Flower gardens add vibrant splashes of color to any yard. When selecting blooms for your own flower garden, keep your local climate and growing conditions in mind; be mindful of maintenance needs too.
Search your yard for an area that receives direct sunlight throughout the day and observe how sunlight flows over it for several days before choosing flowers to fill it.
Location
Location for your flower garden will depend on what types of blooms you plan to plant; some require full sun while others thrive under various lighting conditions.
Soil quality is another crucial factor when creating the ideal flower garden. Heavy clay or sandy soil may not drain efficiently and make it harder for flowers to develop healthy roots. To ensure optimal conditions for your plants, have your soil tested.
Once you’ve chosen an ideal location for your flower garden, clear away any grass or weeds before amending the soil with plenty of organic matter such as compost to make the planting area better. Mark off boundaries using garden hose so you can visualize and adjust as necessary; use pavers, field stones or bricks as edging materials for an attractive finished look if your bed will be near walkways or other structures.
Soil
Flowers thrive best in soil that drains freely; otherwise they become waterlogged and may develop root rot, which spreads rapidly to other plants causing their death.
To ensure optimal drainage in your garden, rake the bed and break up large clumps of soil before adding compost or manure as a fertilizer that enriches and retains moisture in the soil.
Some flowers, like roses, tulips and daffodils, bloom best in full sun conditions; however, you can also cultivate part-sun or shade garden beds by selecting appropriate varieties.
Create a shade garden using fuchsias, hydrangeas and irises or create an easy-care perennial garden using lavender, lilyturfums and nasturtiums for low maintenance gardening needs. By mixing plant heights, colors, textures and shrubs you will make the flower garden even more interesting as the seasons progress; native flowers also help support bees and other pollinators!
Water
Every flower requires specific soil types, pH, temperatures and water conditions for optimal growth. You must also take steps to manage weeds and deadhead blooms as well as maintain your garden by mulching, fertilizing and spraying for pests.
Flowers thrive best in loamy soil with good drainage, and should be tilled to loosen it prior to planting. If necessary, add compost as an additive in order to enrich the quality of the soil further. Avoid working the soil when it is too damp, as this damages its structure.
Discover your USDA growing zone to identify which plants will thrive in your yard, as well as your area’s first and last frost dates to know when planting can take place. Take the time to carefully plan the layout of your garden by deciding on a color palette and groupings of flowers that work well together – brighter flowers tend to draw more attention, while muted colors such as blues, lavenders and subdued pinks provide a background chorus that complement the main players of the show.
Sunlight
Every flower has unique requirements in terms of soil, temperature, water intake and sunlight to thrive; most commonly they do best when planted in rich garden soil that’s neither too acidic nor alkaline.
If your yard’s soil is too sandy, rocky, or clayey for planting purposes, compost may help improve it before you attempt planting. A thick layer of mulch is also useful as it will retain moisture while keeping weeds at bay.
Once your site and planting plan have been prepared, remove any grass or weeds in the flower bed, lay out a path if desired to assist with maintenance, and edge the area with pavers or another material such as pavers or pavers. You might also wish to install a fence to deter nuisance animals like deer, rabbits and squirrels from entering; additionally keep in mind that climate conditions will determine your USDA growing zone as well as first and last frost dates.