Flowers bring vibrancy and beauty to any landscape. While annuals (petunias, geraniums and pansies) bloom and produce seeds within one season, perennial plants like nasturtiums and salvia produce flowers year-after-year.
Successful flower gardens depend on selecting soil that provides maximum sunlight for their flowers to flourish. Once selected, make sure their location will allow for their full potential to blossom.
Location
Flower gardens come in all sizes and shapes – from small potted arrangements under windowsills to expansive backyard beds filled with blooms. When selecting an area to plant in, make sure it receives ample sunlight so the plants thrive. Use a garden hose to mark out your new bed’s edges while clearing away existing grass or weeds from its vicinity for an accurate measure of space needed.
Make sure the location has sufficient drainage so as to prevent excess moisture build-up, which may cause root rot in certain plants. Furthermore, ensure it fits within the USDA growing zone to ensure appropriate plants thrive in your climate.
Once you’ve decided on a location, take some time to study its landscape to decide on an aesthetic look for your garden. Mixing heights of flowers will add visual interest while repeating shapes or colors will create cohesion throughout your design.
Soil
Begin your flower garden planning from scratch by clearing away all grass and weeds to make room for it and adding compost to improve soil quality for flower planting.
Plant your garden layer by layer, with tallest plants at the center and shorter shrubs and perennials lining its perimeter for easy maintenance.
Carefully consider bloom times, color combinations and special features like fragrance or pollinator attraction when selecting flowers to plant in your yard. Consider planting native species for supporting local wildlife as well as hardy and tender exotics for year-round interest.
Enjoy your garden. Not only is it an aesthetic addition to your landscape, but also serves as an oasis for birds, butterflies and pollinators who visit. Take time to smell the flowers, watch bees and other insects go about their business, spot hummingbirds flitting by and listen for wind whispering through the foliage.
Water
Flower gardens require regular irrigation, particularly when first established. While certain varieties require only minor amounts, others may need much more. It is advisable to aim for approximately an inch of irrigation every week.
Make sure the site you choose receives enough sun. Many flower plants are full-sun varieties, needing at least six to eight hours of daily sun. Be familiar with your USDA growing zone to help determine what varieties of flowers will thrive best in your yard.
Prior to planting, inspect the soil for drainage issues. A combination of compost, shredded leaves, coconut coir, well-rotted manure and sand or volcanic rock helps retain moisture and promote drainage, while digging or handling wet soil should be avoided to prevent compaction. When designing your flower garden consider bloom size, color combinations, year-round interest as well as bonus attributes like fragrance or pollinator attraction as you consider bloom sizes, bloom shapes or textures which repeat across its expanse for continuity.
Sunlight
Choose a location with ample sunlight when selecting the location for your flower garden. While certain blooms such as lush hydrangeas and sunflowers require full sun all day long, others require less. When setting up your flowerbeds or planning a hummingbird-attracting garden, observe its exposure for several days prior to making decisions on placement of plants and perennials.
Consider also whether or not your location makes for easy navigation. If you need to walk through beds to prune, trim and treat weeds, ensure that this can be accomplished without treading on flowers or knocking into water hoses.
When planning a mixed-flower garden, take into account each plant’s maintenance needs to determine how many varieties should be grown. Flowers with similar care requirements work well together – for instance shade-lovers might prefer plants in similar positions and drought tolerants might complement each other – thus helping reduce maintenance work and giving your flower garden a cohesive appearance.