Flower gardens present endless opportunities for design experimentation, offering plenty of freedom for experimentation in terms of texture, colors and variety. To keep maintenance easy and straightforward, group flowers that share similar requirements – for instance drought-tolerant varieties should be planted together with others that meet this criteria.
Before planting flowers on any site, prepare it by clearing away grass and weeds before amending its soil with compost to improve its quality for growing them. Remember bloom times; perennials with staggered blossoming may provide all-season color when combined with annuals to complete your arrangement.
Location
Location plays a critical role in how well plants grow in your garden. Make sure the site receives ample sunlight — full sunlight would be ideal, with at least six to eight hours of direct exposure — as well as has proper drainage systems in place for maximum success.
Pay special attention to the soil type in your area; organic or synthetic fertilizers could help improve its nutrients and pH balance.
Once you’ve decided where to plant your flower garden, mark its boundaries using garden edging or other hardscape elements that prevent grass and weeds from invading its beds. Deliberate borders also help maintain appropriate levels of water and sunlight for each group of flowers.
Finally, select show-stopping flowers that meet all your criteria for color, bloom time and fragrance, year-round interest and plant size. Experiment with mixing plants of various heights together for added visual interest.
Soil
As you choose a location for your flower garden, be mindful of its needs. Most varieties require full sun while some thrive under cover. Check your USDA growing zone to determine what will thrive there.
Select a location with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day, preferably on its sunny side. When selecting your spot for planting, make sure the ground isn’t frozen or covered by snow as this will help with soil preparation and planting.
Removing grass from your designated area with a shovel and turning over the soil with compost or organic material such as mulch can loosen it, helping new plants sprout. Before planting flowers in this space it would also be wise to conduct a soil test – knowing its type and nutrient levels allows you to tailor amendments as necessary for growing specific varieties.
Water
Planning a flower garden requires proper soil preparation, according to Cowan. Flowers require rich, well-draining soil that requires adding organic matter and an all-purpose balanced fertilizer such as Pennington UltraGreen All Purpose Plant Food 10-10-10 before you plant.
Consideration should also be given to how much sunlight an area receives daily, since some flowers like lush hydrangeas and drought-tolerant succulents do well in shaded sites while fragrant honeysuckle, lilies, and sunflowers need full sunlight throughout their daily cycle.
Familiarizing yourself with your USDA growing zone is also key, as this will enable you to select plants that naturally thrive in your local conditions. Also, knowing your region’s first and last frost dates will enable a planting schedule. Finally, when watering your garden it’s essential that proper techniques such as slowly drenching soil until it runs off are used rather than sprinkler watering (which can lead to root rot).
Light
When planning your flower garden, the right location with the appropriate amount of sunlight should be selected. Most blooms prefer full sunlight (six or more hours of direct exposure per day), though some varieties can thrive even under partial shade as long as its light intensity doesn’t become overpowering.
Soil type can greatly influence what flowers will flourish in an area, so avoid spots which become waterlogged after rain or during a spring thaw.
Before sowing any seeds, familiarize yourself with your USDA growing zone and expected last frost date. By understanding this information, it will allow you to choose varieties that will thrive and survive in your yard.