Flowers add instant color and fragrance to any garden, both perennials and annuals alike can brighten it with their beauty.
Each flower requires different conditions of soil type, pH levels, temperature, water and sunlight in order to thrive. Carefully read seed packets and plant tags in order to understand which specifications will support its success. Also take into account how easy it will be for you to water, trim and fertilize in its location.
Location
First step to starting a flower garden: selecting an ideal site. Most blooms thrive best under full sunlight, so pick an area without being affected by activities in your yard such as mowing and hosting backyard barbecues – this way, you can take full advantage of enjoying blooming blooms without fear that they are getting tramped on by other activities!
Select an area that is well-drained, as many flowers don’t like wet feet. Once you find an appropriate spot, prepare it by clearing away grass or plants that might obstruct drainage, adding compost for improved soil quality and clearing away any weeds that have appeared.
Study flower colors and plant sizes to narrow down your options. Renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf recommends planting flowers of similar shapes together for visual unity and pleasing symmetry, so your garden doesn’t feel overcrowded. He also suggests selecting show-stopping perennials with staggered bloom times as well as filler flowers to ensure coverage throughout the season.
Soil
An effective flower garden begins with good soil. Many types of flowers thrive in rich, loamy soil that drains well; you can improve this environment with compost and slow-release flower fertilizer to prepare it for planting. A soil test can also give valuable information about what type of environment your soil provides – this information will enable you to select plants which best thrive within it.
Petunias and geraniums are simple annual flowers to start out with and can fill gaps until perennials can take root. Plus, annuals allow you to practice caring for flowers before investing more difficult-to-grow perennials and shrubs with structure and four-season interest.
Select plants at the garden center that boast healthy leaves and stems to ensure they will flourish when planted into your landscape. Avoid purchasing root-bound plants – their roots may become matted and stick together preventing it from reaching its full potential in your garden bed.
Sunlight
Sunlight is essential to the success of flower gardens. Most blooms need at least six hours of direct sun each day, so when selecting your garden location make sure you observe how the sunlight hits it throughout the day.
If you want a garden with long-blooming blooms, try planting both perennials and annuals. Perennials like peonies or iris will begin flowering late spring/early summer while annuals like impatiens and zinnias typically peak midsummer and provide color through fall/winter.
Add structure and four-season interest to your flower garden by including some shrubs in it. Shrubs with twisty bark, colorful berries or autumn colors provide additional visual interest, according to Wiley. Likewise, mix heights, colors and textures by strategically repeating plants shapes colors throughout your landscape to achieve more eye appeal; repeating plants shapes colors throughout a bed gives continuity as well as creating an appealing look – for instance if planting an island bed start with tall plants in the center before gradually filling outward with shorter ones as needed until eventually filling outward with shorter plants as needed – starting in an island bed plant the tall plants at its core before gradually filling outward with shorter plants gradually filling out into its surroundings until reaching full maturity if planting an island bed is required –
Water
Many types of flowers thrive under various environmental conditions, yet all require access to ample water in order to flourish. When starting a flower garden, make sure you have access to either a faucet or hose for effortless watering, and choose an area with plenty of sunshine as shady sites will cause flower growth to decline and die off.
Planting should take place in spring after frost risk has passed, after you’ve read up on your USDA growing zone requirements and maintenance requirements for flowers you plan on growing. For an impressive flower display that lasts longer, choose perennials and shrubs with staggered bloom times; add colorful annuals for seasonal color and fragrant flowers for their scent.
Avoid buying plants that have already been planted into containers or greenhouse pots as much as possible, since their roots might already be root bound and won’t do well once transplanted into your flower garden.