-off (according to Bob Vila). Mulching garden beds is another helpful strategy in keeping soil moist by slowing evaporation and protecting roots from windy environments.