Flowers with similar water and sun requirements should be planted together for maximum impact in any four-season garden. By grouping together perennials and annuals with similar needs, gardeners can ensure each receives adequate care.
Carefully observe the area where you wish to plant your garden for several days to determine how much sunlight reaches it each day; full sunlight is ideal for most flowers.
Choosing the Right Plants
Flower gardens bring fragrance, color and pollinators to any landscape, yet cultivating one can be daunting for newcomers. Before diving in to dig up seeds or bulbs for planting, take time to research which flowers thrive best in your region and learn their specific sun/water/soil needs for maximum success.
Start by selecting a location with at least six hours of sunlight for your flower garden. Perennials (peonies, lilies and peonies) and annuals (dahlias and sunflowers) typically need full sun; otherwise they’ll quickly wither away in shaded locations.
Next, sketch out your flower beds’ layout. Think carefully about whether or not you want the beds to spill over their edges so they can be easily mowed by a lawn mower, or whether you would rather them stay neatly contained within a path. Donna Hackman suggests edging pathways with rectangles of flagstone in order to prevent flower plants from being crushed as you pass by; this will also keep them clean and free of weeds.
Soil Preparation
Soil quality can make or break a flower garden. Before sowing seeds, cuttings or seedlings into your flower garden, loosen up the dirt using a shovel and garden rake, adding well-rotted manure or compost for extra nutrients and an added layer of protection for plants.
Perennials that prefer full sun will quickly succumb if planted in shaded locations, so aim for sunny spots and watch as the sun moves throughout the day.
Focal flowers should be placed towards the back or center of your garden, with filler plants like snapdragons and feverfew placed more close-by for best results. This will create an organic flow throughout your flower garden without competing with each other for sunlight.
Planting
No matter whether it is flower cuttings from a garden, seedlings or bulbs, it is always essential to dig holes large enough for both plant and soil, to ensure its roots can take in enough water and nutrients from the surrounding environment.
When digging, add organic matter such as compost or bokashi, if available, to the soil and mix thoroughly before proceeding to work it while it remains slightly damp.
Locate an area in the yard which receives six or more hours of direct sunlight every day, as this will enable optimal growth for most flower plants.
Read each plant’s tag or description carefully in order to ascertain the optimal growing conditions it requires for optimal growth. Annual flowers bloom once before withering away, while perennials come back year after year. Pay attention to your USDA growing zone so you know which varieties will thrive best in your garden, and also remember first and last frost dates so you know when planting is possible.
Care
Flower gardens are an elegant addition to your landscape and curb appeal, but it requires meticulous maintenance for them to flourish and stay beautiful. Watering, pruning, mulching and fertilization should be done regularly to promote healthy plants that look their best.
Consider how much sunlight your flower beds will receive daily before selecting their location. Some varieties need full sun while others thrive under partial shade; once this information is known, choose which varieties would work best with your space and preferences.
Finally, select a location near an accessible water source in order to keep your flowers hydrated in dry areas. It is also essential that you research fertilizer recommendations specifically tailored to the species of flowers you intend on growing before beginning planting; mulch your flower garden as an extra measure against weeds and moisture loss.